Allocation of preferences?

[fred]

Can someone please explain how the allocation works and what is expected in March.
We put our choices down in order of preference, do you get a provision acceptance from all 6 choices or do you only get acceptance from your highest choice?

[Filitosa96]

You get one offer, from the highest placed school on your list whose criteria your application matches

So ranking the schools in order of preference is vital

I would love a mod or some other knowledgeable person to explain the actual process of matching that goes on across the pan-London system. No wonder it takes nearly six months for us all to find out!

[robofish]

It doesn't matter how many of the 6 schools "can" accept your child - you will only get an offer from the school that can accept your child and is highest in your list of preferences. The schools will not make an offer, the offer comes directly from the Coordinated Admissions office. You are advised to accept the first offer.

Depending on council/school policy you may then ask to go on the waiting list for any schools that are higher in your list. So, for example you wanted to got to school A which is higher in your list, but you receive an offer for school B. Accept school B and go on the waiting list for A if you want to.

If A is selective, then enough kids higher in the pecking order than yours will have to opt for different schools before your child will be considered. If entrance to A is based on proximity, then enough kids closer to the school than you will need to opt for different schools before your child is considered.

We were told by Langley Park Boys that they offer places to boys up to approx a mile from the school, and notify Coordinated Applications.. but as the school have no idea if those boys put LP 1st, 2nd, 3rd etc, they have no idea how many will be offered through CA. After that there are more rounds of allocations. By the time term starts that proximity distance may have been extended out to 1.2 miles.

No idea how the selectives do it. We are in for St O's. I guess they send out approx 150 likely letters for 120 places knowing they will get a good 25% saying "thanks but no thanks" and then the admissions criteria starts dropping down to the "possibles".

[parent2013]

I guess they send out approx 150 likely letters for 120 places

Not sure if that is the case. If they have issued more "likely" letters and assuming that everyone with "likely" accepts the offer, then there may be 30 odd candidates who may see the door.... leaving the parents quite unhappy (fuming actually) with potential to challenge Olave's involving reputational risk, appeals process etc. Does St. Olave's admin want that hassle? My guess is no and that's why they issue "possibly" to account for that buffer.

I therefore think that they would have issued likely to top 120 children and another 24 (20%) with "possibly". Also I know someone last year who managed to sneak into Olave's with a "possibly" so yes the list goes beyond likely candidates.

[Bromleymum1]

I guess they send out approx 150 likely letters for 120 places

Not sure if that is the case. If they have issued more "likely" letters and assuming that everyone with "likely" accepts the offer, then there may be 30 odd candidates who may see the door.... leaving the parents quite unhappy (fuming actually) with potential to challenge Olave's involving reputational risk, appeals process etc. Does St. Olave's admin want that hassle? My guess is no and that's why they issue "possibly" to account for that buffer.

I therefore think that they would have issued likely to top 120 children and another 24 (20%) with "possibly". Also I know someone last year who managed to sneak into Olave's with a "possibly" so yes the list goes beyond likely candidates.

Don't forget that St Os is admitting 124 pupils this year, rather than 112. There are also 4 choral pupils.

Btw I have heard of St Os going down the list to 150/160 in previous years, but this was before the new system started of likely, possibly and unlikely letters.

Apologies for going off topic!

[parent2013]

That's absolutely correct. It is 120 (standard admissions) and additional 4 on the basis of academic ability and tenure of a Wakeham Choristership at the Queen's Chapel of the Savoy. Apologies from me as well for hijacking the thread

On the original question - you give the preferences on CAF, council looks top down to assess your suitability and seat availabilty. The moment your preference match the criteria, they allocate you a place and stop.

I think for St. Olave's in particular:
* Likely is 100% (subject to CAF)
* Possibly is 50-50 (subject to CAF and other people leaving spaces)

This means if you have got a "likely" letter and have put that as first preference in CAF then you should get it 100%. Otherwise there is no point distinguishing results as likely & possibly.

[Billie]

Ignore the choristers when thinking about how many get a 'likely' / place.
Unless it has radically changed I understood chorister candidates sit the test in Feb/ March(year 5) and if good enough then have a vocal test. Those who are successful join in choir in year 6 while still at primary school. Their places are therefore already assured.