Anyone actually get out of catchment school?

[FreshCop]

Did you get an out of catchment school you put down first? Would like to know the probability of getting it.

I'm basically one road outside of it!

I've just submitted my application today.

We did but I guess it depends on the school

My daughter has classmates who travel past 2 or 3 other schools but our area isn't over subscribed at primary level

We did for primary. No hope in hell for secondary.

Yes. It was a pain because we had to pay for own bus fares and not entitled to a bus pass. But it was the nearest grammar school so we sucked it up.

Yes we did, we're slightly outside the normal catchment but we have 2 other schools nearer

Yes but it was very last minute because somebody gave up their place a few days before the start dates.

Yes but it was very last minute because somebody gave up their place a few days before the start dates.

Congrats to all those who did!

If you look in the education section of your LEA website there will probably be a document that shows the category and distance of the last place offered for each school last year, or if you give the name of your LEA posters here could help you to find it. That should give you an idea of if it's realistic for you to get in this year, though of course things can change from year to year. If it isn't there or you can't find it, you could send an email and ask them for the last distance offered a place in the last few years at your schools of interest.

Answers on here probably won't be helpful as they will vary so much by area and school- in some places many schools will offer plenty of out of catchment places every year, in others it may be almost unheard of and everything in between these two extremes. As long as you also listed your catchment school (or another that you can be almost certain of gaining a place at) somewhere on your form, you have nothing to lose by listing your preferred out of catchment school first due to the equal preference system.

We did, it's actually our closest school though and the catchment areas don't really reflect how people interact with their local area. It's the inner city and there's a lot of primary schools and going out of catchment is really common.

We did for Infant and just about to apply for out of catchment juniors. Our neighbours go to a different out in of catchment school so it's quite possible in my area

In our area this is very possible, from some streets you could get a place at any of 4 or 5 schools. Have you looked at the admissions stats on the council website?

Birth rates have been falling in many areas so even though people tell horror stories about how hard it was to get a place a few years ago, that may not be the case anymore.

We did, it's actually our closest school though and the catchment areas don't really reflect how people interact with their local area. It's the inner city and there's a lot of primary schools and going out of catchment is really common.

I'm inner city too, in Liverpool if that helps anyone who is well informed.

I put 1. Out of catchment that I’d prefer and the other 2 are catchment schools, my last one is an undersubscribed school so at least if all fails I’ll have a school on my doorstep?

I was then thinking to get her on a waiting list at that point...

The undersubscribed school has no extra curriculars or PTA etc.. Not much home involvement or fundraising which is a shame.

@FreshCop
You can start a pta! You can be a governor who takes a lead in the school and it’s community.

No school area/situation is identical. I know schools that are not full and take all of catchment. So you could list 5 of them and get a place at your favoured one. Then change your mind and walk into the four others.

OP. The only way to see your realistic chance is to look at the offer data from previous years.
I can't find a helpful single document but they should be able to tell you the last admitted category & distance.

We did and we were the furthest away from the school without siblings already at the school, so if anyone else had applied who lived closer we wouldn’t have got in.

2 years later some families who lived outside catchment couldn’t get siblings in as too many closer to the school applied

So not always a guarantee

OP. The only way to see your realistic chance is to look at the offer data from previous years.
I can't find a helpful single document but they should be able to tell you the last admitted category & distance.

By they do you mean the school? I've submitted my application now anyways. Fingers crossed!

It's a 5-10 min drive away rather than a walk but worth it imo.

You can start a pta! You can be a governor who takes a lead in the school and it’s community.

I'm not sure you can just get in there and make changes like that... I think governors just review documents, share perspectives when asked and sign up on this. I don't think you can make changes or introduce new things to the way the school does things or the curriculum.

Think lack of disposable income for a lot of families is an issue so fundraising, trips and extra curriculars don't have high demand.

The school should be able to tell you last category & distance offered for the last few years.

I presume you have put your catchment school on your list somewhere?

You can resubmit your form any time up to the deadline.

@TeenDivided my 2nd and 3rd are both catchment schools. I thought it was better to do that and at least ill have the waitlist to fall back on... I'll call the school then and ask them. Thanks for the tip

You can set up a PTA if you want & can get the support of other parents & the school. I'd imagine the school would be all for it!
Lots of schools are in deprived areas & still can fundraise, you just need to be creative. Lots of support & advice for PTAs too - I should know, I'm the Chair of ours & our school has less than 50 pupils & we still make money & can fund stuff for the school.

Being a governor is different - for that you are overseeing policy, strategy, financials etc & that has less of an impact in the short-term on the ground.

@APurpleSquirrel i think the PTA is exactly what I want to start getting involved in, especially preloved uniform, finding sponsors and getting the kids visiting places.

Then definitely see if there is one at your DCs school when they start & join. Or if not, look into setting one up.
This is a great FB group with loads of resources, ideas & discussions:

www.facebook.com/groups/1531201603821543/?ref=share

Yes I did, but it entirely depends on the school, the level of subscription for that school etc etc
Just because a certain % of people did, is no indicator of whether you will.
Whether you are one road outside or 15 roads outside catchment makes no difference (I don't think)
I don't mean to sound a dick but you're best asking the school, rather than us lot

The role of governor can depend on whether the school is state maintained or part of an Academy Trust. There will usually be a Community Lead governor