Reception Application question... Post Reply

[Frenchmummynvn]

For those of you know the Wandsworth application process for reception places I wondered if you can help. Our preferred school for our daughter would be a smaller school like Honeywell as it would suit our son's timid nature better however we are less likely to get in as there are less places (even though we are technically closer to this school). Nevertheless we would still be very happy with our second choice (we will not be putting down a 3rd and 4th choice).

My question therefore is whether we would disadvantage our position on the list at our second choice school if we put the Honeywell first? In other words would families who put Belleville as their first preference (Even if they are further away than we are) be put higher on the list than we would?

[Honeybee]

The answer to this is absolutely not. The schools do not see what order you put them in and they don't see the other choices you have put down. This is processed by the council. This means that you can put down a genuine list of preferences (which is good news - we had the same dilemma at first).

What I would say, though, is that I would highly recommend putting down as many choices as you can - and go visit some of the other schools near you as I am sure you will be pleasantly surprised. Some of the less popular schools historically are now doing really well and some of them even have smaller class sizes (which would be a bonus for a shy child I think).

Unless you have a back-up private school option, in which case I guess 2 choices are fine!

Good luck!

[gail0810]

Yes I would also recommend putting as many schools down as possible. We put four on our list of preferences and didn't get into any of them (including our two nearest schools) and were only offered a school a few miles away. We ended up going private as a result.

[mummo]

I am assuming from your post Belleville is your other option, apologies if I read it wrong. Have you looked round meteor street site? It is perfect for a less confident child and I know of more than one person who has actively chosen this site (even though they could've got into the webbs rd site) due to the nature of their children and they are all thriving.

Good luck with wherever you finish up, and yes, I agree with other posters you should fill all the spaces on the form.

[breakfastattiffanys]

I wouldn't classify Honeywell a "smaller school" - it has a three class intake each year!

I'd recommend visiting as many schools of your local schools as possible as there are lots of excellent schools in the area. List the schools in the order you would like your child(ren) to attend.

Good luck

[Pud1]

I thought that the order did matter? I was under the impression that you get offered the highest school on your list that is able to give you a place. Consequently, I think all the places at Honeywell will be filled by the people who put that as first choice?

[Frenchmummynvn]

Pud1 this is exactly why I was asking the question.

[twice_as_nice]

i have absolutely no idea how they actually do it (must be a very clever computer programme) but as far as I understand it, what honeybee said is absolutely right.

So, rather than looking at all applicant's first choice and seeing if they can get them into those schools, then going down the list if they can't, they look at all the applications that everyone has made to all schools - without any reference to the preference. so for example if you did:
1. honeywell
2. bellv
3. beatrix p
4. earls field

Then an application (of no preference) goes into all 4 schools. let's say you are close enough to get into 3 and 4, but not 1 or 2 - then they will offer you BP and 'release' your place for Earlsfield back into the pool.

So in terms of allocations, order doesn't matter in that regard - placing HW as your first choice doesn't favour your application for that school over someone who put it as their 6th choice…they are both just applications to the system.

But preference is important to you….because if you get offered your first choice then that's all you will get offered. So, say you thought HW was your absolute preference but you thought you had more likelihood of getting into BV so you put that first, and HW second. Let's say that you're close enough to actually get a place at both - then you will only be offered BV as that's your first choice, but HW was your preference. Its complicated, hope that makes sense!

The other reason for making sure you put your absolute preference down is the waiting list.

So lets say you get offered your 3rd choice, you will stay on the waiting list for 1 and 2. If there's any movement before september then you may be offered one of those. Even after September when your child starts school at say number 3 preference, you will stay on waiting list for 1 and 2 (you may have to confirm this with council) and then you may get offered a place later in the year.

hope that makes sense. worth contacting the councils admissions team to confirm! I hear they are very helpful...

[SFMC]

twice_as_nice is absolutely right! The order you put schools will have no bearing on whether you get in or not- it is done only on the criteria as outlined on Wandsworth school admissions website.
But you will get on waitlists or place released back into the pool of schools as per your preference order. So if you get offered your second choice school, you will be wait listed automatically for your first and your third, fourth, fifth and sixth choice will be released. So put in the actual order of your personal preference.

I would strongly strongly suggest you fill in all 6 choices otherwise if you don't get in any of your choices you will be allocated a school that has spaces and thus most likely one miles away.

Good luck!

[legs11]

Surely no need to call people names when they are just asking for advice

From the Wandsworth Council website

You will be offered a place at no more than one of the schools you have applied for.

The place offered will be at whichever of the schools is able to allocate your child a place using the published admission criteria. You will be asked to confirm that you accept the place offered.

If more than one of the schools is able to allocate your child a place, you will be offered whichever one of these you said you would prefer on your application form.

Your child's name can be put on the waiting list for any school of your preference.

[lemonzest]

legs11 has provided the clearest explanation.

List 6 choices in order of preference.

The order of preference will not prejudice your application to schools which appear lower down your list. (Ie it's not a UCAS application - inhouse joke for those of us who grew up in the UK.)

[AbbevilleMummy]

Lemonzest, you have hit the nail on the head! When I went through this I wondered whether I would prejudice myself in the prioritisation of the primary schools and I think that was because I spent so much time strategising with my sixth form tutor over that bloody UCAS form!!

[headshrinker]

Just FYI if you put the two most popular schools in Wandsworth on the application and nothing else you run a very real risk of your child not getting a school place at all. Check out other threads here and you will see that there are many people who live about 200m from both schools but failed to get in to either of them. Really recommend adding some more preferences just in case!