Unsure of how to correctly fill in SCAF form with preference
Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2015 7:08 pm
I have a dilemma with how best to fill in the SCAF form for my son. He has passed the Kent Test.
We live in a village almost equidistant from 3 towns all offering grammar schools.
Our favourite school (school A) is slightly further away than the other 2 and unfortunately we live approximately 1.5 miles outside of their usual catchment area (based on the last few years allocations).
I have spoken to the admissions dept at the school and have been told by them that it would definitely still be worthwhile to list them on our SCAF. However, it is almost 100% certain we would not get allocated a place in the first round and we would have to appeal to get son in based on distance grounds. (As a reference, close neighbours have been allocated a place after appeal in previous years, although I'm aware that we may not be as successful).
School B is our second preference and in a different town. Son would almost certainly get a place in the first round if we placed it at number 1 on the SCAF.
My dilemma is however, if I put School A (our favourite) at Number 1 on the list knowing full well we're unlikely to gain a place on distance grounds, would I then be jeopardising our chances at School B as there will likely be enough applicants putting it at Number 1 to fill the available places.
My worry is that we would then be allocated School 3 (in town 3). This is our least favourite but is technically the closest to where we live and still had vacancies after the first round allocations last year.
I know that you're supposed to list schools in your genuine order of preference but I'm worried that we'd be pretty much shooting ourselves in the foot to do this knowing we'll likely to have to appeal to get into our favourite school based on distance.
Anyone have any advice?
We live in a village almost equidistant from 3 towns all offering grammar schools.
Our favourite school (school A) is slightly further away than the other 2 and unfortunately we live approximately 1.5 miles outside of their usual catchment area (based on the last few years allocations).
I have spoken to the admissions dept at the school and have been told by them that it would definitely still be worthwhile to list them on our SCAF. However, it is almost 100% certain we would not get allocated a place in the first round and we would have to appeal to get son in based on distance grounds. (As a reference, close neighbours have been allocated a place after appeal in previous years, although I'm aware that we may not be as successful).
School B is our second preference and in a different town. Son would almost certainly get a place in the first round if we placed it at number 1 on the SCAF.
My dilemma is however, if I put School A (our favourite) at Number 1 on the list knowing full well we're unlikely to gain a place on distance grounds, would I then be jeopardising our chances at School B as there will likely be enough applicants putting it at Number 1 to fill the available places.
My worry is that we would then be allocated School 3 (in town 3). This is our least favourite but is technically the closest to where we live and still had vacancies after the first round allocations last year.
I know that you're supposed to list schools in your genuine order of preference but I'm worried that we'd be pretty much shooting ourselves in the foot to do this knowing we'll likely to have to appeal to get into our favourite school based on distance.
Anyone have any advice?