Filling out applications forms for primary schools question

[Holymoly321]

Just wondered if we had to fill out the 'Reasons for preference' box for every one of our three choices. Seems a bit silly as the reasons would all contradict each other as the schools are all so different? Do I havfe to fill out any of them at all? I mean the reasons i liked them were because I just 'liked them'

[giggleloop]

If the school is oversubscribed then it will just come down to distance and siblings. The LEA don't really care what your reasons are, they will allocate the places according to their admissions criteria.

I don't think it matters if the reasons contradict each other.

For my first choice I have sibling, social, faith and ease of travel.

2nd choice I have only put faith and 3rd is Normal Area School.

I'm not sure if there is any real point in putting a reason at all, they can't give you a place over another child who is more entitled because of the box you ticked and they can't deny you a place if you leave it blank. It makes me feel like I have done it properly but I'm sure it doesn't make a difference.

[Holymoly321]

interesting points gigglehoop...

[GunpowderTreasonAndDragons]

I didn't notice a "reason for preference" box on our form. This isn't actually to do with stuff like medical/social needs is it?

[Holymoly321]

Well part of the form says the boxes are there for yoo to state 'reasons for any of your preferences'. The next line says 'If you think there are any exceptional medical or social reasons why your child should attend a particular school you MUST provide professionally supported evidence with the form'. So I was a bit confused as I don't have exp medical or social reasons -- I just like the schools - you know, the old 'gut feeling!'

[GunpowderTreasonAndDragons]

Ah - that's what I thought. I don't think you have to fill that bit in unless you have a specific reason for choosing a school and you have to supply supporting documentation for those reasons.

[Holymoly321]

So should I just leave that bit blank? Even for our first choice school? Esp as it's the third nearest to our house?

[Hassled]

I don't think it would hurt to put something vague like you feel it is the school best suited to the needs of your child. I don't know if anyone does actually read those things - it is all down to admission criteria and available spaces - but possibly if you don't get that school, and end up appealing, the fact taht you did state a reason for preference might help.

[LadyOfTheFlowers]

I filled in every part of the form to the letter.
I put reasons for all of the schools, even for choice 2 and 3 which I relly didn't want, I found positive to put for all.
If I didn't get number 1, I definately would want number 2 so put good things for that one.

I got a place even though we are out of catchment, others in the street (who admitted to filling in the form incorrectly) didn't, and the school was oversubscribed by 69 places.

[Holymoly321]

Lady, that is very interesting! And congrats on getting the place you wanted. Would you mind telling me the kinds of things you put for the three schools?

[mustrunmore]

For ds1 I filled it all in, really detailed reasons for each one. Dont know if they read it, we still only got third choice on forst round. But I do remeber thinking my friend was daft when she put 'second choice' and 'third choice' as her total reasons for her 2nd and third choices!

Wish my form for ds2 would hurry up and come. I'm getting twitchy and panicky already

[Holymoly321]

What kinds of things did you put mustrunmore? I can't just put 'it's my choice because I liked it in my gut! and the three schools are all so different...

[GunpowderTreasonAndDragons]

They are not going to give you a place based on your reasons for liking the school unless they are relating to a specific need for your child. Reasons For Liking is no one of the selection criteria.

[Holymoly321]

That's what I thought Gunpowder - so should I just leave them blank? It's not as if DS has a physical or developmental/ social reason to go to any of these schools - but I would have thought that was the case for the majority of the children applying!