More likely to get 1st choice if I write why?

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Just wondering if I should write my reasons for my first choice in my state school application? This is optional on the application, but I'm wondering if this will give us a better chance.

I have my heart set on the local outstanding school and a neighbour's son 3 doors down got a place last year, so hoping distance will give us a better chance.

Also, can I try and be a bit strategic by putting down good schools that are further away? That way they can't not give us our 1st choice

It won’t make a jot of difference I’m afraid.

No, they just have to follow the admissions rules to the letter

So theres no point in giving a reason on the form?

Also, can I try and be a bit strategic by putting down good schools that are further away? That way they can't not give us our 1st choice

You may get your first choice but it won't be because of stupid tactics like this. You may end up with a school that isn't one of your choices!

Ok, well if my neighbour"s son can get a place then hopefully my DD does as well

Nope. It makes no difference at all. And you can't force them into giving you a place at your preference by putting ones further away - if there isn't a place at your 1st choice and there is one at your 2nd you'll get that one. If there are no places at your choices, you will be assigned a place so you can get a bad school far away. ALWAYS put one school down that you have a good chance of getting into that is close to you, even if it is last on your list to avoid this

Regardless of the second and third choices you put down, if school 1 is over subscribed and you dont meet criteria or you do meet criteria and other children lived closer I highly doubt that putting the reasons why will push you over the line.
Remember everyone has a reason why- and to everyone their reason why is more inportant than anyone elses!

I would reccomend you put schools that you like and are convenient to you as your other options just incase you dont get 1st choice

For what its worth I did put my reasons why I have applied for school 1 and 2 but bery factual such as- distance convenience SAT results ofstead etc

What would your reasons be?

Perhaps if you had a compelling reason for needing the school (best accessibility for a disabled child, staff who know sign language for a deaf child etc). But not just cos you like it best.

The school is close to our house, and I did visit months ago and was very impressed with the results, Ofsted outstanding and with the facilities on offer- breakfast/after school club and violin lessons. The children seemed very engaged also.

Also, can I try and be a bit strategic by putting down good schools that are further away? That way they can't not give us our 1st choice

No, it doesn't work that way. If your other choices are all oversubscribed and you're also not near them then you probably won't get into them but it makes no difference to whether you get your first choice - of course they can not give you your first choice.

All you can do is put schools down in your honest order of preference, but try to include a fallback or two which have a realistic chance of your DC getting a place in, otherwise they may get somewhere worse or no place at all.

For what its worth I did put my reasons why I have applied for school 1 and 2 but bery factual such as- distance convenience SAT results ofstead etc

But these are key criteria for everyone else too!

There is another school that's a similar distance (straight line) but is not as well resourced as my 1st choice.

No you can't be strategic.

If you put 6 schools on the list and don't meet the criteria for any of them, they will allocate you another school regardless of how good or far away it is.

Always put your catchment school on the list, better to go to a close rubbish school than a far away rubbish one, while you get on the waiting list for the school you want.

Welcome to the world of education!
Everyone wants what's best for their child, there are scarce resources so the systems has RULES to ensure fairness. You have to abide by the rules but you can use their rules against them ( this applies at all times, not just admission) for example, child 1 may be in a good position because of living in catchment but might be in a lesser position than child 2 who is in the 'looked after' category.
Read up on the rules.

Everyone wants their children to go to an OFSTED outstanding school. Unless there is a medical reason then they won't care.

Your order should be -

1 - school you really want
2- school you would like (this is where you could put a further away school on the off chance it isn't full)
3 - school you are definitely going to get and would "accept"

If you don't put the one in 3, they will allocate you a place at the closest school with places. This could be a long way away and more than likely one other parents don't want.

My dcs are grown up now but I remember the days of people being left without a school place or one miles away because they thought they could play the system.

The only reasons which might be worth mentioning are if there's some factor which means your child should be considered to have a priority over other children.

'Choice' of school is a total illusion I'm afraid, unless you live in an area of such low population density that you have a number of under-subscribed schools near to you.

If you don't get a place at Choice1, and Choice2 is 10 miles away but has a space, you'll get Choice2. They won't look at the distance to Choice2 and think 'oh, better squeeze minidevil into Choice1'.

Your reasons are no different to anyone else’s! Just apply for the schools you want.

Be careful what you choose, the criteria will be nearest catchment school to you so if you don’t get the one you like they will automatically put you in the next one closest. You could leave one out if there are 2 very close by (and in catchment) and they may give you that one but I did that and still got the one I didn’t want which wasn’t even on my list!

OP. Somewhere on your councils website will be a list showing the furthest distance that places were offered for last year. Obviously each intake will be different, there might be lots of siblings getting priority in your year, or sets of twins etc, but it could give you a rough idea of whether your application has legs. But it is always worth a try, put the school first on your list as it is your favourite, but then list other local schools that you would be happy with and which are easy to get to. Putting out of catchment outstanding schools will not help you get a place at the school you want, but it will help fill the register at OverMyDeadBody Infants 10 miles away.

And as others have said, most people's wishes are more or less the same which is why local authorities stick to the criteria like superglue.

Put the schools you would like in the genuine order.

Make sure one of your choices is a school close by that you'd meet the criteria for and be happy to accept as if you don't then you'll be allocated any school with places.

The simple fact is that for most people "choice" is illusionary. The only time you can really exercise it is when you choose your home. Live nearest a popular school and you will get in, live further away and you won't. The distance criterion is the one that applies to most people. Wanting a school more than someone else isn't one, sadly!