How to find out longest distance offered for a school last year, after the waiting list offers made

[nymom]

I know in the primary schools guide published it provides the longest distance offered last year for a each school. Am I right in thinking this distance was for the initial allocation only? How can I find out what the final distance offered was after all of the movement on the waiting list? I know this will vary from year to year, but I am just trying to figure out if I have a reasonable chance of getting into a particular school.

Thanks.

[ClaireClaire]

Hi nymom, yes you are right and it is a problem for parents trying to figure out their chances for future years. As far as I know, the furthest distance offered at the final allocation (after the shakedown) is not made available by the LAs.

So that is why the edf is so useful! There is a lot of anecdotal information on here about people's experiences of the waiting lists, and if you keep a close eye on the relevant threads, (and maybe a few PMs to figure out people's exact locations!) you'll probably be able to gather the data you need.

[Renata Hamvas]

Hi Nymom,

you are correct in supposing that the last place offered distance is for national offer day. There are no distances available for after that as the waiting lists move continuously and basically whoever is at the top of thee waiting list is offered a place when one comes up. Those getting places from the waiting list could live closer than the last place offered distance if they are late applicants (there are many of these in Southwark eg through relocation). Also, some families may have forgot to tick the sibling form and those children move up to the top of the list, the same as those designated with social/medical need after the offer day. As there is continual movement on the waiting list going into reception and beyond, it is not possible to generate this information. If there are alot of new applicants living close to a school, the last place offered distance could shrink for these new applicants (as all applicants will be ranked and highest ranked candidates get any places available). Be aware that if you are on a waiting list, you can move down as well as up.

I would certainly not rely on waiting list movements for primary school when applying for schools. Also, be aware that last distance offered places can vary alot from year to year (eg Heber's distance is significantly lower than last year). Bulging tends to cause last distance offered distances to expand for that year, and then shrink below the typical distances due to larger numbers of younger siblings particularly 2-3 years after the bulge. I would suggest applying for your closest schools, in order of preference and choosing 6 (and possibly putting down church schools even if you are not religious as if the don't have enough children of Faith, they go on distance). Also be aware that larger schools tend to have higher last distance offered distances than smaller ones.

Renata

[nymom]

Hi. Thank you for this information. I applied this year and put down all of my closest schools for my son. I did not get first choice school, which is heavily oversubscribed, and I am trying to work out if I have a reasonable chance of getting in. My first choice school is actually the closest non faith school to walk to, but not the closest via the straight line method. My closest using the straight line method is about 350 m away, but about a mile to walk to due to the street layout of the area.

The family directly over the road to me go to the first choice school, but the children are older and I think the distance has significantly reduced since then.

I guess I will have to wait and see!

[bobby's bear]

Hi there,

Does anyone have an idea roughly of the furthest distance non church place offered at St John and St Clements in the past few years, the southwark website doesn't have that info as it is a church school.

Thanks in advance.