School selection criteria

[katalex]

I have 2 questions about school selection criteria.

I emailed the LA asking for information on 4 schools that we are interested in for dd next year. I asked them to list how many children were selected for each criteria.

3 of the schools are C of E but only allocated places based on Sibling, Distance and LA Allocated. I have only been to visit one of them and they told me that they allocate up to 50% of their places based on religion. They also told me that they have 30 places. According to the information I was sent, last year they allocated 13 places to siblings and 17 based on distance from school. Do you think they just didn't have any applications signed by the local vicar?

Also, one of the schools allocated 6 places to siblings, 18 places based on distance and 21 places were LA allocated. The key states that this means 'Not offered a parental preference and allocated this school by the Local Authority'. Does this mean that they were undersubscribed and the LA gave the places to children who hadn't been offered a place at their parents' preferred schools?

I'm going to reply back to ask these questions but they take ages to respond and I wondered if any mners had any insight.

I think it's quite common for Cof E schools to not get all their church places filled - depends how many church-goers there are that year.

The other school does sound like it was undersubscribed.

Have you visited the schools yet? The HT might be able to tell you more.

Thanks bigTillyMint. I was surprised to see that none of the places were filled by church goers. We've got visits booked for the other schools in early November so we'll ask.