secondary applications and how to order them

[cakeymccakington]

ok i'm begging someone to please help me here.

Before I start I just want to say that I'm autistic and I'm really obsessing over this, so please be kind to me! I'm really sorry if tons of people have been asking this stuff lately.

I cannot decide on a school to apply for for my son. There is only one school that I've visited that I've actually really liked and can see him settling in well at. Unfortunately it's Catholic and we are not. Last year it didn't admit any non-church going children, so it's not looking good for us. BUT, I do feel like I want to list it just in case

What I want to know though, is if I put the school closest to me as my second choice (still not my catchment school) and someone else who lives further away puts it as their first choice.... would they get it over me because I've only put it second?

I've actually emailed the admissions team already this evening but they say they are taking 10 working days to reply to emails because they're so busy right now, so I am counting on you knowledgeable people to help me out here.

I know that people will say it's pointless putting a school as first choice when it's so unlikely that we would get a place, but I just feel I need to at least TRY for a place there. I'm genuinely really cut up about it and wishing I hadn't visited and seen how lovely it is!

anyway, i'm nervous blathering so i'll just post this now

What are other parents at your primary considering? Or is your primary in catchment for O?

H has a brilliant Progress 8 score, the best in Crawley! Could he cycle if he got that?

Or what about ICC? All applicants got in there last year.

You say you loved the feel of the faith school, what has your son said about the schools? And have you been to see TB?

He's at primary in Horsham, so all the other parents are choosing schools there.

He basically appears to have no opinion other than he likes the colour of the uniform at O

I'm considering ICC but I haven't visited it yet. I have a friend who is happy with it though and she has 2 kids with asd who have been well supported, such is a good sign I think.

I have a child in yr 5 as well so also need to think about him, he is autistic but doesn't have an EHCP so ideally the school needs to work for both of them!

I think whatever I put as third choice, if I don't get offered a place at O I would try and appeal it

The basic advice is that you should pretty much always put the school you can guarantee you will get into on you list. Otherwise you could get a school just as bad/worse and a long/difficult journey.
Exceptions would be you have a choice of schools you will get into eg. Because of sibling rule. Or you hate the school so much you genuinely wouldn't send a child there (would HE or pay private instead).

If your first choice is unlikely, then I would start gathering evidence and thinking about how you would appeal for a place now.

Thanks.
Our catchment school is under subscribed so I'm pretty sure if all else fails we'd get into it.
But I may name it anyway, just in case.

If we don't get one of the top 2 I'm very strongly considering putting him on the waiting lists and appealing, and home educating in the meantime.

Hi OP. Fellow autistic obsessive here.

Make sure your third choice is one that you have a genuinely good chance of getting. Either your catchment school or a further-away school that always admits plenty of people from your category/distance.

If you use all 3 of your preference slots for schools that you have a slim hope of, there is a good chance you will be put in an even worse situation. However awful the catchment school is, it is less awful than a school that is just as awful AND 10 miles away - which is a genuine risk if none of your 3 choices are realistic.

I don’t think this is a hard decision from what you’ve said:

1. Catholic school
2. Nearby non-catchment
3. catchment school

Worst case you get allocated 3 and appeal / go on waiting lists. Sounds like you will probably.