Primary admissions 2013. Couple of questions if I may. Bristol/south Glos

[BambinoBoo]

Hi, I'm in Bristol but am posting here hopefully for the traffic. A bit of background. We are on the border of South Glos and Bristol; but our local council is Bristol. We have been to look at several schools and our preferences will be 1. Catholic school in our parish in Bristol which is 0.7 miles away (DS isn't baptised but I am - which is next after siblings in the case of over subscription); 2. Nearest school in south glos - which happens to be our closest school overall. Is a CofE (DH is CofE); 3. Is our second closest school which is also in south Glos.

There is a space on the form to include a statement in support of your preferences. My question is, should I add anything? Does anyone really take notice of it? I don't really have anything to add, but don't want to not say anything and be left like the mum that couldn't be arsed. We have researched schools thoroughly although I am still really worried as my first choice would be the local prep but DH doesn't want that so I am going against my gut feeling somewhat. But that's a whole other thread I think . Additionally, am I a bit mad to put the furthest school - albeit the nearest one under my local council - ahead of the logistically closest schools?

So sorry for rambling. I would be really grateful for any advice please. Only have one child so not faced this before. Thank you.

That space is not used, I have written in it, just to make sure someone didn't over look my child was a sibling, but I don't think it is looked at at all. Do make sure you full in any relevant supplementary application forms and send them to the correct places.
You should put the schools down in order of your true preference, also use all options if possible (because you might prefer a "rough" school close to you, to a similar school on the other side of Bristol).

Don't worry about the statement in support of your preferences. Anything you put there will be ignored unless you have information that will move your child into a higher admissions category, but there should be somewhere else on the form for that sort of information. Schools are not allowed to make subjective judgements based on your stated reasons.

If the furthest school is your preference you should put it first. It sounds like none of the schools you plan to name is very far away in any case.

Thank you mummy time. I am definitely putting in order of preference and using all 3 choices. Thanks again.

I think that you made honest decisions about which schools you prefer. The admission form does have a space for you to include a statement in support of your preferences but actually the only thing that matters is the admission criteria of each school, so no need to add anything.
None of the schools will know which other schools you will have applied for or in what preference order.
The way that the system works is what is called the equal preference scheme. What this means is that for each of your three preferences the LA will end up with a list of all the applicants in admission criteria order. They will then see if you are far enough up the list in any or all the preferences to be given a place. If you could be offered a place at more than one school then they will offer you the place at the higher preference ranking school.
So if the admission criteria for the nearer schools, you put down as 2nd and 3rd preference, is based on distance criteria you should have a reasonable chance of an offer of a place at one of the schools. A place at the catholic school is going to be far more dependent on the number of applicants in the siblings category and then how many in your category live nearer to the school. You are doing the right thing in putting it down as your first priority - it is the one you want but probably the least likely one that you will get an offer of a place at.

Ph47. Thank you. Yes, our furthest school is our first choice and just over half a mile away so not too far. Plus I have my baptism cert to include with the supplementary form, meant to say that mummy time.

Wow. I don't think I have ever felt so torn over something, it has really stressed me out. Bonkers isnt it.

Thanks again.

Thanks for explaining that Admission, really appreciate it. I guess we are taking a risk in putting the catholic school as our first preference, but we know it will rely on the number of baptised children and siblings and therefore could go either way. I would be happy if DS ended up at our 2nd choice. Not completely sold on the 3rd but that was mainly because the headteacher seemed cagey about selection for mixed year groups, but I saw some excellent teaching and some very engaged and happy children hence why it's still a preference.

Bambino - you are not taking a risk as each school will assess you based on their entrance criteria, then you will be offered a place at the highest placed school where you qualify - so the order you put them in does not affect your likelihood of getting a place at the others if you put them further down your choices. The schools will not know what position you put them in.
p.s. if 2) and 3) are Christchurch and Staple Hill Primary I think you'll be absolutely fine at either!

The only thing I would add is that if you have younger children, check the admissions criteria for both Bristol and South Glos. I believe that Bristol gives siblings priority but South Glos does not.

Thanks again all.

ok depends where you live.If you on about christchurch infants i know lots bristol people who did not get in. ds freind goes shes grace road but next road along kimberly road dident as thats past bristol sign. I know someone who loves ledbury road who dident get in either again shes bristol.if you downend road you might its based on distance not faith at coe as voluntry controlled.

dd started at rc primary sg-few from fishponds go there.
we provided baptosm cert coe-we had no siblings at school, went to attached preschool , was very close adress wise to it-it was undersubscribed that year.So unsure if we were lucky.

St jos in fishponds is on the up good ofsted but not great grounds.

other than that schools worth a look

chester park just had good ofsted
staple hill-new build good
tynings staple hill was going double intake.
possibly even get standbridge which sg but commutable was in special measures now on the up and has fab feilds was my 3rd choice.

feel free to pm me if want more info.

I know people whop go to most of those schools.

i would avoid oldbury court-even if it is and academy now and dr bells

dd now on 2nd primary now coe.

it used to be at time mine went that 2freinds did 2separate applications with each council therefore giving them 6choices not sure if can still do that way..

The above poster is incorrect, you only fill in the form for one LEA which in your case is Bristol (as this is the area where you live and pay Council tax) and then they pass on your details to South Glos.