If I only put it 3rd, will DC2 still be guaranteed a place at DC1's school?

[ArtigeneAuberchoke]

DC1 goes to a v good and oversubscribed school which we no longer live very near. We would never get in on location now but the admission criteria puts sibling priority above address (and with 60 places each year there are always more places than siblings).

I would prefer DC2 to go to a new free school so want to put that as option one on our application form. I want to put a school nearer our new address as option 2. Our chances of getting either of these options are slim. My question is will I jeopardise DC2's chance of a place at DC1's school if II put it only 3rd? Or does order of preference not affect things?

Bump. I promised DH we would do the application tonight and i'd really appreciate some advice (I am having last min doubts).

In our LA the schools don't know what order you have put them in. If it is not your first choice why are you bothered?

You're correct. For each and every school that you name, you will be ranked on that schools entry criteria. You will receive one offer, from your highest rank school where your ranking means they can offer you a place. Your third placed school will not know that you have placed them third (though if you get a place at one of the other 2, then they'll realise that you didn't put them first:)).

Thanks. I'm bothered because we are unlikely to get choices one or two and I'd much prefer DC2 go to DC1's school than the terrible primary that is nearest our new address.

Thank you too Ladymuck.

The reason I'm doubting is that last year our option 2 (a very oversubscribed school) was forced to take a bulge year. The school agreed but only if bulge places were only offered to those who'd put the school first. I thought order of priority was irrelevant so was really shocked when the LA agreed.

Assuming you are in england, it will not have any effect on whether a place is offered. The LA will look at all the applicants for each of the schools you have expressed a preference for. They will look to see whether you can be offered a place at any of the three schools and then if more than one can offer a place then it will be the school that you placed highest in your preferences.
I have to also say that there is no guarantee that you will get into the third preference school, only a damn good chance given that you have a sibling at the school. If there happened to be more than 60 sibling applications then you may miss out because of the distance but that would seem an unlikely situation.

It depends on the LEA, where I live/work they give an equal chance of each school then give you your highest ranking one to which you are eligible ( if that makes any sense!)
Therefore no, it wouldn't jeopardise bt I can't be sure all LEAs are the same

I thought all LAs used equal preferencing, or has that changed with academies managing their own admissions?

It does not depend on the LA. All LAs are required to use equal preference. Academies don't change that. Whilst an academy is responsible for its own admission arrangements they still have to operate within the Admissions Code. That means they cannot give priority to people naming the school as first preference. To make sure this doesn't happen the LA will not tell them whether an applicant has named the school as their first choice or last choice.