School Application process a waste of time.

[Lumboo]

Can someone please explain to me the point of applying for a school place? Would it not be easier for the LA to just allocate a school place for each child based upon their home address, and the LA criteria?
This would probably save the LA a lot of time and money too, and parents would know the score without feeling all upset about it.

Then if the parents want to, they should apply directly to the school to go on the waiting list of any preference school.

The only time a school should be applied to would be VA and faith schools.

I find the whole process a complete waste of time for parents, as lets be honest, there is no choice in the matter, so why pretend and have up to 6 places that you can submit on your form?

Or am I missing something important?....

I have a choice. My child has SEN. It is vital that we are able to choose a school that caters for that.

It depends on different areas. If the schools are not so full then yes, you have a choice. Different schools suit different children.

OTOH, it's also good to consider the advantages of everyone going to their local school.

If the child in in care, or special needs then those are the first two criteria for most LA, so that is a different matter.
The next criteria is siblings, so again no application needs to be done.

I am talking about an average application where the distance criteria states entry. This whole process then seems like a waste of my time, and my opinion doesn't mean anything and it is a like it or lump it situation.

The number of unhappy parents I have read about on this site is telling, as a lot of areas are oversubscribed, and therefore I just wonder why they need to complete a redundant application form, when they could just request to go on their preferred choice of school's waiting list to begin with?

Sorry, I meant under sibling criteria no application 'should' be made, (I know you have to apply right now) unless you are planning on having your kids in separate schools.

What if after filling places with kids in care/with sn/siblings/catchment kids there are still places

Should LAs ring round all parents to ask if they fancy a place

I don't think your way is any big improvement sorry

Where I live, living in catchment and having a sibling at the school will not guarantee your child a place at your preferred school.

Essentially, you choose where you might prefer your child to go but ultimately the LA makes the decision based on its published criteria.

The whole process is very stressful indeed.

Chibi, no because if the parents wanted to be on the waiting list they would apply to the school for a place, so the LA doesn't have to call any parents to fill the places.

If a school in undersubscribed now, the LA just have a bigger catchment area for them, which is what would happen in this case.

It just means that the parents do not have to go through the false process of choosing preference schools.

It's not a false process. Your way would be fine in less densely populated areas but not in the cities. There are 5 primary schools in walking distance from me and 3 of them are church schools. The closest one is a church school in fact. So how would that work? Would the LEA have to ask for each families' religious preference?

I think it's ridiculous to have church schools at all, but that's a whole other thread.

Nationally around 85% of children are offered their first preference school and around 95% get one of their first three preferences. It does, however, depend where you are. London, for example, is worse than the national average with around 65% getting their first preference and around 85% getting one of their first three preferences.

If popular schools were allowed to expand these figures would probably be even higher.

Of course, none of this is any consolation to the parent who is unable to get their child into a popular school.

Siblings is not always above catchment in admission criteria.

In my LEA, catchment is above sibling.

We didn't get our first or second choice for DD1. We got the third. Thank god for preferences as under your system we would have been allocated an absolutely dreadful school which isn't even that close but our third nearest school. The system isn't perfect but I'd stick with it as others are no fairer / better.

Isn't it because they want to use the same sytem everywhere?

In my town there are 4 infant schools and 2 middle schools, and none of them are oversubscribed. Putting your top 3 choices on a form is pointless here, because you'll get your first choice.

Right, I'm off to agonise over which middle school to send dd to next year ...

I find it ridiculous that I have to list 6 schools on my form. I have a school a few yards from my house which is great, my oldest attends the CofE School up the road but less than a mile away. There is a Catholic school just over a mile away.

Whilst I want both children at the same school, I see no point in applying for schools my children cannot walk to ? I do not even know 6 schools !!!

I am only listing these three schools in my order of preference !!!

You don't have to list 6 schools. You have the opportunity to list 6 if you want. Why is that ridiculous?

the LA have to KNOW that child exists, lives in the area and parents wish to send them to school. With a school application process of some kind how would LA be informed of these things.

Not all schools prioritise out of area sibs over locals...