School choices

Honestly, the reasons aren’t really ever looked at, so don’t worry too much about it. It’s only really if you have reasons that are part of the admissions criteria for schools. For example, if you’re choosing a school that’s far away because of the childcare, putting that you need wraparound care in the reason box won’t make any difference.

I didn't know you had the option to put reasons 🤣 I've chose 3 schools all pretty much out of area so can't wait to see what I end up with! 🙃

Any school I have visit said it’s a low birth rate year so it’s highly likely most people will get their first choice even if it’s out of area. That might differ across different counties though. Maybe focus on aspects of the school and how it would benefit your child. E.g the school values, small classroom size, extra learning support

That's really interested @Edel because I'm a teacher and we want our daughter in at our infant feeder school (I'm a junior school) and it's out of catchment. We've been told that because our babies are born in a year where there were alot of lockdown babies, it's going to be a high intake year so people may struggle to get their first choice if its out of catchment. I hope you're right!!

It is a low birth rate year. I’m a deputy head and we’ve forecasted the amount of extra places we’d likely have this year, but putting out of catchment schools comes with risk- it’s all down to the population density and competition per school place, how many villages or towns are closer as the crow flies etc. For some, they will get into a school 5+ miles away, for others that’s just not going to happen. Always best to have a closer to home school on the list as a back up, or risk local authority allocation to a school that could be much much further away and/or not a school you’d like anyway! All the schools we liked most are out of catchment, but we’ve applied strategically to ensure he will, in the worst case scenario, get a place at the local school.

That's so good to hear @Chloe I wonder why we've been told by my head and the head at our infant feeder school it's unlikely. Good news for us though!!!

@Charly maybe they just know about their demographics in terms of where your cohorts typically come from/how far the catchment typically extends? The head at the school we really liked did say they’re anticipating being full again (they’ve never been under PAN) and from a wider catchment but it’s still just not enough to include our village when you look at the straight line distance, just can’t pin our hopes on it at the detriment of the other choices/options. Do you not get priority as part of admissions criteria, as you work for the school? Or do they operate separately from the juniors?

@Charly oh really! Maybe it’s the area, I’m in Surrey Heath and was told most preschools and schools have space because of the low birth rate. Currently classrooms have 22 children but can accommodate 30 and these are good schools too! I feel like everyone thought there was a baby boom with the pandemic but the numbers say otherwise. Fingers crossed you get the school you’d like😊

@Chloe unfortunately in the area where I teach, maintained schools don't give priority to staff members but they did say we'd stand good grounds if we were to appeal. However my husband's school, a secondary boys academy that is ran like a private school and very good, do give priority to staff members so when our son is old enough, he should get in there. So it's all different to the area and admissions policy I suppose. @Edel so interesting! I'm going to have to try and find out about the birth rate. I know this academic year the infant school was full but previous 2 years weren't full. 🤞🤞 for our babies!