Distance help

[Gileswithachainsaw]

Dd1 is due to start secondary school next September.

I have been checking this year's allocations to see where I may or may not stand a chance of getting in.

When they measure distance is it as the crow flies or is it via roads/paths

Obviously there is a fair bit of variation between say Google maps and a distance calculator online.

Don't worry I know I have to put the local school no matter how badly on don't want it just to ensure I don't end up miles away at a worse school.

But my preferences and order will depend on how they work it all out.

Oh and can you still do the whole waiting list thing or applying for second/third rounds of allocations?

Tia

And the appeals, what can you appeal.on ?

Oh and also...the local recently got slammed on pretty much everything by ofsted. How long realistically will it take to turn things around and what happens if they don't?

Is it helps - go on right move and look at a house near the school and then go on schools - it gives you the area shape - worth a look

It depends, different places do it in different ways. You need to go to the council website and download their booklet for secondary admissions and check the wording. You might also need to check individual schools' policies.

Thanks...

I shall have a more in depth look tomorrow. I was just trying to see if we were with in the distances they went out to this yr.

If its done like Google maps I'm fucked

If it's ATCF I scrape in with 2 others and might stand a chance.

Shall try and find out. Will the LA say over the phone?

It varies. Some do crow flies, some do safest walking route, some have catchments. None will use Google maps though ;-)

The admissions criteria should be on the LA website and/or the schools websites so you should be able to see them easily. If not if you want to PM me I can see what I can find.

Thanks

Alot to look into tomorrow then...

Suddenly dawned on my I'm going to have to go look soon as will be applying this yr

When deciding you put your choices in the order you truly want, it is an equal preference system so you don't have to play some complicated place based game. You will be offered a place at the highest ranking school that you meet the admission criteria for.

Just make sure one of your choices is your banker (if possible) my 3rd choice I didn't really like but if it had all gone belly up, it was better there than it 'any school that has a place'.

Yes the local is going to be no3 if she has to go somewhere crap it might as well be somewhere easy to get to and I don't have to pay multiple bus fares to send her there...

Schools are likely to have open days in September, but some do them in July so don't get caught out.

Definitely look at criteria now to see if there are defined catchments etc.

Thank you both :)

Also, the council education office are usually very helpful. If you call or email them with your address and postcode and the school's you are interested in, they will give you the distance criteria and the actual distance measured as they would record it.

Well I managed to find the admissions policies online and they state they use the straight line thing. On this basis we stand a chance all be it a slim one on the last criteria. Number 6 kids outside catchment.

Obviously there's no way of knowing how far they will come out next year but as I am listing catchment school and all applicants have been offered a pace there then I will be able to fall back on that at least.

It is currently however I'm special measures so I really am hoping it turns itself around.

Maybe not be asking them about September 2018 entry, in the two weeks following National Offer Day for September 2017 entry

Ha no don't worry I had already thought of that..

Have a look on the website again - it should have a distance calculator too - you'll put in your address and it will produce the distances that are used for admissions. In terms of appeals, they are reserved for very real situations only e.g. Genuine medical needs.