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Secondary Applications in Essex

Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2011 11:40 am
by blauwzvart
We recently visited a Comprehensive school 7 miles from home that has a good reputation locally, to look for options if our Son doesn't make it to Grammar school. We are putting our two Grammar schools as 1 and 2 on the list and need two more choices. When the Head teacher found out where we lived, he informed us that there would be only a very remote chance of gaining a place there as we were not in the catchment area. A good 11+ result, or the fact that our Son has been on the G & T register for 4 years would not make any difference as places are given only on catchment area and that we MUST put our local school on our list or we would not be given a School at all. As our local School has a lower ranking / performance and reputation than others in the area this does not appeal. The booklet explaining the procedure for applying only recommends that you list your local school, not that you have to. Can anyone confirm that we have to put a school that we don't want to on our list? It seems to make choosing a school pointless.

Re: Secondary Applications in Essex

Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2011 12:09 pm
by hermanmunster
Don't know your area but the CAF lists go like this:

1) GS 1
2) GS 2
3) desired comprehensive

IF he does not get GS and is out of catchment for number (3) then he WILL be allocated a school somewhere - may NOT Be the local school you don't like, may be a school much further way that is even less enticing that than the local school - on the other hand it may be that school - particularly if it is undersubscribed - the question is : is the local school undersubscribed and would you be likely to be given a place at the school anyway if you aren't eligible for any of the schools on your list?


Apols that I'm not sure how many choices you have in your LEA :oops: may be 3 may be 6...

Re: Secondary Applications in Essex

Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2011 7:11 pm
by moved
You need to put the schools on your form that are most acceptable to you. A position to avoid is not being successful in the 11+ and ending up with a school that you feel is not suited to your child. I would use all of your places on the form and choose a school for the 4th place that you can live with if all else goes pear shaped.

Re: Secondary Applications in Essex

Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2011 7:18 pm
by Moonlight
In Essex you can list four schools. I really would advise that you put your local catchment school down. You can put it as your fourth choice and the comprehensive that you like as your third. At least you know you will definitely get a place at your local school. If you don't and your local becomes over-subscribed, then there is a chance that you may then be allocated a school anywhere that has a space which may be worse for you than if it was your local school. It's always a difficult decision to make (having been through the process twice myself) but I wish you luck whatever you decide to do.

Re: Secondary Applications in Essex

Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2011 8:07 pm
by First-timer
I agree with what's been said above. You have four choices. 1) Preferred GS 2) Fallback GS 3) Preferred Comp 4)Catchment Comp. If your catchment school never fills all its places then you may consider naming a different, more preferable comp instead as you will know that if you get none of your choices at least your DC will be given a school that is within easy travelling distance. If, however, your local school usually fills its places then you must name it as a choice or you could be allocated a school which in addition to being undesirable is two bus journeys away.

I really do think that applications for Grammar places should be in addition to the four choices on the CAF. Many Essex parents would like to name three GS before they even start thinking about possible comps. The majority of DC sitting the 11+ will be unsuccessful and so by the time their applications are being considered, their number of choices will have been reduced to however many comps they named on their CAFs.

Re: Secondary Applications in Essex

Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2011 8:22 pm
by mad?
blauwzvart wrote:? It seems to make choosing a school pointless.
Indeed in many cases it does. However, the system does not profess to give you a 'choice' of school, merely the opportunity of 'express a preference'. This is very different to having a choice and if it was made clearer to parents and the 'chioce agenda' is non exsistent we could all save ourselves a lot of shoe soles in school visits.

Re: Secondary Applications in Essex

Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2011 8:55 pm
by Manana
I thought you could out down five schools-is this not right? We are in Southend; is that different?

Re: Secondary Applications in Essex

Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2011 9:03 pm
by moved
Southend has five places, Essex has four and the East London boroughs have six. Totally unfair, but there you are.

Re: Secondary Applications in Essex

Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2011 9:08 pm
by hermanmunster
moved wrote:Southend has five places, Essex has four and the East London boroughs have six. Totally unfair, but there you are.
No wonder I hadn't got a clue :roll:

Re: Secondary Applications in Essex

Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2011 9:41 am
by blauwzvart
Thanks everybody for your advice, it seems less daunting now.