school choice

[schoolchoicedilemma]

DS had chosen his first choice of school, we were both happy with it and it's a lovely school.

School A is the one we chose. None of his friends were going there but it's the one recommended by several teachers, has a good OFSTED report, has slightly higher results in the exams, about 6% higher. It has higher levels of deprivation.

School B used to be the school to go to and my eldest went there and did well. DS didn't like it when he looked round and I wasn't keen. The OFSTED was pretty dire, which was expected. The new head called in OFSTED and got some good stuff in the report due to changes that he has already implemented. The general feeling is that the school is going places and will be the place to go to soon.

DS has now changed his mind and wants to go to School B as all his friends are putting that as their first choice.

I can't decide whether to change it or not.

When do you have to decide by? Our date for getting the form in was 31st Oct so we are too late to change unless we want to be regarded as a late applicant.

Assuming state you're too late, unless both are undersubscribed, in which case wait till allocations are out. Changing your mind now probably means you'd be treated as a late applicant and possibly not be awarded either place.

January is the deadline here.

I'm guessing this is somewhere other than England (or a junior school) then it appears the secondary deadline in England is 31st Oct nationally.

I think you should stick with school A but if you find he really doesn't settle then look to moving him. A fresh start is more often (although not always) a good thing.

Some authorities will permit preference changes, amongst schools already named on the form, until later, but they will want a better justification than "I changed my mind".

They will be much less likely to accept putting new schools on the form which weren't previously there, because (particularly if it's an "own admission authority" school) the process simply doesn't permit it.