DD has got 296 and wants to go WGHS

[clairenstu]

My DD got a score of 296 which rules out the birmingham/walsall grammar schools. The letter from WGHS seemed to offer a glimmer of hope. If not WGHS Hampstead Hall will be her first choice. However, don't want to risk missing out on HH if score too low for WGHS. All advice appreciated.

[hermanmunster]

Hi if you put WGHS first and miss out then that will not affect your chance of HH if you put it second

[taps1]

Hermanmunster,
My understanding is if you dont get your first choice your second choice becomes your first choice, if you dont get the 2nd choice the third choice becomes your first choice and so on.
Therefore if you put a WGHS and you dont get a place it does not risk your chance for the other school.

[kenyancowgirl]

Yes, taps1, that is what hermanmunster - one of the forums respected moderators - has said, in answer to clairenstu!!!

[femalemidlander]

Hi clairnstu I'm assuming you live relatively close to HH considering the admission criteria? I think even if my daughter was safely in the cut off I would choose a school closer to home, she has done really well and will thrive wherever she goes. Somewhere closer to home gives the added bonus of longer lie in's and friends closer to home. Just my thoughts congrats to your daughter.

[quasimodo]

This must be a real worrying time for you and your dd. I echo all the previous advice.

Even if your dd doesn't get her number one choice,2013 was an exceptional year when the waiting score fell to 297 for WGHS, you have a very good school at number 2.It had a recent Ofsted inspection in 2016 when it was rated as good and I recall a parent on this forum whose daughter had special needs saying very positive things about the school.Your dd even if she doesn't end up in a grammar school now can still end up in the same destinations as any grammar school child.She will have the added bonus of an extra three hours every day not travelling to make up any difference.Good luck to you both for the future.

[clairenstu]

Hermanmunster,
My understanding is if you dont get your first choice your second choice becomes your first choice, if you dont get the 2nd choice the third choice becomes your first choice and so on.
Therefore if you put a WGHS and you dont get a place it does not risk your chance for the other school.

Thanks for getting back to me. I thought that people who put HH as their first choice would get priority and they would then look at 2nd choices if the places hadn't been filled. As it is probably the most popular school in our catchment area we worry that DD will get 3rd or 4th choice neither of which she is particularly keen on. THIS IS SO HARD!!

[kenyancowgirl]

No, because all state schools in the country use the Equal Preference System which is described ad infinitum in many many many threads on here, every year.

The schools have NO idea where you place them on your CAF - they just look to see if you meet their admissions criteria and if you do (be it score, distance, sibling, or whether you were wearing their favourite colour - I jest!) they will offer you a place. The council then offer you just ONE place - the one from teh school that YOU listed highest on your CAF that has been able to offer you a place. All other places below this are withdrawn - they don't exist as far as you are concerned - any above it that you didn't get an offer from, you are put on the waiting list.

There are no games. List the schools in your true order of preference - if you list a school in first position but actually really want the school you put in second, if you get offered by Position 1 you will NOT be offered position 2 (and if you really want to go there will have to go through the stress and hope of being put on a wait list.)

[hermanmunster]

Hermanmunster,
My understanding is if you dont get your first choice your second choice becomes your first choice, if you dont get the 2nd choice the third choice becomes your first choice and so on.
Therefore if you put a WGHS and you dont get a place it does not risk your chance for the other school.

Thanks for getting back to me. I thought that people who put HH as their first choice would get priority and they would then look at 2nd choices if the places hadn't been filled. As it is probably the most popular school in our catchment area we worry that DD will get 3rd or 4th choice neither of which she is particularly keen on. THIS IS SO HARD!!

Clairenstu, it isn't hard but it is very important. Please read all the info that is on the website about the CAF before you fill in the form

https://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/schoo ... n-form-caf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and the equal preference system https://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/schoo ... nce-system" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[ToadMum]

Hermanmunster,
My understanding is if you dont get your first choice your second choice becomes your first choice, if you dont get the 2nd choice the third choice becomes your first choice and so on.
Therefore if you put a WGHS and you dont get a place it does not risk your chance for the other school.

Thanks for getting back to me. I thought that people who put HH as their first choice would get priority and they would then look at 2nd choices if the places hadn't been filled. As it is probably the most popular school in our catchment area we worry that DD will get 3rd or 4th choice neither of which she is particularly keen on. THIS IS SO HARD!!

Clairenstu, it isn't hard but it is very important. Please read all the info that is on the website about the CAF before you fill in the form

https://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/schoo ... n-form-caf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and the equal preference system https://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/schoo ... nce-system" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You will also find all this information aj
in one place, on your LA's website, where you need to go to fill in your CAF. Some LAs actually make applicants tick a box to indicate that they have read and understood everything about the process, before they can press Submit.