How to apply for big school?

[Sara_H]

This is true.

 

[vernon]

Have you visited the school? Made an appointment with the head? Go along and show lots of interest and enthusiasm. Positivity can go a long way and certainly can't hurt. If you are pro active and make a positive impression maybe it will help you stand out in their minds? Just few ideas...not from any experience I might add!!

Allocation is normally undertaken by the LEA and the head has no influence on the decisions. Similarly, appeals go to an independent body. The head teacher gets notification of potential numbers and over subscriptions. (S)he might appeal against an allocation being too big but rarely has any say over which individuals appear in the admission list and who goes onto the waiting list.

Admission policies can and often are different for faith schools and academies where admission interviews might be offered but admission is still governed by strict criteria. I know that the local Catholic high school for instance uses a sliding scale of degree of catholicism as its admission criteria with a nominal percentage of places held for non-Catholics.

 

[Sandra6]

To be honest what you put on the application is unlikely to influence the decision whether to offer your son a place or not.
School places are allocated according to criteria - "looked after" children usually first , catchment children next, those with siblings and those on free school meals coming next - exceptions are with faith schools.
I wouldn't worry too much, if you don't get lucky save the big guns for the appeal process.