Filling in schools application

[marscapone]

I am in the process of filling in primary school application for my son. My question is whether or not filling in the 'reason for choosing this school' box makes any difference. Should I be writing an essay on why chosen school suits us best and we are desperate to go there (which in my case is simply the location), or does it not make any difference at all? Will filling it in help if we wish to appeal?

Thanks

[edanna]

There's a bit about it in the booklet about admissions. I'm no expert but I get the impression that it's supposed to be about factors that mean that this particular school is suitable for your child and others aren't e.g. you really want a Catholic school.

[Fuschia]

Only if you are applying to a church school or under one of the special factors- looked after children, sen etc. Most cases are decided purely on siblings yes/no and then is it your closest Southwark school (and after that but they never reach this criteria - distance from school)

[crompo123]

Fuschia Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Only if you are applying to a church school or

> under one of the special factors- looked after

> children, sen etc. Most cases are decided purely

> on siblings yes/no and then is it your closest

> Southwark school (and after that but they never

> reach this criteria - distance from school)

Is that really true, that southwark schools never get to the criteria of distance to school----is that just in the case of the exceptionally popular ones- i knew the situation was bad, but i can never tell how much is exaggeration...

[Fuschia]

crompo123 Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Fuschia Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Only if you are applying to a church school or

> > under one of the special factors- looked after

> > children, sen etc. Most cases are decided

> purely

> > on siblings yes/no and then is it your closest

> > Southwark school (and after that but they never

> > reach this criteria - distance from school)

>

> Is that really true, that southwark schools never

> get to the criteria of distance to school----is

> that just in the case of the exceptionally popular

> ones- i knew the situation was bad, but i can

> never tell how much is exaggeration...

I'm afraid I think it is, or it was, pretty much last year (moral: always include your closest school in your list!)

There was a detailed paper that went to scrutiny committee on this topic which included a lot of info, it's linked to somewher eon here. You can ask a school/LA for the numbers that got into your preferred school under each criteria.

[Fuschia]

http://moderngov.southwarksites.com/Published/C00000115/M00002784/AI00005638/$PrimaryPlacesRpt.docA.ps.pdf

[nunheadmum]

Does anyone know if the schools (or whoever allocates the places - not sure if it's the school or the council) actually receive info about what position you put the school down as i.e. whether they're your first or fourth choice? It would seem to make sense if they did but I thought I'd heard somewhere that they didn't - but I've also heard inferences of the opposite.

Don't know about everyone else but I'm finding the whole process exhausting. I'm hoping we stand a good chance of getting into our first choice in Southwark which is clearly the best option for us but having to do the legwork to find another 3 options and 4 more in Lewisham just in case the world goes mad and we don't get into no1!! But can't not do it, just in case...!

[Fuschia]

nunheadmum Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Does anyone know if the schools (or whoever

> allocates the places - not sure if it's the school

> or the council) actually receive info about what

> position you put the school down as i.e. whether

> they're your first or fourth choice? It would

> seem to make sense if they did but I thought I'd

> heard somewhere that they didn't - but I've also

> heard inferences of the opposite.

>

The LA will have allocations made by computer, based on your list of choices. Not sure about church schools.

[bonaome]

If you're on Facebook, there's an "East Dulwich and Peckham Rye Primary School Places" group with lots of discussion about the ins and outs of it all.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=120669739604