Daogroupie wrote:
There is one system for allocation of state secondary places that is run through the education authorities.
There is no separate system for Kent.
You can apply for schools in different education authorities from your own and you do not use a separate form, it is all done on one form and the education authorities run a single system between them.
There are some minor differences such as Herts only has four preferences and some authorities allow the schools to contact the parents directly when an offer is made from the list and some insist this has to come from them.
Other posters have already explained the preference system. DG
I assume by 'list', you only mean waiting list?
The (single) offer of a secondary school place must come from the applicant's home local authority, on national offer day (or subsequently, where no preferences can be met initially). Schools must not make contact with applicants until after this has occurred.
(Boring old
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/389388/School_Admissions_Code_2014_-_19_Dec.pdf again, I'm afraid).