Lategate wrote:
Before I complete frantic visits this week and fill in my CAF, I wanted to capture some advice if possible. Our choices for the CAF are:
1. QMGS
2. HGS
3. Our local catholic school
DS has scored enough for KEA, BV and HGS, distance puts the others out for us. His QM score may be borderline/not enough if the cut off rises drastically.
The local comp is on our doorstep, the suggestion has been that unless this is put as 1st choice it won’t be considered. I’m ignoring that bit of info because there is no way I can put it 1st. It is oversubscribed though. DS is priority 2 on the local comp admission policy, but is there a strong chance that he might not get a place if it all goes wrong with GS scores?
He really wants either QM or the comp, i’m having to persuade him to look at HGS. Is it likely/possible that the grammar school listing will prevent a decent comp place?
Second question: far from ideal, but what if he is allocated a place at HGS and decides that it’s not for him before September? Far from ideal, I just wondered what the chances of him getting his preferred comp place are then?
I’m not trying to sound entitled to anything, I just want to know if there is a risk and if it is worth it for him.
Answer to question 1: Yes, absolutely, your DS's grammar school ranking will prevent him from being allocated a place at the comp.
That is, if you list a grammar school (or any other school), for which he qualifies, higher on your CAF than the comp, the higher ranked school will be allocated, whether or not the comp would have given him a place.
Answer to question 2: if you decide, after national allocation day, that you actually want a school which you ranked lower on your CAF, you will normally have to make a new (now late) application for a place at that school. 'Your' place - assuming that you would have been offered that school, had you ranked it above the one you were allocated - disappeared from your list as some as you were allocated the higher ranked school. You should be added to your new first preference's waiting list according to its oversubscription criteria, so you may be lucky and find yourself at the top of the list. But you may not.
I would say, though, that the real answer to both your questions is - find your LA's Secondary School Admissions pages on its website and have a good read before completing and submitting your CAF

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X-posted with quicker typists
