How do primary faith schools choose?

[mindovermatter2020]

Hi All,

I was wondering whether anyone knew how faith schools select their pupils when they are oversubscribed. I understand that they have admission criterias but when distance is NOT a factor for faith based places, if there were 2 applications for the last place. How would they separate one applicant from another when 2 pupils are within the same admissions criterion eg fortnightly attendance at x church?

Whichever one has sucked up to the priest more.

(Sorry not a fan of faith schools).

It should be published in the schools criteria.

For most it's distance.

It could however be lottery of all applicants in the cut-off criterion.

In truly indivisible cases (two flats absolutely equidistant) then it may be drawing lots.

It will go on the criterion.

If two are equal in some way and can not be separated then the closest one will likely be accepted if that is the criterion.

They do have distance all things being equal.

It depends what the admissions policy says. I'm on the admissions committee of a faith based school and our Church places are never oversubscribed.

If they were, then places would be awarded first to families who worship at the church associated with the school and then to other families based on distance. If the distance was the same for two familes, we would draw lots for the remaining place.

Our school selection is also based on children of staff, if the child applying has a sibling there etc

Our school is ALWAYS oversubscribed

As others have said, their admission criteria must define what happens in this situation. They cannot make a subjective decision as minipie suggests - I hope she was being facetious.

Our CE primary ordered applicants by distance within each category. Another local one has a lottery within a catchment area. It will tell you in the school's admissions policy - it should be easy to find on the school website (but sometimes is a bit hidden away).

Thank you all so much for the info! Really helpful!