Primary School Application Help

[babydad]

So we have visited four Primary schools recently in preparation of applying for a Sept 2017 place for our DS. In all honesty we only really liked 3 of them , but think we should submit 4 just in case.

However, I am now questioning wether its a good idea to enter the maximum of 6 even though we are struggling to find 2 other schools.

Anyone know the best tactics for this horrible procedure?

Do you have any idea of how oversubscribed each school is?

Surely you wouldn't put down a school you hadn't even visited though would you?
You wouldn't choose a wedding venue without seeing the hall first!
Which one did your DS like the most?

But your favourite 5 schools in order of preference, then put one school that you definitely would get in to as a back up (probably your closest school).

Our DS hasn't been to the schools with us, but he is aware of the one we prefer as its located on the way to his nursery.
Being in London, all our choices are oversubscribed. There are no guarantees to get into any.
We live on the edge of all the schools catchment areas.

There is no need to worry about tactics in the sense I think you mean.

You should fill all your preferences in in true order of preference, making sure you've got a banker (or as near as possible).

This is because applications are blind and schools aren't allowed to give extra points for e.g., you putting them first preference. You also don't stand any more chance of getting a place at your top fave by only listing that school. The risk here is that you won't get top fave and the local authority will then allocate a school of its choosing.

All the above is providing you are in England.

You need to look at last year's admissions. Were the schools oversubscribed last year? Would you have got a place? Your LA will have this information, including the last category admitted and the last distance if they use distance as a tie-break.

The number of schools listed isn't so much of an issue, but you MUST try to include a school that you are almost certain to get into (usually your closest or priority admissions area school). Otherwise, you could end up being allocated a poor school miles away.

As someone who was in a huge birth year - fill in all 6 spaces or you risk the chance of ending up somewhere miles away because you didn't put down anywhere near you.

If you get one of your lower choices then go on the waiting list for the schools you preferred as lots of things change from offers day to September.

with regard to finding two more to put on your form....

You could see whether any other schools that would be acceptable to you have already said they are having a bulge (extra) class this year or have increased the number of children they'll admit. Your home local authority should be able to tell you whether that applies to any school. Higher intake numbers usually translate into bigger intake areas.

Depending on where you are, you could also check whether any new free schools are opening near you for 2017. Sometimes, you can make a separate application to new free schools if they're managing their own admissions in the first year of opening.

Make sure you understand religious oversubscription criteria and their (likely) importance if any schools you've visited are faith schools.

In London don't leave blank spaces, you could end up anywhere as they do pan London applications.