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what happens if I miss the 15th of january deadline for reception?

25 replies

Cinnamonlily · 06/01/2011 20:50

As I'm still not sure where I want my daughter to go to school I would like to have more time to think and then to move closer to the choosen school...deadline for applycation is the 15th of january....what if I dont do it and wait until march or april??? heeelp!

OP posts:
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CarGirl · 06/01/2011 20:52

Errrr you will be a late applicant and get offered a place at a school with spaces....

Do not do it!

Rosebud05 · 06/01/2011 20:53

I'm pretty sure that you'd be treated as a late applicant and put at the bottom of waiting lists.

I'd make a choice given where you're living now, and then you can go on waiting lists/move in due course.

galletti · 06/01/2011 20:55

Cinnamonlily, you really need to make a choice now, and get your application in, or as CarGirl says, you may end up with something that you really don't want.

Take a deep breath,and apply to those that you feel right at the moment - it will be ok - a lot of us feel the same as you, but it needs to be done - not worth hanging on imo.

Rooble · 06/01/2011 20:56

Our places are all allocated in march, so if you leave it till then I guess you'll just get put wherever there's a space. You'd be mad to do it.

ProfessorLaytonIsMyLoveSlave · 06/01/2011 20:57

Then you'll be offered a place at whatever school has places left, which is unlikely to be one of the schools you wanted if they were oversubscribed as they will already be full. Better to apply now based on where you actually live and then at least you stand a chance of getting a school you want.

CarGirl · 06/01/2011 21:04

Seriously you could end up at a school miles and miles away!

Cinnamonlily · 06/01/2011 21:05

what if the school i want is not quite in the catchment area of where I live?
I am planning to move closer but still havent found the right place...
what can I do??
Apply for that school anyway and leave out the one close to us? :(
Helllp!!!

OP posts:
arentfanny · 06/01/2011 21:07

YOU need to apply, you have the option of going on the waiting list of your preferred school if you do not get in or appealing, but you need to apply before the deadline.

Cinnamonlily · 06/01/2011 21:07

If I do apply for thatschool and then I move around march closer to it will I have more chances to get a place??

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Cinnamonlily · 06/01/2011 21:09

arentfanny if i dont get a place there will they offer me another school nearby? I want her to go to that school... :(

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reallytired · 06/01/2011 21:11

You need to get the form in and put something reasonable down.

Otherwise your dd could end up at St Sh!t primary with the faiing ofsted 5 miles away.

You can always change your mind nearer the if your favoured school still has spaces.

CarGirl · 06/01/2011 21:11

You apply to your 1st choice and then put your current local school as 2nd choice otherwise you risk getting a place miles and miles away.

Not putting down a local school does NOT increase your chance of being offered your 1st choice!

Sorry you just have to suck it up I'm afraid, you may get a place at your 1st choice anyway.

Clary · 06/01/2011 21:13

If you apply to a school you are not in catchment for and not yr catchment area school, they will prob offer you a place at an unpopular school that has places.

Could be anywhere.

My advice is to apply for the one you want, and also for your catchment area school, then if the favoured school has no spaces, you should get a place at the local one.

Clary · 06/01/2011 21:14

see OP we are all saying the same thing at once! Grin

LIZS · 06/01/2011 21:14

You need to ask LA if you can amend your application address between 15th and when allocations are made and establish when that window would close. Apply now for the one you ultimately want and put the nearer one second (you normally name at least 3 preferences). If you do nothing by 15th your dd will get allocated whatever is left at the time you do apply, have to go on waiting lists for your preferences (at whcih poitn you may still eb out fo catchment so no further forward) with you possibly have no say at all in where she attends come September.

Cinnamonlily · 06/01/2011 21:17

thank you so much!!!! i tough that if i did not apply i would have it spared for now....
So i have time until the 15th of janury right? confused

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Clary · 06/01/2011 21:19

I would apply online at this stage if that's a possibility for you.

Cannot stress enough how vital it is that you get yr app in before the closing date.

CarGirl · 06/01/2011 21:22

Yes you need to have your applicaation in by the 15th Jan if that is their closing date.

Cinnamonlily · 06/01/2011 21:39

Thank you all very very much! So either ways I do apply from where I am now and If I manage to move closer tothe school I will inform the Council or what?

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pooka · 06/01/2011 21:43

Use your choices very carefully.

If you put your preferred school No. 1 with no other options and you do not fulfill the entry requirements (i.e proximity) you will be offered a place at any school that has places (i.e. potentially an unpopular one).

By all means put preferred school at No.1. BUt please do put down a school that you might have a better chance of getting into as a reserve choice.

noonar · 06/01/2011 21:47

yes, apply now. and also ask about last year's intake. how far away from the school was the furthest person to be offered a place living last year? then ask them to calculate your distance from the school. if you live much further than that distance, you'd be better off appyling for a more realistic second choice, rather than a pie in the sky first choice, IYSWIM.

compo · 06/01/2011 21:51

What is the problem with your local school?
It'll be impossible to move between now and April imo unless you're made of money
what are you worried about?

Cinnamonlily · 06/01/2011 22:07

I want my daughter to go to that school as I think it's the best around here and also all her friends will go there,her best friend will defo go there and I want her to go there too.

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prh47bridge · 06/01/2011 22:23

As others have said, you MUST apply by the deadline. If you don't you will go to the bottom of the pile and will get one of the places left after all the on time applicants have been dealt with. That will be at an unpopular school and it may be miles away.

Again, as others have said putting down only one choice does not increase your chances of getting into that school. That isn't how the system works. It actually increases your chances of ending up with an unpopular school.

Read your council's admissions booklet carefully - it will be on their website if you haven't got a copy. This will tell you what happens if you move after submitting your application. They may allow you to change your address after 15th January but you may find that any change of address will result in you being treated as a late applicant and going to the bottom of the pile. At best there will be a cut off date a few weeks beyond 15th January after which any move will result in you being treated as late. As you haven't got a place to move to as yet, it is highly unlikely that you will be able to move within that time.

All you can do is put your preferred school down as your first choice and your local school as your second choice, and hope you strike it lucky.

pooka · 06/01/2011 22:50

Incidentally we got 3rd choice school when applying 4 years ago. Dd went knowing no one. Settled beautifully and it is a fantastic school. Satisfactory ofsted whereas 1&2 good/outstanding. But I really really am surprised at what a gem the place is.

If I hadnt put 3rd choice (used all options) I would have been offered one of two schools that I really didn't want (faith).

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