Hi, are people waiting until the 12th of October and getting the test results before completing their school choice forms?

That's what most people do. There are open mornings organised for the week after the results and these are worth going to, especially if your child's score is likely to qualify them for a school you didn't really consider initially. We had this situation with our daughter - we looked round Sutton girls and KE Handsworth and it was really helpful for us and her. You're viewing the schools on a normal school day and you really get a feel for them.

There's no point wasting a choice on the form if the score turns out to be too low for that school.

Thanks Crazycrofter, because of where we live, we can only really consider one of the grammars. KES we don't put on the form do we?

Assuming that's the independent school in Edgbaston and not the grammar school in Stratford upon Avon, no, it doesn't go on your CAF.

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KES (Edgbaston) is an independent school and doesn't go on the CAF.

Thanks both, yes the one in Edgbaston

I think knowing the results and then filling in the form would be better. As you can make a more informed choice. That's the plan for us anyway.

Time seems to be crawling and October seems a lifetime away

When you do complete them, please put them in your preferred order. I know that sounds daft and obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people don’t. Each school does not have visibility of the order, and if you’re not allocated your first choice it does not affect your chances of your second choice. It is all done via a computer which looks at scores (for GS), siblings, distance, faith etc. and allocates accordingly.

Please also ensure that you put a school on there that you definitely have a chance of securing - usually the local catchment school. If you don’t put it on and don’t get any of your choices you can end up with a school anywhere in Birmingham.

Thanks all, Helen I appreciate the tip, its easy to make mistakes and this is too important.