London Secondary schools - could you help me understand application process?

[solittletime]

Thank you!
We are moving back to London after some time overseas. I went through application process for reception some years ago and it was very straightforward - catchment area and distance. Being in West London catchment area for good local school was less than 0.5 miles for reception entry! At least it was quite clear what chances you'd have.

When we move back Dd will go in to year 6, and I guess we will quickly have to suss out local schools and make an application.
But from reading threads and remembering about children in dd's old primary it seems like it is not as straightforward as just catchment?

I thought if we moved within a mile of local good state secondary we'd have a good chance of getting in, but do secondaries take other factors in to account? They can't be selective can they? Do they interview students, look at grades?
For example there is a great secondary not far from where we want to move, it's about 1.2 miles but out of catchment area. Would there be any point putting that as first choice?

Would welcome any advice and clarification on this... thanks!
For the record private and grammar are definitely not options for us. Dds are averagely bright children, no learning difficulties but not geniuses either.

Could push one a bit on music and art and the other looks like she'll be quite sporty, if that helps at all!

I guess my main question is whether it is all about catchment or if there are other factors involved.

thanks again

Don't decline the offered school! If you do, then the LA has done its bit and doesn't need to help you at all - so if you didn't get a wait list place come Sept, you'd be stuffed. Accept and get on all the wait lists you can of preferable schools.

thank you for your reply dinky. The waiting list will be available after the 29th of March, not sure if is there anything else I should do before that.

I'm near struggling as I know that school possibly slightly south..
re academies free schools...
A lot of the senior schools are academies (in Hounslow I think all bar a couple) its mainly about how money is allocated/accounted although there seems to be less parent involvement as well as far as I can see...

Free schools are a completely different kettle of fish...these are political experiments to try and create new school places with less connection to the LA and to avoid some legislative stuff like having to have x number qualified teachers/standard contracts...
Near here they are all very new - this can be a good thing if you like the 'feel' and want to be in a small school but there are definite down side... and if you need and SEN support would not recommend as they just dont have the resources
there is one co-ed and a boys church one in isleworth coming this year
think theres another planned for brentford way which was co-ed not sure how they've got on with getting a site.
the admissions in this area work the same if they are free or not is all on teh same form..

Generally the all girls are church bar 1 and are over subscribed so you probably wouldn't get put in the non church one if its not on your list.....but you may end up too far away from the good Hounslow schools - I would be very careful where you move to...

thank you tiggytape, I'll look into to this more carefully. Am thinking of not accepting the offer and would consider home schooling until he gets a place. do you think its possible?

Sounds like you're getting far better advice from others on this thread Morena! Apologies for duff advice.

I second to just check you are going onto any waiting lists. I had to actually contact one Catholic school to make sure I was on the waiting list, even though the LA information indicated it would be automatic.

Thanks Avery - would you mind if I pm you later?

no problem - will be offline for a bit but back later (must to what i;m supposed to be doing )

If you are thinking of any of the church schools , gumley, st marks or green school make sure you go to church and get your priest to validate that you do. The Green school is C of E but also has a certain number of places for members of other world faiths. Girls do go there from a fairly wide area

Thanks Mary. Do you have any insights on those three ( haven't seen st marks? Will look it up)? Or recommendations? ( if you don't mind!) Got to get my head round this single sex schooling thing!

only word on the street. St Marks is co Ed. Very well regarded catholic. Virtually no chance on getting in unless you are catholic.
Gumley catholic, girls only, seems a bit of a marmite school. People love it or hate it. I think in common with lots of all girls schools some girls suffer bitchy behaviour. Has a wide catchment if you are catholic.
Girls I've meet from the green school seem happy. Again well regarded locally. Has girls from Chiswick, Hounslow and Twickenham so big area due to religious criteria.
I assume you know the area.

Thanks for that! Word on the street always helps!