How to get to first base with secondary schools

Follow the instructions and guidance given to you, to put down only the names of the schools that you would like your children to attend and in the order that you want them. I would also urge any parent who has been offered a place to promptly reply to the LEA so that their place can be reallocated if they will not be accepting. My only other advice would be to sit tight, breathe deeply and keep everything crossed.

Juliette Lipshaw, Deputy headteacher at Sinai School

Parents applying for entry to secondary school fill out a single application form even if they are applying to schools in more than one borough. They may select up to six schools in order of preference and submit the form to the local authority in which they live. Their application is then considered under the equal preference system. For in-year school admissions, parents are required to apply directly to the borough in which the school is located. Some local authorities do not co-ordinate in-year admissions and parents must apply directly to the schools.

Barnet Council School Admissions Team

If a parent gets their first choice, they should accept as quickly as possible. If a parent does not get their first choice, they should not panic; they should ask to go on the waiting list, keep in contact with the school and, if necessary, submit an appeal. In fact, historically, almost all children who want a place at a Jewish secondary school will get one, even if not on allocation day itself.

Bradley Raphael, Chair of admissions at Yavneh College

If you do decide to accept a different school, especially if it is an independent school, please make sure both the school and your borough are aware as soon as possible so that another child on the waitlist can be offered that place.

Hasmonean admissions officer, Tammy Meduna-Scott

However horrendous it feels at the time, both for the parents and the child involved, don’t give up. I know it forces parents to behave in ways we aren’t always proud of and causes untold amounts of stress, but it is a fight that sometimes has to be fought and usually people do get a place. Also, don’t ignore the impact the process has on the children involved. Try to shelter them from the anxiety as much as possible as they will be seeing all their friends offered places around them and it’s heartbreaking for them.

Parent, anonymous

Remember that not being offered a place in the first round is in no way a slight, or a reflection of the school’s attitude towards the parents, and if we had it our way, we would offer places to everybody.

Rabbi David Meyer, executive director of Partnerships for Jewish Schools