CAF form done-now the wait (support thread)

[SweetsAndChocolates]

So have submitted secondary school choices.
I've mulled over the choices, for what seems like forever 😂

I don't want to think about it, but it's there at the back of my mind, sometimes I have a bit of wobble- what if I've made the wrong choice? 😭

March seems like a very long way away, so, anyone else in the same boat?

Feeling very nervous as 2 out of 3 schools we've chosen are oversubscribed 😑

Thought it would be nice to have a support thread, until the moment or truth!

Yay, I did fill on the correct form, the relief here is palpable! Accepted to first choice grammar, will be a happy little girl that wakes up. Hope the rest of you get your choices you want, fingers crossed for you all and thankyou to the OP for starting this hand hold thread a few months back, I needed it!

@ElvenDreamer that's fantastic news! Really happy for you and your dc, I can feel the relief

Not sure when our email will arrive, original message didn't mention any sort of timing, just 'during the day'. DS shot out of bed to ask if anything had arrived...better not take all day 😂

I have started another thread, as to my shock we received a place at second preference (grammar school).

Now the appeals/wait begins

Gosh @SweetsAndChocolates that was unexpected, just spotted your other thread, hope it all works out for your DS.

@ElvenDreamer thank you. Mind you, my family think it's the perfect outcome, why would anyone not take the grammar school space

The good thing is, if all else falls through with first choice at least the second choice is still a very good school

Hope everyone on this thread has managed to get places at preferred schools,

We went through the appeals process, but didn't get first choice. However, DS is very happy with the grammar school, so I guess it's all worked out. He had 2 transition days (one was half day), and he really enjoyed it!

We spent this week getting uniform / sports kits, and he's (for the first time) enjoyed shopping 😁

We went uniform shopping today... got the blazer, tie, pe socks and PE tops. Need to order the shirts and kilt as they didn't have her size. Then there's shin pads, bags, stationary...

@PuttingDownRoots it's an endless list 😫

We live in a small town and have had to travel to the nearest town and city.

Ooh, yay for a thread revival, I could do with people to stress with counting down to start of September! Glad your DS enjoyed his induction days @SweetsAndChocolates . DD certainly loved hers and cannot wait for September now.

Yes the uniform buying thing does seem endless doesn't it, I mean I did know it would be worse for secondary, but still was about of a shock. We had a uniform fitting appointment at the school which sorted most things and ensured me not messing up sizes for things like blazer, kilts etc. The sports kit list was endless though, shorts, skort, trousers, 2 shirts, sweater, swimming costume, socks and swim caps in house colours, shin pads, gum shield etc etc I managed to get a few bits preloved from the PTA which helped a bit with cost at least.
Next task, sorting out the bus journeys...

@ElvenDreamer I know exactly what you mean. Every visit I think we have all the required kits /accessories only to realise we still need to buy more 😫

I got the calculator today.

And the Primary school (which you ger DD is still at) has decided that all the children will wear watches so she needs something suitable for that.

Oh that's just what you need, primary having new ideas at the same time! I'm just dreading doing it all again next year as DS is going into yr 6 so next 11+ and then CAF stress starts again in a few weeks lol

@PuttingDownRoots that's annoying, i can imagine not all parents are best pleased with that.

@ElvenDreamer I do not envy you at all! I don't think I'd be able to go through all that again so soon 😂 I get a nice 5 year break before it all starts again for us. Mind you, I think it'll be worse as one will be year 11 and one year 6.

We have a few more things to gather (still 🙄), can't believe we're in August and still not quite done!

Hi can I ask from people who have experience of the form. I have a dilemma. I was considering putting a school at the top choice whose stage 2 results have not yet come out so its a long shot. Our second place school is also super selective though my son has the score for that. Is it a risk putting an oversubscribed superselective second as could you loose a place because of this positioning if someone with lower marks has put it first?

No, absolutely not. You should always list the schools in your genuine order of preference. The schools don’t know where you listed them, and the order only matters if you are able to be offered a place at more than one school, in which case you’ll be offered the one you listed highest. Think of each school you list as an entirely separate application, and in the very last step the computer will look at it and think “They can be offered a place at schools 2, 3 and 5, so offer school 2”. It doesn’t matter in the slightest that it was number 2 rather than number 1.