Secondary allocation (Bristol) - first choice offered, but want to change order of preferences?

[SlobDylan]

Hello, I’m looking for advice as I’m not sure I am clear on what our options are.

LEA is Bristol.
First choice (offered) is BCCS
Second choice (now wanted) is Trinity Academy (both schools are same Academies Trust),

• DC offered first choice place.
• We now think she may be happier at second choice place (we are in catchment).

Things I don’t understand:

• Is ‘changing order of preferences’ different to ‘going on a waiting list’?

• In the reply I got from my initial enquiry email to LEA, they told me that the offered place at first choice school would be held/reserved until outcome of second round of allocations. Is this correct? (The official online guidelines don’t make this point specifically).

• If we are reordering our preferences, where would we be in the allocation order of second round places?

Huge thanks if you’ve read all that, and I’d be grateful for any advice/experiences.

Changing the order of preferences is different to going on a waiting list. However, at the moment you won't be on the waiting list for your second choice. The LA may insist you change the order of preferences before they put you on the waiting list.

I would trust the email regarding how long the place will be held. There is no universal rule about this. However, the Admissions Code is clear that parents who have not responded to offers by whatever deadline the LA sets must be contacted again before the offer can be withdrawn.

We you are in the allocation of second round places is decided entirely by the admission criteria of the schools concerned.

Thank you for replying @prh47bridge . I was able to change order of preferences and hold initial offer place pending e old round allocation outcomes.

and hold initial offer place pending e old round allocation outcomes.

and how is that possible?
You have a deadline by which you have to accept or decline. Those who accepted are still on waiting lists for their higher preference meaning accepting doesn't take you off the waiting lists for higher preferences and still you can change to higher preference after you have accepted the current offer.

Not accepting current offer is against the rules.

I think it's possible because OP is using terminology slight differently.

What has happened is that she has been advised to hold on to her current offer (to avoid risk of being left with no place at all)

But has been added to the waiting list for her new preference school. And then if a place at her preferred school comes up, she will relinquish current offer. It's exactly the same situation as a family who received offer from the second preference school waiting to see if they got lucky with the first; the difference is only that they have changed their mind and so had to ask to be added to the list for the school they now prefer the most rather than automatically staying on lists for higher preferences

>I think it's possible because OP is using terminology slightly differently.

if she means accepting and waiting for the rest when she uses the word "holding" then ok it makes sense