Reviving advice on filling in CAF

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OldTrout
Posts: 386
Joined: Tue Jun 04, 2013 1:21 pm

Reviving advice on filling in CAF

Post by OldTrout »

Hi all

Selecting secondaries is an art and last year this discussion was very useful to us parents in terms of organising our order of school preferences...so I'm reviving this discussion in case it helps you after Friday's (hopefully!) results are received.

http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum/ ... &hilit=CAF

If you are really unsure what to do in terms of order of preference start a new topic and post your question.

Best of luck everybody.

OT
Ricky74
Posts: 732
Joined: Sun Aug 14, 2016 1:55 pm

Re: Reviving advice on filling in CAF

Post by Ricky74 »

Thanks. It feels like a minefield, so will take a look!
Petitpois
Posts: 1440
Joined: Thu Jul 02, 2015 7:44 am

Re: Reviving advice on filling in CAF

Post by Petitpois »

I can vouch for the fact that our CAF form was revised directly as a result of KCG's advice. It is especially important to read through the scenario's especially if one or more of your options is borderline. I know for a fact that some people put:

1) Grammar
2) Comp
3) Grammar

And ended up getting the comp releasing the grammar place to someone on the waiting list. Absolutely fine if wanted the Comp over grammar 3), however less optimal if you had a perfectly good score for grammar 3) only for it to be made irrelevant because it turns out your in catchment for Comp 2).

KCG's advice was put the school that you really want 1st (or highest in preference) in all circumstances.

PP
kenyancowgirl
Posts: 6738
Joined: Mon Oct 21, 2013 8:59 pm

Re: Reviving advice on filling in CAF

Post by kenyancowgirl »

Always list your schools on the CAF in your true order of preference. Admissions use an effective first choice system. This means that if you don't meet the criteria for your preferred first choice school on your caf then your second choice becomes your effective first choice. Admissions will check if you meet the criteria for that - if you don't meet it, your third choice becomes your effective first choice....and so on!

Just make sure you have a dead cert school on your car - usually your catchment state school, otherwise you run the risk of not meeting the criteria for any of the ones you have listed and then will be offered any school that has a space (which you may not want/be able to get to.)
nervousmom
Posts: 1687
Joined: Sun Jul 15, 2012 9:38 am
Location: Warwickshire

Re: Reviving advice on filling in CAF

Post by nervousmom »

The other thing some people worry about is the schools will know which order they ranked them.

This is NOT the case. The schools do not see your CAF and will have no idea of your ranking preference.

In years gone b some parents have out the comp as first choice and the grammar as second, the child did well enough for the grammar but as the comp was first choice, this was the school they were allocated.

ALWAYS out your first choice first, them second choice and so on, even if you think there is no chance of the first choice, you have nothing to lose by putting it down (this wild have been the case last year, where the CHB was a lot lower than expected, so there will have been some who put it down as first choice thinking they didn't have a realistic chance and got offered it!)

Worcestershire only have 3 choices, so first 2 should be grammar and the 3rd must be your definite comp.

Everyone else has a lot more choice, we are Warwickshire and had 6 choices, but only used three as follows:- 1) KEFW 2) Alcester GS 3) follow on comp (first choice offered)

If anyone is at all unsure then please ask us, there are plenty of people here who have been through this process before (twice for me) and know exactly how to go about doing things correctly.
Ricky74
Posts: 732
Joined: Sun Aug 14, 2016 1:55 pm

Re: Reviving advice on filling in CAF

Post by Ricky74 »

The Birmingham CAF talks about the fact some schools require additional application forms. Not really looked at the CAF previously as been waiting GS results. Now panicked that if we are successful we will also need to submit forms to BV QM etc. Can't find any advice on this!
hermanmunster
Posts: 12818
Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2006 9:51 am
Location: The Seaside

Re: Reviving advice on filling in CAF

Post by hermanmunster »

Apparently if you have a look at the files on here it will tell you if you need supplementary forms https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/downloads ... birmingham" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

often it is faith schools who require these
ETA - will need to look for similar documents in the areas for BV and QM (sorry)
Ricky74
Posts: 732
Joined: Sun Aug 14, 2016 1:55 pm

Re: Reviving advice on filling in CAF

Post by Ricky74 »

Thanks - will take a look. If in doubt I'll ring up once results are (finally).in!
Newbiee
Posts: 60
Joined: Wed Nov 04, 2015 5:29 pm

Re: Reviving advice on filling in CAF

Post by Newbiee »

Hi,
can we list Birmingham and Walsall schools on the same LA form? We have got 4 choices
um
Posts: 2378
Joined: Sat May 30, 2009 1:06 pm
Location: Birmingham

Re: Reviving advice on filling in CAF

Post by um »

Yes, you can list schools from any LA you wish,but you should complete the form with the LA you pay Council Tax to.
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