Admissions primary

[geojojo]

I know there's a few threads about this and I've read them but still a bit confused. I don't know why I'm finding it so difficult!

I visited a school (a) last week which I loved but we would be quite far down the admissions criteria. It's a church school and while we do attend a church, we don't attend the one attached to the school. We also live quite far from it and it's very popular. I know we don't stand much chance of getting in it.

There is another school I really like (b). It is also very popular but we live closer and another child on our road did manage to get a place last year but I think that it is unusual.

There is one more which is close and is fine (c). My child would probably get a place there and I would be happy with it.

There are others nearby but I don't like them as much.

If I put A down first, does that mean that I would stand less chance of getting B and C because they are second and third rather than first and would then get one of the ones I don't like as much? Do I put C down first as most likely to get this and don't want to risk getting one of the ones I don't like? Sorry for being so easily confused...

No, the schools don't know which order you put them in are the system works by "blind preference" which means that all your preferences are treated equally.
Put down the schools you want in your genuine order of preference, just make sure that you have at least 1 school which your child will certainly get a place in.

Put A first because you love it best.
B second because you like it next best.
C third because it is a safe banker.

The fact that B is second and C is third makes no difference whatsoever to whether you qualify for each under their admissions criteria. Read those admissions criteria and you will see that it is not a relevant consideration.

Of the ones you do qualify for, you will be allocated the one highest on your preference list. This is the only stage at which it comes into play.

Exactly as above, but just to emphasise the importance of putting your last choice as a school you would get into, otherwise if you don't get your preffered three they can put you anywhere.
Your council will have past records of who got the places, look through all of them to find out your chances.

Massively helpful, thank you.

Where would I find those records? I've had a brief look on the website and can't see them. Would I need to ask?

You put down the one you want most first, your second preference second and third you put down one you wouldn’t mind but know you stand a good chance of getting. The schools don’t know what order you put things in so it won’t affect your chances and by putting at least one “dead cert” you won’t Fisk being allocated a school you don’t want at all