CVMS-Music places and MAT

[Magicma]

Hi all,
DS is applying to secondary schools for a music scholarship.
Is there a way to apply for Cardinal Vaughan but only for a place in their Schola Cantorum (and not automatically for a regular place as well there)?
When do you hear whether your son is offered a place as music scholar there (in October after MAT and before submitting your list of 6 schools) or i Marc on National Offer day?
Cardinal Vaughan is a long commute for him, so he d only go there for a music place. I am worried that if we put Cardinal Vaughan as our first choice hoping for a music place there then learn in March that DS finally does not get a music place but a “regular place” at CVMS, we are ruining our chances for another school that would be closer to where we live and where he could get a music place but that we would have put after CVMS in our 6 preferences… Anyone has been through this process and has some advice here?

I've booked on to the music test too for now but am almost in the opposite position of not being sure if I'd want him to accept a music place if he got one. :-) It's not particularly clear what the expectations are on their time and likewise it would be a long commute.

I didn't see anywhere that passing their MAT guarantees you a place in the Schola Cantorum though...

I'd give Admissions a call or ask them at the test. My understanding was that they pass more candidates than they have music places, as they don't know how many will ultimately take up places.

The important thing I'd clarify with them is whether there's any way of making your CAF preference conditional on getting a music place. I don't think there is - so if you put CVMS first and qualify for a normal place, you could be offered that instead of a lower-preference school. You could then potentially pursue waiting lists for schools you preferred to a non-music CVMS place, but I wouldn't rely on that without checking the arrangements with your council/the other schools first.