School allocations coming up!

[Inyournewdress]

I was wondering how everyone is feeling about the upcoming allocations next week, and if anyone has any intelligence about how this year looks?

From what I have heard from a couple of friends who work at primaries, applications were way down which could bode well for some of us. But so many local factors!

If it's much closer a cut off than in previous years that suggests a high sibling intake. People will have got in from further out in previous years on distance, with their eldest, but if loads of those children have a sibling in this cohort those children would get in ahead of other applicants who are the eldest child in the family, despite many of those other applicants living much closer. It's how it goes some years, sadly.

It depends on the area and the admissions criteria, though. In my area, children in catchment (without a sibling at the school) have priority over out of catchment siblings. That avoids the problem of siblings living further away getting places over children living closer.

I know what you're saying but catchments can be much bigger than just 0.2miles. I wasn't meaning that siblings out of catchment area getting in ahead of local kids, as most schools do prioritise catchment children over siblings out of catchment. I just mean that plenty of children did likely get in from slightly further out than 0.2miles (but still in catchment), it's just that they had siblings already at the school so were prioritised. Depending on the school, catchments vary widely. Well to be honest, catchment isn't even really a thing any more. They just go on the 'lives closer to the school than any other' rule when it comes to prioritising.

Got our first choice. We live on the border between two Local Authorities, so I called a couple of weeks before offer day and it transpired that my DD's application hadn't been processed properly. Both LAs were pretty evasive, but after forwarding paperwork and previous email communications with both LAs showimg that I'd done my end of the application exactly as they had told me to, and they conceded and fixed it before offer day. If I hadn't checked, DD would not have got a place at our preferred primary. Mistakes do happen with Admissions, so worth checking just in case they've got things wrong on their end, as if they have you can appeal and get in that way

Some areas still have Priority Admissions Areas, although most don't. Its those who prioritise catchment over siblings.

You can get into DDs old Primary school from three miles in one direction but only half a mile in another due to the catchment rules.
(Secondary even crazier, the school is on its catchment boundary but goes 7 miles out in one direction!)

I agree. Not in London. This year far more people did not get their first and second choice in the local area than previous years. People are not living London and less people are paying for private primary due to VAT and cost of living.

Question for people with regards to being on the clearing list for your first choice, please. Are offers made on a case by case basis or is there a second round of clearing, etc..?

The waiting list is ordered according to the original admissions policy, so others can join ahead of you if they meet higher priority criteria.

I agree. Not in London. This year far more people did not get their first and second choice in the local area than previous years. People are not living London and less people are paying for private primary due to VAT and cost of living.

Birth rates have dropped in London but schools have reduced PANs and some have closed. So it's not a given you will be more likely to get your first choice. The popular schools are likely even more popular.

"The total number of pupils applying for a place in London's primary schools has dropped once more with 83,581 - a decrease of 2.1% compared with last year."

"The number of pupils receiving their first choice school was 87.9%, a drop of 1.2 percentage points from last year."

This interesting , so suggests that a drop of 1.2% to those receiving first choice - not too dramatic as the horror I have been imagining with VAT and cost of living.

I genuinely can’t sleep at night at the moment worrying about it.

I think there is a second round after the deadline for people to respond to initial
offers. Our deadline was 30 April so I think some second round offers are expected in mid May.

In Orpington/Bromley Council - very disappointed we didn’t get any of our 4 choices. We’re only 0.47 miles away from our first choice. Not sure what to do now. I’ve heard there hasn’t been much movement in previous years for this school. Should I consider moving to target other schools? Our first choice is the closest to us, but I’ve added 3 more preferences as additional options.

I called the council today, but they refused to tell me our position on the waiting list. They said I have to wait until 19th May. Such a long wait…

@pblpieng ask them if any schools have vacancies, there might be one further away you wouldn't mind. Did they give you any school?

council offered one school which isn’t on our preferences. We’re going to accept it first but lean on the waiting list. as this is really not a school we preferred.

I have added two schools near my work place which are in different borough but at least they seem not oversubscribed when I checked the data.

Crofton is a 6 form intake so there is always lots and lots of movement there. It’s obviously HUGE, but ofsted outstanding and a fantastic school. Gets lots of funding due to its size and I have lots of friends very happy there. Might be worth speaking to Bromley council about adding to your waitlist if not already on it.

Which school were you given?

I heard crofton is great, we have put Crofton on our list! Our closest is Perry hall and they have given us Harris primary academy.

we have crofton, Tubbenden, warren Road, and a few schools further in the waiting list as additional schools - that’s why we are considering if we need to move to area which covers more schools.

Changing location won’t matter. My son was at Bickley park and we moved him mid year to St George’s half way through yr1 despite the fact we are out of the normal “catchment” area. If you apply mid year your location doesn’t hugely matter - if there is a space that opens up and you are the only one on the waitlist you will get the place regardless of where you live. Location does come into play if there are multiple people on the waitlist as those closer to the school will take priority as per the schools normal admissions criteria, but I wouldn’t move for that reason alone. Tubbenden is also a big school - I honestly think you have a good chance at getting a space at one of those. If not before September then soon after.

right.. I see! Will call the council for waiting list position on 19th May then. Actually I have put my child to one school from different borough which just next to my work place. I checked they are not oversubscribed, just in case.