primary school applications..HELP!

[misstimms]

Again I know this is late in the day, but can somebody please advise me to how much the schools/LEA like parents to write in the preference part of the admissions form?

Basically we are out of catchment for all 3 schools,Ds is our first to go to school so the sibling rule doesn't apply and we are a mixed faith family (RC & CoE) who don't attend any of the approved churches for the CoE school. Ho hum.

Would be delighted to get into either our 1st or 2nd choice both are wonderful schools and my problem is I have no idea if short, bullet point reasons are required or long gushy to the point of sycophancy are prefered!!
Sorry for the long message but any pearls of wisdom would be much appreciated. thanks

anyone..???

I'm no expert, but i'd keep it snappy
if you do worship anywhere, even if it's not one of the approved churches, I'd mention it when applying to the c of e school

thanks myeye.

as far as i know (although i have no experience of CofE schools) if you out of catchment you will be far far down the list at any school youapply to. surely there is a school you in catchment for? i don't recall having to write any kind of bullet points for why i should send ds1 to that school

I think that they're only interested in anything which would affect where you would come on the pecking order (ie order of prefernce if school is oversubscribed). So church attendance might be relevant (though usually if it is the school would have asked for an additional form). Any special needs should be mentioned, as well as anything else which could affect the outcome.

Thanks ladies - there is a school we are in catchment for but it's failing, and i KNOW we should probably send ds to it and be proactive and dynamic but i feel we would be the only ones there trying. That sounds awful, sorry.

Have you attended any playshools or mother and toddler groups supported by or held in a church. It may be a long shot but worth mentioning??

Where do you live? Where we are the criteria are very clearly laid out in a pecking order acc to SEN, siblings, distance etc... Church schools have their own pecking order, but regular attendance at church is number one. With over-subscribed schools (which, let's face it, are usually the only ones we're interested in!) rarely get as far as Rule 5 in allocations.

Its not awful to want the best for you child. I will also be applying out of area as my local schools are in deprived areas and the reports are poor. Its good we have a choice, it used to be you automatically sent your child to the nearest school whether it was poor or not.

Not sure what the real problem with our catchment area school is - it's actually in a good area but the teachers all seem demotivated, the clasroom seem unruly I just know ds (who is very bright - I know aren't they all!!! ) would not thrive there.
I just feel like I'm taking a huge gamble and have soooo long to wait to see if it pays off.

we are in bucks btw

is it really late in the day? Where we are primary school applications are January for Sept 2008

Our deadline is the end of this week...

Well, they call it choice, but its not really. You get all excited going round schools and finding one that you really like and that would suit your child down to the ground, and then wake up to the reality that, if it's that good, then everyone else wants it too, in which case only those who live on the doorstep stand a hope of getting in. We've been through this with primary and now secondary and it makes me cross that the Government trumpet "choice" when it's nothing of the sort in practice.

clam you have hit the nail bloodly well square on the head

Also, in my experience, the written preference section seems a bit irrelevant. It used to carry weight in Herts until they decided less-articulate parents were at a disadvantage. Not sure why they include it on the form really. I added a couple of brief bullet points just to show willing but in the end it was the address that counted.

Wasn't keen to have to start submitting essays on the varying merits of each school in order to secure a place!