Someone talk to me about admissions via postcode allocation?

[3asAbird]

New free school primary.

says no catchment its

look after
siblings-only been open a year.

then the resr is random postcode allocations from entire city.

How the heck does it work?

30places does that mean 1 space per postcode?

so if i was only one in my postcode crazy enough to apply as far away then chances are good?

or is it as many apply who live in these postcodes put in hat and name drawn out like a raffle?

I heard of senior schools doing this but never primary.

I think brighton introduced lottery few years back make it fairer.

anyone been through this process and what was the outcome?

im not normally lucky person.

but would give sibling a link
and linked admission to attached seniors

hence why im considering this crazy option.

Could you identify the school please and I'll see if I can figure out what they actually intend to do for you. If you don't want to name it publicly feel free to PM me.

message sent with link thanks. not seen thsi type of admission at primary before its huge cathment whole city.

Is this the new primary free school in Bristol linked to the co-ed former independent school that is now an academy?
When we looked round the secondary school they had a chart up to identify where the students lived by postcode and not all city postcodes were represented so I would guess not. (Secondary admissions are banded entry test + lottery so would expect the lottery bit to operate in a similar way but without the banding).

thank you crazy mum yes it is.

its a random choice

we live within Bristol postcode.

I know seniors banded but guess primary just lottery ie if you within postcode apply. seems to have a few from all over will be very mixed intake location.

If it's the school I think it is, the list of criteria in this document seem to imply it is random allocation from particular postcodes which are : BS1 to BS25, BS29 – 37, and BS40 – 49

if its within bs1 right through to 25 not missing any numbers then im within that.

Its such slim chance but other local schools im looking at oversubscribed so is it worth wasting a choice as only have 3?

What they are doing is using postcodes to define a priority admissions area. It is not one space per postcode or anything like that - with 44 postcodes and at most 30 places (probably less after looked after children, siblings, etc.) that wouldn't work. They simply put everyone who lives in one or other of the relevant postcodes in a pool and select randomly from that pool. Your chances are the same regardless of which of the listed postcodes you live in or how many other people apply from your postcode.

thanks prh how does 1st, 2nd and 3rd preference make a difference?

its different la to where I live but have to choose 3 through my la and complete form direct to school.

This was possible 2nd choice and possibly wasted choice as its so few places.

I doubt many will be mad enough like me have siblings one school year apart and 2014 be 2nd intake. so few siblings, 3 looked after kids this year suspect now its open it be oversubscribed option.

wish lottory schools gave me a extra option.

All admissions are based on what is called equal preference, so each of your preferences is looked at separately to see if a place can be offered based on the admission criteria for the school.
Only if a place can be offered at more than one school will the preference order become important in that then the single offer of a school place will be to the school that is your highest ranked preference.

No I don't think it would be a wasted choice OP.
The theory is that all children applying (after Looked after , SEN? and siblings) have an equal chance of being offered a place regardless of where they live. There are areas of Bristol where the local schools are so oversubscribed that some families find it very hard to obtain places at their nearest schools, so if this applies to you it would be worth applying.
The only other comment is about home to school transport. If you have chosen a school more than 3 miles away from where you live, you won't receive any help with transport costs. If you or your OH work in the city centre that would definitely help.
HTH

Correction the distance should be 2 miles for primary school - the 3 miles if for secondary school!

Actually it is 2 miles up to age 8, 3 miles thereafter.

But does anyone know why they have chosen this unusual method?

I think it is because the secondary school uses fair banding but also has a city wide catchment. Interestingly the other bristol secondary school in a similar situation opened a junior academy rather than free school. Their junior school has a very small catchment with guaranteed entry (for the girls) to the linked secondary school. Not sure why they are different?

I think putting one lottery school on your form is fine, so long as you have a good chance with at least one of the other schools.

My DD1 is at the other secondary school I mentioned, so we faced the postcode lottery and won - so glad I put it first

Marmite im putting it as no 2 on list.

will be different to senior admissions as no test or fair banding.

will just be random selection everyone who applies providing they live in city postode so huge area. Bristol council are saying theres shortages in that ward yet the new free school wont address that and theres bad feeling about it moving to ground floor of libary.

The reason it tempts me is gives dd2 a school from age 5-18 and her younger sibling whos boy sibling link so then just have to worry about eldests senior application in few years time.

But i know its random no control. not sure if fairer than catchment as it takes wealth out of equation but will cost me to commute.

free schools wont make huge difference as so few places in random locations.

Theres bristol steiner had go ahead but no location or admissions details yet.

I looked round the school yesetrday liked it but still felt independent/niche with state funding.

also will make both girls and choir school much harder get into as be more sibling links/priority.Whih will make the schools more closed and harder to get into.

Will look both for eldests but dont want risk putting 2lottery schools down.really think they should count as additional choice.