Applying for secondary school

[Abstardust]

I'm now applying for secondary schools for my eldest. I've put down 3 options with the closest school being option one.
My understanding is if we don't get preferred choice then they work down the list until we get one. If you don't have other options then the LA will just allocate a school in the area with space.
A mum at school has said this is wrong and if I only put one option they'll only offer that school (apparently knows people in admissions) and by putting the 3 choices they'll just pick from the list.
I'm now second guessing myself that I've done the right thing, we'd be really unlucky not to get first choice due to criteria but would be ok with the other choices though would struggle if randomly got a school further away.

@Councilworker

Also admissions officer at a council. We definitely don't tell schools what ranking you gave them. Occasionally this comes as a surprise to head teachers "but we only want the parents who put us first" said the head of a new Free School. Sorry that's not the way it works. I offer help to parents every year in the authority I live in (work elsewhere) and always get told by someone that I'm talking rubbish. Nope...it's been my job for 8 years and I really do know my stuff.

me too - people don't want to hear it do they?

@clary @unhappyatschool @Councilworker @unknownstory thanks so much for all your advice, that’s so helpful.
I had a meeting with the Head today, and she also put my mind a bit more at ease too.
I was worried, as out of the 6 options we’d need to put down, I would say she would prob stand a chance of getting into two (one we really like and is one of the nearest - 0.8 miles away and our ‘banker’, and the Inadequate one which is nearer, 0.7 miles away). My top choice we are in catchment for, but only just, at 1.9 miles away.
The other 3, she would need to pass certain criteria - language aptitude test, music audition, and a fair banding test, respectively. (The fair banding test outcomes determine whether we’d be in catchment or not).

@tigerbear we also live in London and there is a lot of waiting list movement so you may well get a higher preference school some time after offer day. My DD was 70 something at her first choice a week or so after offer day. She started there last week.

Please don't listen to your friend.

I work in admission appeals.

I live in an area where there's one over subscribed school and one very over subscribed school. The head of the former tells parents that if they don't put his school as first choice, they won't get in. Every parent who repeats this bullshit gets a 10 minute rant from me. Either the man totally doesn't understand the admission process, or he is outright fibbing. Neither a good look for a headmaster.