Bolingbroke Academy Wandsworth

[SavoirFaire]

Anyone know how things are going at the new Bolingbroke Academy? Anyone any experience of it? Are they at the main site yet, or still camping out?

Bumping-because I'm interested on any views too.

My daughter's there. They are the proper site now and it's very impressive inside. Lots of buildings works going on around but I don't think it effects them that much. Bit early to say how good it will be academically but my daughter is enjoying being there. The days are long but that doesn't seem to worry her. Quite strict and lots of homework but that can only be a good thing!

Thanks. Didn't even know they were on the proper site now - that's good to hear.

Thanks Sarnie63. I didn't know if they were in the school yet either-have kept checking the website but there's nothing on there to say that they've moved in.

I did go to an open meeting earlier this term (held in Battersea Arts Centre because the school wasn't open) and I was a bit surprised to hear the Head say that the school was over-subscribed and therefore parents should list the school 1st on the CAF. I'm pretty sure that Wandsworth operate an equal preference system so position on the CAF should make no difference.

It will make no difference where you put any Wandsworth school on the form as they make offers dependent on how closely your child meets the criteria, so you could put a school in 6th place and still get offered a place if your child matched that particular school's admissions criteria more closely than any other school on the form

Yes that's my understanding basildonbond. But it's not what was said in the meeting. I know at least one person who acted on that information too. I was really surprised that the Head said it, given that it's incorrect.

Hm. That's interesting Marni. I would drop the Council an email about that if I had heard it first hand. It's really important that those sorts of rumours don't get out as they can really skew things.

The HT at Chestnut Grove also said that when we went for an open day. Like you, I was a bit puzzled as well - it's obviously a common myth among teachers. I wonder if it gives the school some sort of funding edge if it is listed as first choice by a lot of people?

Possibly. Or maybe they think it will get them more of the DC who will contribute to a good performance in the league tables. Those two schools are in 'competition' for kids, given their locations. Find it difficult to believe that they don't know what they're saying is incorrect. It's a pretty straight-forward system (if you're in education and have the facts to hand).

I think the head teachers are broadly right. the ranking does make a difference. Every school is "matched" with the applicants for a place at their school. the matching takes place in the order in which they meet the school's criteria and then in order of ranking, eg after in care, SEN (statemented), siblings then it's pupils who meet school's criteria first (eg selective or distance to school gate or faith), then ranked in order of preference. so if the school was non-selective and all the children who lived within 25 feet of it had ranked it 6 they might all get allocated to it as they were further away from all the other schools. But if some had put another school no 1 and that had not filled all its places with the children closest to it they may still get a place. If they'd listed it 6 they would be unlikely to as those who had ranked it higher would get offered first.

That's interesting Dawntreader - I have never heard it expressed like that before but I see your point. Would be interested to hear what one of the admissions specialists said about it.

I suspect that what HTs mean is 'if you really want this school, put it first', on the grounds that if you don't put it first you might get offered another school higher up your list instead.

As understand Dawnraider, that explanation is not correct. Under the English Equal Preference system (it is different in Scotland and Wales) the school never knows where on your list you ranked them.

Each school looks at all the applications made to it, irrespctive of where they have been placed on the preference list. They then assess the applications against their admissions criteria - . Their list will typically offer to Looked After children, then faith, or selctive / siblings / SEN etc and then proximity to the school, and they will place these in a ranked order.

The school then tells the LA which children they can make offers to. The LA looks at all the offers, and automatically selects the offer to the parent from the school which is highest on their preference list. The LA automatically declines all offers from schools lower on the preference list - and these places will then be released for pupils lower down the schools ranked offer list. This process continues by computer until all the parents have an offer and all the schools places have been taken up, and the offers go out.

If a parent has not listed a school which is able to make an offer, based on thier admission criteria, the LA will offer any school in the borough with an available place after all the applicants to that school have been made offers.

This is why it is essential that you do list schools in order of your real prefernce, and it is OK to put your 'long shot' choices first and your 'dead cert closest school' last, for example.

The equal preference system is law, in England.

I have read Dawnraiders explanation again, and yes, I see what you mean now.

The bottom line is, you will only get one offer, and it will be the offer from whichever schools on your list are able to make you an offer is highest up your list.

So if you do the selective test for a school and get in, but have put it 6th, and your neighbourhood comp is 1st on your list and can offer you a place, you will only be offered your neighbourhood comp.