I think I should have applied for different school - is it too late?

[curiousparent]

Due to a poor experience with my eldest DS nearly 15 years ago I foolishly discounted our local primary school until just a couple of day prior to the application form was due in and put it in 3rd place.

Having had an opportunity to reflect on my visit around that school I think I should have placed it first, but instead I applied or a church place at 2 village schools and will very likely get one.

If I ask the LEA to change my rankings will I effectively be then classed as a late application and be given whatever place is leftover? i.e. would it be better to wait and see what we are allocated and if there are any places left at the local primary?

I know I'm going to get a bit of stick for this post as obviously the situation is of my own making!
TIA

Is your local primary typically oversubscribed?

Last year it was but in previous 3 years it was undersubscribed so may well be.

Meant to include in OP that the one thing that I also concerned about with local primary is that it is currently an infants and junior school of 300 and 400 children but building work starts in next few months to amalgamate and make it therefore a really large school and I think this possibly put me off.

Wait and see. Once you've got your allocation, if it's one of the other two then accept it, but also ask the local authority to go on the waiting list for your new preference. It sounds like your odds are pretty good that you'll get offered a place, either immediately or later in the year.

Hi there, from experience I would have to say that if the school you really want is the closest to you, they can't really say no as you are in the catchment regardless of a late application, there always has to be a levy as people may move into the area at any time so they have to accommodate. I would get in touch with the LEA and tell them the whole application was incorrect and if you could re-apply as the choices you initially made were incorrect. It's always best to speak with them direct they can be quite helpful.

I did think that it would be a case of waiting until the places get allocated and then seeing what is left but as someone suggested I have spoken with the LA admissions department.

They say they are happy to receive an email changing order of preferences which I was rather surprised about.

Have to discuss with DH now and make sure we are serious about this!

Thanks all!

HI Custard that is what I thought that it would get treated as a late application but when I just spoke to the LEA admissions people they said it would be ok.

I must admit though I feel really nervous about doing it as i could, as you say, end up at none of my original choices.

I think if I am seriously considering it I will email them first to ask if this would then be classed as a late applicaiton as although over the phone the guy just told me no, it wouldn't matter I would need to be able to rely on some evidence if we were to make an amendment and it went wrong.

The good thing about waiting, as you suggest is that it is all official and at least by then it is a decision that has to be stuck to - i.e. I won't wake up two weeks later and think I shouldn't have done it!

Definitely do not do anything without getting written confirmation that it would not change the status of your application - an email would be fine.

I would guess that in a school with a three class reception, which has only been over subscribed once in last 4 years your chances of getting a place from the waiting list before september are pretty good. Definitely get it in writing before you make any changes.

Here there is no guaranteed catchment, if the school is full of siblings then even someone next door won't get a place. I have known someone change order of preference (though only day after deadline); she still got her (oversubscribed) first choice, but had to wait an extra day to find out.

You will be treated as a late application if you change your preferences now, despite what someone has told you at the LA, those are the rules and they cannot be broken. Stick with what you have and see how you get on in the first round of allocations.
You should accept whatever you are given if it is one of your preferences and then having accepted it, ask about places at your new preferred school. If there is a place available you will be offered it, if not you can go to appeal but the chances of success are not great, which si why I say accept what is offered before doing anything else.

Hi all thanks for all your advice.

admission I must admit I thought that is how it would work and the person I spoke to was the head of admissions at our LEA. However, even though he has said it is fine to change it we are going to wait and see what is allocated and then see what is left and decide then.

I do think it is a bit of a concern that they are giving advice out as they did though - particularly as I specifically asked if I would then be treated as a late application and also as it was the head of admissions I spoke to!

Nothing much I can say to that is there. Though there is always the possibility that the LA do allow people to change their preferences and they are just ignoring what the code says about changes after the cut off date. If you PM me with the name of the LA I will look at their admission document and see if they do have anything strange in their document.