Does it matter which for first or second choice?
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Does it matter which for first or second choice?
Hi - first time registered, had a hunt about but couldn't see a topic that answered my query.
Does it matter which school you put down as first choice?
Really proud of DD ranked 127 score 226. Southern Area
She really wants AGS (looking at last years scores etc, she might stand a chance)
However, she said if she would go to SGGS as second choice. (imo she hasn't really made up her mind!)
I was told if we don't put SGGS as first choice they won't consider her, (they don't want anyone who doesn't want to go there as first choice!) so if we put AGS as first choice, are we effectively writing off SGGS?
What form does the offer letter take?
Is it possible to get offers from more than one, then she can choose in March?
Do we have to put SGGS first then AGS second - could the same thing apply to AGS, don't want you if you don't want them.
Sorry if this seems all a bit annoying, as it is a nice dilemma to have and not helpful for those who might be disappointed
Does it matter which school you put down as first choice?
Really proud of DD ranked 127 score 226. Southern Area
She really wants AGS (looking at last years scores etc, she might stand a chance)
However, she said if she would go to SGGS as second choice. (imo she hasn't really made up her mind!)
I was told if we don't put SGGS as first choice they won't consider her, (they don't want anyone who doesn't want to go there as first choice!) so if we put AGS as first choice, are we effectively writing off SGGS?
What form does the offer letter take?
Is it possible to get offers from more than one, then she can choose in March?
Do we have to put SGGS first then AGS second - could the same thing apply to AGS, don't want you if you don't want them.
Sorry if this seems all a bit annoying, as it is a nice dilemma to have and not helpful for those who might be disappointed
Re: Does it matter which for first or second choice?
You are only going to be offered one school. If you qualify for a place at more than one school you will be offered the one you placed highest on your CAF.
Re: Does it matter which for first or second choice?
JumpingJane - there's a results 2016/entry 2017 topic where there's a lot of help - please visit there. Looking at the results you should safely be in for SGGS.JumpingJane wrote:Hi - first time registered, had a hunt about but couldn't see a topic that answered my query.
Does it matter which school you put down as first choice?
Really proud of DD ranked 127 score 226. Southern Area
She really wants AGS (looking at last years scores etc, she might stand a chance)
However, she said if she would go to SGGS as second choice. (imo she hasn't really made up her mind!)
I was told if we don't put SGGS as first choice they won't consider her, (they don't want anyone who doesn't want to go there as first choice!) so if we put AGS as first choice, are we effectively writing off SGGS?
What form does the offer letter take?
Is it possible to get offers from more than one, then she can choose in March?
Do we have to put SGGS first then AGS second - could the same thing apply to AGS, don't want you if you don't want them.
Sorry if this seems all a bit annoying, as it is a nice dilemma to have and not helpful for those who might be disappointed
Re: Does it matter which for first or second choice?
Put the schools in the order you want them - the schools are not told where you've put them on the CAF so this statement is NOT true.JumpingJane wrote: I was told if we don't put SGGS as first choice they won't consider her, (they don't want anyone who doesn't want to go there as first choice!) so if we put AGS as first choice, are we effectively writing off SGGS?
Last edited by Guest55 on Mon Oct 17, 2016 11:51 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Does it matter which for first or second choice?
Guest55 - Interesting, thanks for the reassurance.
My reason for posting is that I suspect that AGS is actually harder to get into as there are less places (75 rather than 120) even thought last year AGS's AQS was lower than SGGS.
It reassures us because we can now safely put AGS as first choice and SGGS as second knowing that if she doesn't get AGS, she still stands a chance at SGGS. (also, we live in Stratford, so distance might come into the equation!)
The whole thing is very confusing - We took some advice read on another topic, to read results letter before showing DD in order to get our heads round it first - glad we did. We were able to let her know she had done well, as its not that obvious at first glance.
Even after all this, the whole thing is STILL dependent on what AQS' are set for this year so we are still not home and dry!
My reason for posting is that I suspect that AGS is actually harder to get into as there are less places (75 rather than 120) even thought last year AGS's AQS was lower than SGGS.
It reassures us because we can now safely put AGS as first choice and SGGS as second knowing that if she doesn't get AGS, she still stands a chance at SGGS. (also, we live in Stratford, so distance might come into the equation!)
The whole thing is very confusing - We took some advice read on another topic, to read results letter before showing DD in order to get our heads round it first - glad we did. We were able to let her know she had done well, as its not that obvious at first glance.
Even after all this, the whole thing is STILL dependent on what AQS' are set for this year so we are still not home and dry!
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Re: Does it matter which for first or second choice?
Please do put your schools in the order that you actually prefer them on you CAF.
The important thing to remember is that each school ranks the children who name it *anywhere* on their CAF in the order according to their own admissions criteria. There is then a process (administered by your local authority, not the school) to establish which school your child will be offered.
The process checks whether you are eligible for a place at your top preference school. If you are, it releases all the other schools you've name on your CAF, which means that other people may now be offered those places. If you're not eligible for your top choice school, but you are eligible for your second, the schools below second are released, the second choice is held for you and they continue to check your eligibility for your first preference school as it is released from other children's CAFs.
It is counter-intuitive but you should remember that you may rank higher for your second or third preference school than another child who puts it as their first preference - in that case, you would receive a place before they do, even though they listed it higher on their CAF. The schools never find out which order you have put it on the CAF.
The important thing to remember is that each school ranks the children who name it *anywhere* on their CAF in the order according to their own admissions criteria. There is then a process (administered by your local authority, not the school) to establish which school your child will be offered.
The process checks whether you are eligible for a place at your top preference school. If you are, it releases all the other schools you've name on your CAF, which means that other people may now be offered those places. If you're not eligible for your top choice school, but you are eligible for your second, the schools below second are released, the second choice is held for you and they continue to check your eligibility for your first preference school as it is released from other children's CAFs.
It is counter-intuitive but you should remember that you may rank higher for your second or third preference school than another child who puts it as their first preference - in that case, you would receive a place before they do, even though they listed it higher on their CAF. The schools never find out which order you have put it on the CAF.
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Re: Does it matter which for first or second choice?
The other thing to bear in mind is that if you put school B top of your list but you really want school A, and you then receive an offer from school B, you will not be held on the waiting list for school A - this school will be declined on your behalf as the local authority will assume that you are happy with school B (because you put it first).
If you put school A first, but only get an offer of school B, you can go on the waiting list for school A and may get a place later on.
If you put school A first, but only get an offer of school B, you can go on the waiting list for school A and may get a place later on.
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Re: Does it matter which for first or second choice?
streathammum - thanks for very comprehensive explanation. I am getting it sorted in my head now.
Re: Does it matter which for first or second choice?
AGS had 150 places for the highest scoring DC - no account is taken for gender. The 50/50 ratio is a happy coincidence.
JD
JD