Sorry, but I just think these articles are so funny (including the one off a link on mumsnet). They make out like parents have a choice of which school their child will go to. Come on, how many parents have a choice of school? Basically we have a preference, apply and get shoved into a school the LEA think is closest to us, regardless of whether it is actually the closest in terms of how the parents/childminder will manage, or whether we like it. If you can't afford to move to the 'catchment' you are stuffed!
I can already bet that Haringey will reject our "choice" of school and probably place us in a school outside the borough or some undersubscribed school in Tottenham (we live in Crouch End)
I am so glad I looked into all this, and read all of your posts before applying, or I may have actually taken the articles seriously and been dissapointed and stressed in April!