Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Does school preference affect admission

12 replies

Lostinbrum · 07/10/2025 14:00

I wonder if anyone knows an answer to this...
We have two very good schools walking distance. We visited both and much preferred the school 1 due to embracing arts, drama creativity etc. School 2 is very much academic based. We are only just inside the catchment of school 2 and paid a premium on our house 10 years ago because of this. If I apply for non catchment school 1 as first choice, catchment school 2 second and we did not get in to our 1st preference would that put us at a disadvantage of securing a space at the 2nd choice?

Tbh either school would be a good school but I feel school 1 would be a better fit for my non academic, sporty creative child as school 2 is very results and exam driven. Both schools are very oversubscribed and I don't want to ruin our chance of getting into either because I didn't put the catchment school as my 1st choice.

OP posts:
LetItGoToRuin · 07/10/2025 14:07

No. You will get offered the highest school on your list for which you qualify, regardless of whether it was your first choice. That's what the Equal Preference System means. All preferences are treated equally.

Here are some useful worked examples. They are for Birmingham but the same rules apply across state schools across the country.

https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/info/20119/school_admissions/1778/apply_for_a_secondary_school_year_7_place/2

Making a realistic application: examples of how the secondary transfer process works | Apply for a secondary school (year 7) place | Birmingham City Council

Advice and guidance to researching schools to include as preferences for your child's application. Admissions criteria.

https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/info/20119/school_admissions/1778/apply_for_a_secondary_school_year_7_place/2

IdaGlossop · 07/10/2025 14:12

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

Comefromaway · 07/10/2025 14:13

No it doesn't. Schools by law have to work on an equal preference system. You will be allocated whichever school you meet the criteria for in order of preference.

TeenToTwenties · 07/10/2025 14:14

@IdaGlossop You are wrong. Please report your post and get it deleted. The equal preference system is explained well in the post above yours.

Comefromaway · 07/10/2025 14:14

you will be disadvantaged for school 2 if you haven't put it as first choice because preference will be given first to those in catchment who did put it as first choice.

This is incorrect. Schools are not allowed to give priority to those who have put it as first choice.

IdaGlossop · 07/10/2025 14:16

This reply has been deleted

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

I've asked for my post to be taken down because I zm wrong. Apologies.

IdaGlossop · 07/10/2025 14:17

TeenToTwenties · 07/10/2025 14:14

@IdaGlossop You are wrong. Please report your post and get it deleted. The equal preference system is explained well in the post above yours.

I was doing this when you posted. Apologies again.

Original poster
Lostinbrum · 07/10/2025 18:04

That's helpful thank you. School 1 our first choice has catchment priority 3 and distance as last priority 6. Says from last years intake the last child accepted had a sibling in school and lived closer then us so I don't think we have a chance. School 2 lists catchment as priority 6 and also has feeder schools so it's not looking good for us for either :(

OP posts:
clary · 08/10/2025 00:19

Lostinbrum · 07/10/2025 18:04

That's helpful thank you. School 1 our first choice has catchment priority 3 and distance as last priority 6. Says from last years intake the last child accepted had a sibling in school and lived closer then us so I don't think we have a chance. School 2 lists catchment as priority 6 and also has feeder schools so it's not looking good for us for either :(

What are the higher priorities for school 2 then?

If they are LAC and EHCP naming the school then those will be small numbers. Ditto DC of teaching staff.

If feeder schools come before catchment (is that regardless of where the DC live?) then what kinds of numbers are at the feeders and how does that stand up against the intake? What I mean is, if the feeders have (say) 90 year 6s in total and the intake is 220 then you may be OK.

If not either of these schools, what school is more likely for you? Is there one which is closer than either? make sure you put it on your form somewhere or you risk a poorer performing school a long way away.

Buru · 13/10/2025 23:59

Just a word of support: these lists move. We started off with #5 on our list three years ago, then got #3, and then #2 before the end of May, which would have been actually the best for us at the time. Interestingly, our #6 back then is our #1 now with the second DD. Things do change.

ParentOfOne · 14/10/2025 08:46

@Comefromaway This is incorrect. Schools are not allowed to give priority to those who have put it as first choice.

Yes! I can't believe how many people say the opposite.

This year I have heard two headteachers make very convoluted speeches suggesting parents to put their school higher up the list "to be sure". Many parents walked away thinking that this would affect their chances, but, as you rightly point out, it does not. After one headteacher says something like this, you get dozens of parents repeating the same thing at the school gates.

ParentOfOne · 14/10/2025 08:51

Buru · 13/10/2025 23:59

Just a word of support: these lists move. We started off with #5 on our list three years ago, then got #3, and then #2 before the end of May, which would have been actually the best for us at the time. Interestingly, our #6 back then is our #1 now with the second DD. Things do change.

Yes, big time!

Typically I think the big driver tends to be people who apply to both state and private, and use state schools as a back up option.

So waiting lists tend to move more for the coveted state schools which are seen as decent alternatives to private ones. I can think of a couple of schools which are really good, and get good academic results without resorting to dictatorial policies like Michaela, Mossbourne, etc, yet the waiting lists don't move much because they are in poorer areas, the % of free school meals is higher than average, and the parents who consider private schools would not want their little Reginald mixing with the plebs.

Also, some councils / schools do publish by how much the waiting lists move between March and August, but many do not.

There are of course people moving in and out of the borough, but I think not as many as those going private (the Brexit year was an exception).

New posts on this thread. Refresh page