Number of School Choices on the Common Application Form
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Re: Number of School Choices on the Common Application Form
I'd contact the independent schools directly and check out their websites to find out about the application process. Have a look at the independent schools thread on this forum too. It sounds like you'll have no problem with the number of choices. Good luck!
Re: Number of School Choices on the Common Application Form
Thanks! Looks like this is sorted
Re: Number of School Choices on the Common Application Form
I'll go out on a limb here but, if you do find that you are one short on your CAF form, then leave Southend High for Girls off. Your DD will sit the CSSE exam anyway and then, if she does not get the school you want but has achieved a high enough mark to get into Southend you can make a late application to the school with Southend's Admissions.
This is perfectly within the rules but does cause a lot of upset with those parents who have put a Southend School on their form and just miss out on a place and then see their DC go down the waiting list.
We did not know this and put 2 grammars (neither of which was in Southend) on our form and our local school and an out of catchment Comp. Our DS just missed out on place at one of grammars on form but had done well enough to be half way up list for a Southend Grammar. We called Southend a few days after results published, Southend confirmed his result with CSSE and he was allocated a place at WHSB before the end of March. He was not the only boy who gained a place this way so it is almost common practice among parents who know their way around the system. We did not set out to do this but I have now met parents who did.
It is important that it is a Southend School you leave off because Essex will not accept late applications in this way.
This is perfectly within the rules but does cause a lot of upset with those parents who have put a Southend School on their form and just miss out on a place and then see their DC go down the waiting list.
We did not know this and put 2 grammars (neither of which was in Southend) on our form and our local school and an out of catchment Comp. Our DS just missed out on place at one of grammars on form but had done well enough to be half way up list for a Southend Grammar. We called Southend a few days after results published, Southend confirmed his result with CSSE and he was allocated a place at WHSB before the end of March. He was not the only boy who gained a place this way so it is almost common practice among parents who know their way around the system. We did not set out to do this but I have now met parents who did.
It is important that it is a Southend School you leave off because Essex will not accept late applications in this way.
Re: Number of School Choices on the Common Application Form
Sorry I've been off the net for a few days, as I'm enjoying a break in Somerset. Sadly, I have to agree with Darkdane if you are short of a place. I do hope, though, that this loophole will close as it seems highly unfair.
Do you live in Essex currently and commute to Uxbridge? Are there no schools on the West side of London that you could consider?
SHSG has a significantly lower passmark than CCHS. But this is particularly so if you are living in the borough.
From experience the train from Thorpe Bay (the local station to SHSG) to London is a long journey. OH found the commute unbearable after a while so we decided to move with the children's entry to secondary school. Chelmsford to London is a much faster commute.
Put the schools on the form in the order that you would like them. They do not know where they are on your list of preferences. If you put SHSG above CCHS you will be awarded SHSG. If you put CCHS above SHSG you will be awarded that school if the scores are high enough.
Do you live in Essex currently and commute to Uxbridge? Are there no schools on the West side of London that you could consider?
SHSG has a significantly lower passmark than CCHS. But this is particularly so if you are living in the borough.
From experience the train from Thorpe Bay (the local station to SHSG) to London is a long journey. OH found the commute unbearable after a while so we decided to move with the children's entry to secondary school. Chelmsford to London is a much faster commute.
Put the schools on the form in the order that you would like them. They do not know where they are on your list of preferences. If you put SHSG above CCHS you will be awarded SHSG. If you put CCHS above SHSG you will be awarded that school if the scores are high enough.
Re: Number of School Choices on the Common Application Form
Darkdane/moved,
Thanks for the tip!
I live in Harlow at the moment, and commute to Uxbridge. There are no good schools in Harlow (private or state); hence the wider search. I have been considering St. Helen's in Northwood, as it will be close to Uxbridge, but its an independent school. We will be going for the open day next month at this school and then decide. I'm not sure about any of the state schools in Uxbridge. I suppose it would be impossible to get a place since I will be out of catchment?
Thanks for the tip!
I live in Harlow at the moment, and commute to Uxbridge. There are no good schools in Harlow (private or state); hence the wider search. I have been considering St. Helen's in Northwood, as it will be close to Uxbridge, but its an independent school. We will be going for the open day next month at this school and then decide. I'm not sure about any of the state schools in Uxbridge. I suppose it would be impossible to get a place since I will be out of catchment?
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Re: Number of School Choices on the Common Application Form
whether you can get into any of the state schools in an area depends totally on on the admission criteria, some are academic based regardless of where you live whereas others are distance based, some are a mixture of the two... have to look closely at any you are interested in.
Re: Number of School Choices on the Common Application Form
If you are thinking of moving nearer work then Northwood and Heathfield (private) along with Notting Hill Hgh (private)would be doable, as would Tiffin as you could live the Kingston/Twickenham/Richmond area and get to Uxbridge relatively easily. However, as others (Herm?) said, be careful about basing it all on where a job is, as these things can change. Do you really want to move? That said, working in Uxbridge and living in the catchment for the bucks or slough grammars would seem a good idea? Sorry, I realise I have just thrown lots into the pot!vulcan wrote:Darkdane/moved,
Thanks for the tip!
I live in Harlow at the moment, and commute to Uxbridge. There are no good schools in Harlow (private or state); hence the wider search. I have been considering St. Helen's in Northwood, as it will be close to Uxbridge, but its an independent school. We will be going for the open day next month at this school and then decide. I'm not sure about any of the state schools in Uxbridge. I suppose it would be impossible to get a place since I will be out of catchment?
mad?
Re: Number of School Choices on the Common Application Form
Thanks! Slough /Bucks grammars could be a good idea. However, I haven't looked at preparing my DD for those exams and I don't want to change / broaden the focus at this time.
Thanks all for these really helpful ideas!
Thanks all for these really helpful ideas!