london admissions-tips for ranking

[fremde]

I´m very confused about the order in which to rank my dd´s secondary schools.

We´re sure she would get into the Anglo-European school at Ingatestone, because of only entering the UK 2 years ago. However, we have several others that we would prefer: Henrietta Barnett, Westminster and the Anglo-European school at Hockerill.
However, there are several problems there. She could only get into Westminster and Hockerill through the language apt. test, i.e. slim chance (btw has anybody got some copies of these aptitude tests??)
There´s obviously also only slim chance at henrietta Barnet, as she is bright, but had to jump 2 years up when entering the UK. So technically would really have to be a genius -which she isn´t. She´s done very well to get to a (weak) level 5 with 2 years less schooling than most of her peers (1 year less than the scholarship ones) and clearly has a lot of potential, is very capable, very impressive...bla bla bla. However, no school will take this into consideration and she will be compared with her chronological peers, who have been in the UK system all their lives and have been drilled to get into Henrietta Barnet, so that I presume they are looking for levels 6.

However, we´d still like to try getting into those schools. At the same time I´m worried that she might lose her place in Ingatestone, if we rank them lowest, simply because they might have allocated all their language places, by the time we´re handed down to them, going through all the other schools first. Any advice?

Rank in order of preference.

The school's do not take ranking order into account when allocating places.

It says this on the application form, and it is true.

The admissions system doesn't work like that. Your application will be sent to all the schools on your list at the same time. The schools will not be told where you have placed them in preference order. The LA will allocate a place at the highest preference school with a place for your daughter. So you will not lose your chance of getting your daughter into Ingatestone just because you've made it your last choice. So you simply put the schools in your preference order. It really is that simple.

Thanks - it´s just that Ingatestone emphasised heavily to put it first.

Another problem seems to be that, although there is a national deadline (31/10), some LEAs still have different deadlines, such as Hockerill in Herts - there it is the 22/10. I´m still waiting for Barnet to get back to me as regards henrietta barnett.
How can I ensure that my LEA hands it on to them in time for their deadline?

Regarding deadlines, I think it is the supplementary form which goes direct to the school that has to be in earlier (certainly for Henrietta Barnett), you don't need to worry about your local authority passing things on early.

Henrietta Barnett have a very informative website with dates and forms etc.

The other posters are correct you should put schools in order of true preference as position on the form cannot be used as part of the admissions criteria.

If you have six preferences you should put an acceptable local (that you are definitely well within the distance for previous years) non selective school as your final preference if you possibly can

As GypsyMay says, you submit the supplementary information form direct to the school in question.

The LEAs don't give your child's admissions form to schools. They send each school all the children's details together.

I'm afraid that many schools don't understand the way admissions work and give poor advice. The most common is "you won't get into this school unless you make it your first choice". Schools play very little part (if any) in the admissions process so they don't have to understand the system, but they really should avoid giving "advice" on things they don't understand.

Hi GypsyMay, I´m not worried that my LEA passes things on too early. Going by my council´s efficiency, I´m scared they will pass it on too late. I remember s.o. posting last year that sth similar happened to them.

Near Wapping/Tower hamlets are no acceptable stae schools, that I could list - unfortunately. Ingatestone is the only non-selective state school I´m considering. What happens if I do not supply a local state school? Will they try and ensure I´ll get into Ingatestone or will they just assign us to any local school?

The LEA can't do anything to 'try and ensure' your dd gets a place at Ingatestone. If she is not offered a place at any of the schools on her form, they will offer her a place at a school within their borough that has one available.

If your LA pass things on too late and you miss out on a place that you would have got if they had passed things on at the correct time, that would be the basis for an appeal which I would expect to succeed.

As Elsaz says, if there are no places available at any of your preferences your daughter will be assigned to the nearest school within the borough that has a place available. This may be some way away and it may be a school that you would consider completely unacceptable. It is usually advisable to put an unpopular but acceptable local school as your last choice. That way there is a good chance of getting into that school if all your higher preferences fail.

thanks guys.

Hi,

What I meant was that your local authority does not need to pass info on early, merely at the normal time in accordance with standard procedures. It is very common for people to apply to schools outside of their borough. That said, mistakes do happen due to miscommunications between boroughs.

Mums,

What is your view of Hockerill Anglo-European College? Clearly its a fantastic school, but having a choice, would you prefer to send your child to Hockerill, or to a solid grammar school like St Olave's?

Many thanks for your opinion.

Kris