Secondary school application- can I create account first without applying

[Beachhutsandsand]

As today the Application process opened I wonder if I can just create my parent account without applying for school first?
I mean like save it and come back when I will view the schools?
Or do I need to apply for school place on the same time I create the parent account?
Also Does the time of when account was created make any difference to the outcome?
Like first come first served in that sense?
All of the schools are pretty far from where we live, I don’t even know where they are actually as I don’t drive, so it will be pretty difficult to even get there for my child.
No public transportation, just walk few miles (3) each way.
I’m absolutely dreading it really.
In some way I want to apply today but not even sure for which school, in other way it probably won’t matter what school she will get anyway as all too far..
Worried mum.

All applications are equal, as long as you apply by the deadline.
If you are more than 3 miles, you should be able to apply for school transport.

As Around says applying early doesn't help - just submit before the deadline. I would expect you to be able to make your account whenever, as anything else wouldn't be sensible.

What area are you in?

Have you looked at the criteria for each school?

In some places (like where I am in Hants) there are defined priority admission areas, and/or linked primary schools.

The local authority should have a document somewhere showing which criteria / distance was last offered for previous years, this will give you an idea of what schools you have a chance of getting in to.

If there is a school which you will nearly definitely get in to, make sure you put it somewhere on your list, even if not keen. Better a poor school nearby than a poor school 10 miles away.

But put schools down in your true preference order, schools can't discriminate against those that put them last.

Thanks all. All the schools are around 2.9 miles.
None are close to easy walk like we walk now to primary which is just over a mile which is fine.

@TeenMinusTests how do you find the last years document about distance was offered for previous years. ?

For Hampshire I googled 'hants schools application data'.
It should be on your local authority schools admission web area somewhere.

If they're all 2.9 miles, you're not guaranteed free transport (unless there is not a "safe" walking route). It's probably worth looking on the schools' websites and ringing them if necessary to find out what the transport situation is. There may be a school bus route that comes past/near you that you could pay for a pass for. Check whether that's "if there are any spaces" and how likely that is. (Such a bus may be primarily for those slightly beyond you who qualify for free transport, but often there are spaces left which can be offered.)

Secondary schol children are expected to (and do) walk or cycle 3 miles to school. Remember your child will grow up somewhat in the next year. Unless the 3 miles is along a motorway or something. Where I live you have to complete the application in 1 go, but you can go back and amend as often as you like. There would be no advantage to doing this as opposed to just waiting to put your application in fully though.

You need to check the actual distance used (usually 'as crow flies') between your house and each school. LAs often have a calculator on their websites you can use. Whatever is the nearest check then check the walking distance - if this is over 3 miles your dd will get free transport as long as you listed it first.

Thanks everyone.
It’s 2857 metres to the nearest school, I checked on the LAs website.
It’s walk in underpasses, along dual carriageway, big park, not a nice area for 10 years old girl to walk on her own.
Looks like I will have to walk with her, at lest first year or meet her half way. Where we live there is not many kids her age to walk with her.

If you can show that the shortest safe route in a lit public road (so avoiding the park for example) is over 3 miles she should still qualify for free transport.

2.8 km is less than 2 miles, OP. Is it metres or miles?

You also only get transport to your catchment school (unless it is full and you are assigned another)

If that's your nearest school, then it's pretty likely there will be other children from your area going there so she won't be on her own. Could she cycle? Secondary school children would not normally be walked to school by their parents. Do you have an alternative slightly further away school that has an easier walking route?

@Ducksurprise

You also only get transport to your catchment school (unless it is full and you are assigned another)

This isn’t quite accurate. Most areas of England don’t have catchment areas. You’ll only be offered LA funded transport to the school you’re allocated by the LA (usually the closest school, but not always) is over 3 miles or if there’s no safe walking route. In one school I worked in, all pupils got free bus passes as no route was considered safe.

Back to OP though, you can apply any time up to the deadline; it will make no difference to how your application is considered.

Similar to this, put your choices in genuine order of preference. Schools can’t allocate places based on your order of preference (as in, they can’t insist you put them first)

I don't think that's quite right either. It has to be at the nearest school at which a place was available. So, if OP doesn't put her nearest school on her preferences list and gets offered the 2nd furthest school, then she won't be eligible for free transport if she'd have got a place if she'd listed the closest school, and closest school is under 3 miles, as in OPs case.

If she lists the closest school first and gets second closest school, aand that is over 3 miles then she is eligible.