Can someone who understands admissions please help me?

[Undertheboredwalk]

DD is due to start reception next September so we'll be applying soon, we are Catholic and so want to apply to catholic schools. Our nearest is 0.6 miles away and we are in parish for that one, it is oversubscribed but I'm fairly certain she'd get a place there. The other one we are looking at is an outstanding school and we would love to get a place there if we could, it is obviously very oversubscribed is 0.9 miles away and is in the next parish. I'd say our chances there are fairly low but we had thought we would try anyway, you don't try you don't get etc. but what I don't understand is the 1st 2nd 3rd choice thing. If we put outstanding school as 1st choice knowing we probably won't get in there and only other choice as 2nd are we risking the place there? Putting outstanding school as 2nd choice would I assume be pointless given that we'd almost certainly get given our 1st choice.
I'm assuming that you do just get allocated one school? Not offered a choice?

Any help would be massively appreciated!

Yes, you'll only be allocated one.

The order on the form only comes into play if you fulfil the criteria for more than one school, in which case you will get the one you ranked highest on your list. Therefore, put the one you really like but may not get into first, and your local one second.

That way, if there's space for you at the furthest one, you'll get it, as you have stated you would prefer that school over your closest one.

You also would be best advised to use all your choices by listing any schools you find acceptable and have a hope in hell of getting a place in, just in case you don't get a place at your second choice. It's better to be at a less-desired school you know and can get to, than be allocated one by the council which could be anywhere.

No, you would not be risking the place. Assuming you're in England, all schools must use an equal preference system.

Put your schools in your genuine order of preference (but make sure you have the nearest thing to a sure bet in there).

The schools are not told where you have placed them on the form. They just get a list of all applicants, with only the info relevant to ranking them. They then do the ranking according to how well applicants fit the criteria, and return the lists to the LA. Who then have the job of turning that into a single offer.

So you preference only matters if you qualify for more than one school. The LA will allocate the one you put higher up your preferences, and scrub you from the lists of the others.

It doesn't matter if you put the school 6th; you could get an offer ahead of someone who put it 1st if you fit the entrance criteria better than they do.

Ahhhh, thank you, that makes complete sense I don't know why I couldn't figure it out myself.
Off to look at other local schools for a backup 3rd choice option :)

Thanks!

Yep put outstanding school no1. parish school no2. Nearest school you like and could get in as No3