Preference reasons on CAF

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munch
Posts: 173
Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2011 10:47 am

Preference reasons on CAF

Post by munch »

Hi...can anyone tell me the answer to this:
There is a section on the on-line CAF where after you select a particular school it asks you to enter preference reasons for it -it says optional but I just wondered whether there was any merit in actually putting any reasons down here. Is it likely to help? They are not looking for reasons such as siblings/medical or social reasons here as this is covered elsewhere.
Thank you.
Guest55
Posts: 16254
Joined: Mon Feb 12, 2007 2:21 pm

Re: Preference reasons on CAF

Post by Guest55 »

I suppose it might help at appeal ....

I have heard that some people put reasons such as 'transport', 'school specialism' or 'only school where friends are going' ... it won't make any difference in the LA process of allocating places.
TraffordMum
Posts: 593
Joined: Thu Feb 22, 2007 3:29 pm
Location: Trafford

Re: Preference reasons on CAF

Post by TraffordMum »

I am fairly sure I have read somewhere that the point of it is in the event the LEA can't offer you any of the choices on your CAF. Say they have two schools left with places to allocate they will look at your reasons for the schools you did choose and try to apply those reasons to the alternatives available in order to give you the best fit of a school you don't want at all ;)
Etienne
Posts: 8978
Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2005 6:26 pm

Re: Preference reasons on CAF

Post by Etienne »

It's there only because the law says it must be! (Parents must be given the opportunity to state their reasons.)

Guest55 is right. Where it might start to matter is in the event of an appeal.
http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/appeals/general#a27" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Etienne
Sally-Anne
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Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:10 pm
Location: Buckinghamshire

Re: Preference reasons on CAF

Post by Sally-Anne »

I once heard a tale of a parent who allegedly wrote a lengthy script of reasons (going on to an additional sheet - or possibly several from what I heard) as to why her child preferred their first preference GS. I gather that the last reason was that "the school uniform will suit her hair colour particularly well"!

I truly, truly hope that the story is apocryphal. If it isn't then the Admissions folk must have dined out on it for years afterwards! :lol:
TraffordMum
Posts: 593
Joined: Thu Feb 22, 2007 3:29 pm
Location: Trafford

Re: Preference reasons on CAF

Post by TraffordMum »

I am impressing myself with my super searching skills here. 8)

I'll caveat this by saying that I am not in Bucks, but I have just searched the relevant Trafford transfer to secondary schools booklet and found this little nugget.

"vii)If any Trafford resident child looks like being unplaced, Trafford LA will consider how to place that child in a school within its area having regard to any reasons expressed by the parent on the common preference form for their unsuccessful preferences." I knew I'd read it somewhere!

Totally irrelevantly I also noticed that Trafford say this on the subject of how many choices parents can make:

"iv) The CAF allows for 6 preferences, further preferences can be expressed by the use of an attachment sheet." How's that for generosity.

OK. Back to Bucks.
Etienne
Posts: 8978
Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2005 6:26 pm

Re: Preference reasons on CAF

Post by Etienne »

That's interesting, TM!

Quite brave of Trafford, because trying to apply reasons given for specific schools to other schools that haven't been listed could be tricky (e.g. "His friends go there" or even "The uniform suits her hair colour"!!!).
My impression is that the more usual rule of thumb is simply to allocate the nearest school with a vacancy.

I once asked the LA here whether they took any notice of reasons on the CAF.
The answer that came back was "No"!
Etienne
TraffordMum
Posts: 593
Joined: Thu Feb 22, 2007 3:29 pm
Location: Trafford

Re: Preference reasons on CAF

Post by TraffordMum »

Well, now we know about it, Etienne, we can be on the alert for any Trafford appeals claiming that their child's hair colour was not taken into account :)
Etienne
Posts: 8978
Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2005 6:26 pm

Re: Preference reasons on CAF

Post by Etienne »

:lol:
Etienne
munch
Posts: 173
Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2011 10:47 am

Re: Preference reasons on CAF

Post by munch »

Thanks to you all, I think I will go for a few words (colour or uniform not amongst them!) in that case!
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