Equal Preferencing

[Dontlickthetrolley]

Our local authority use equal preferencing to determine secondary school places (not sure if that is the same across the country?) so just wondering if anyone can confirm my understanding

School A is closer to home but has an aptitude test to be completed after the closing date for applications which then ranks by bands and a percentage of the top of each band is allocated a place.

School B is further away and an aptitude test has already taken place and we have received a positive response from the school - your child has shown an aptitude for the subject matter and whilst this isn't a formal notification of place we will let the LA know (only 20 places available for this test)

If we were to put school A as choice 1 and then didn't get a place because outside of the percentage for the bands, is it likely we would then get school B as we are now potentially in their top 20 and further up the list of criteria? I know nothing is 100% but trying to work out what is best.

Do the schools ever find out where they were ranked?

Thanks

Equal preference is in place across the country, and schools don't ever find out where they're ranked. If School A is your favourite, put it in first preference, and you aren't jeopardising a place at School B (if you don't get School A) as long as you also list School B on your form. Each school you list is essentially a separate application, and the order only matters if more than one school is able to offer you a place, in which case you get the school you listed higher. Always put the schools in your genuine order of preference, including at least one school you can be fairly sure you'll get a place at

Thanks for that @ChildOfFriday

The only school I could guarantee a place is the worst out of 4 I get to choose from (with 3rd choice requiring a potential house move eventually over going to the 4th option!) it's stressful this schooling lark!

Are you sure about the criteria for school A?
In a banding test they usually apply the standard admissions criteria for the school within each band: so Band 1 will be ranked according to Looked After / Siblings / distance (or whatever the admissions criteria are) and then the same for Band 2, and so on.

So if you live close you should be in with a good chance?

Anyway, the general advice is sound: lost the schools in the exact order you prefer them.

I agree with the previous poster that school A is unlikely to work the way you've described. If they are using a banding test, they are not allowed to use test scores to give priority within the bands, so they cannot legally give places only to those at the top of each band. This is specifically prohibited by the Admissions Code.

Thank you, yes I've just re-checked and it was my misunderstanding of the criteria.
I have now submitted and wait til 1st March for the outcome!