That is not how it works. They do not offer first preference first and then move to second preference. Offers are made on the basis of the school admissions policy.
https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/schools-and-education/school-admissions/secondary-school-places/132836.articleQuote:
We no longer use a system where schools prioritise applications that list their school as first preference; instead we use an equal preference system. This means we pass on your application data to your preferred schools, but do not tell them the order you have listed them.
Only we know your order of preference. If multiple schools inform us that they can offer your child a place, we will offer you the highest preference available. You will not receive multiple offers.
Quote:
Parental Preference
It is essential to rank your preferred schools in the order you would like them to be offered. Schools will consider all children equally, as they do not know if they have listed them as first, second or third preference. Each school applies its own admission policy looking at factors such as siblings, religion, distance and ability or aptitude where applicable. This means when schools rank applicants, they will not disadvantage anyone who has names them as a second or third preference. It is possible for you to receive an offer of a place at a school listed as your second preference before another parent who names it as their first if your application has higher priority under the schools' oversubscription criteria.
If you list the schools in your
genuine order of preference then you will not go wrong or be disadvantaged in any way.