Ask SchoolGuru

SchoolGuru: No. Hertfordshire County Council use their own computer-based mapping system to measure distances from individual homes to schools. The Admission Calculators will provide you with an estimate, using the same basic principle of 'straight line' measuring, ie 'as the crow flies'. Hertfordshire County Council introduced straight line measurements in 2011. We have completely revamped our website to reflect this - and that's why we don't provide any earlier data, as it's potentially misleading for parents.

SchoolGuru: No, you can enjoy a big group hug, and a glass of Prosecco, safe in the knowledge that nobody will be able to snatch your place away (unless you've been dishonest on your application form, which we are sure would not be the case!). If anyone gets in on appeal, the school will have to increase their intake. If it's an infant class, they then have a period of grace to revert to 30 kids per teacher (usually until the end of the year, unless there are special circumstances, such as if the children have special needs). That's the school's problem - ie they may have to allocate extra resources or hire another teacher - it's not your problem, they can't kick your child out!

SchoolGuru: If you would have got a place in 2011, then we rate your chances as 'good'. If you would not have got in, then you're given a 'poor' rating. Due to a major change in the way that Herts Couty Council have started measuring distance, there is only one year of data on the site (our stance is that all previous data is now invalid). Next year, with two years' of data, we will use a greater range of descriptions, depending on how many stars/crosses you get.

The only exception to this at the moment is with some of the single sex secondary schools, where you are given a percentage in certain circumstances (ie if you're in an oversubscribed category, that goes to a lottery ballot as a tie breaker). If this affects you, see the question below from 'Confused, Welwyn'.

SchoolGuru: I think this is fraud! You need to use your address - the address where your child spends the majority of his time. Friends may think it's fine now, but how about when you get a place... and their child doesn't? Parents are often the ones who turn detective, when their children lose out. This is a nationwide issue. For example, in their literature, Sutton Council warns: "Each year we withdraw applications and sometimes even offers, because someone has used a fraudulent address. We say this as a reassurance and a warning. You might be surprised that the main source of information we have is other parents who rightfully are upset when they see other children being offered a school place above their own, because a parent has lied on the form." You have been warned!

SchoolGuru: The Calculator's telling you that your admissions' category was oversubscribed - and the tie-breaker was a random ballot. As a result, we can't give you a definite yes or no. If you were lucky, you'd have got in. If not, you wouldn't. We show the probability of getting a place under your Rule. We don't show probabilities by parish, as the small numbers could be misleading - and the system is weighted so that each parish should have an equal share of places based on the number of applications submitted. We give you a zero - because we're cautious like that. It doesn't mean that there were zero successful applicants in your position. Just that anyone applying in your situation would be taking a gamble. So do you feel lucky, parent? Well, do you?

SchoolGuru: Ask your trusty friend, the Admission Calculator. Keep the Rule the same, and increase the distance... and see what happens.

SchoolGuru: You're absolutely right – the website gives you a snapshot of what you can expect on allocation day (when the parents who have applied on-time are allocated a particular school). It doesn't take into account the continuing interest lists (ie the waiting lists). Movement on the continuing interest lists is much harder to predict, but the schools should be able to give you a rough idea, informally, of how often places tend to turn up. Bear in mind the following:

• It can take months, or even years, to get a place this way, and so it's not recommended as a strategy. We were 522m from our closest community school (St Peter's) and failed to get a reception place there. We missed out on a place by just 16m. Seven years later... and still no place (we kept on the list out of curiosity!).

• Rather than pinning your hopes on the one good school, try and think flexibly at this stage, as you're less likely to be disappointed later down the line. Try and find at least one more school that you're happy with – and have a realistic chance of getting into - and include those in your preferences, too.

Good luck!

SchoolGuru: Ok, we've got some advice for movers and shakers like you. Click here to find out more. Basically, the Admission Calculator should be your new best friend. Type in the details required for every property you’re considering. You’ll soon see where you need to live to stand a good chance of getting a place.

Remember: SchoolGuru offers predictions for the future, based on the past. There are no guarantees, warranties or Three Degrees... so please bear that in mind when using the site.

SchoolGuru: No, your application will be assessed in exactly the same way, regardless of whether you rank a school first, second or third - this is known as the equal preference system. All that matters is whether you're entitled to a place under the published admission rules, and for all community and voluntary controlled schools in Hertfordshire, your ranking is irrelevant. Your ranking is only referred to if you qualify under the rules for more than one school. If, say, you’re entitled to a place at both Maple and Wheatfields, and you put Maple first, you'd be offered Maple. If you'd put Wheatfields first, you’d be offered Wheatfields.

SchoolGuru: Oh, we've all heard the tales about mothers phoning round the top schools before they've delivered the placenta. But relax. For the vast majority of state primary schools in Herts, there are no such waiting lists. This applies for all community and voluntary controlled schools. Even if these schools make a note of your name, it won't improve your chances of getting in at a later date. You can see this for yourself by looking at their admission rules - download a copy of the Starting School booklet from Hertfordshire County Council's website (see 'useful links' on the SchoolGuru site). Under their published admission rules, there's nothing at all about giving you prioriy if you're on a waiting list, or apply early (in fact you can't). In addition, any nursery you send your child to is irrelevant. There's a standard time that you need to apply (January, at the moment) and you should ensure that you're well situated for good primary schools by the application deadline. Use SchoolGuru to help you find the best schools in your area and assess your chance of getting in.

However, there are also schools that manage their own admissions (voluntary aided, foundation, academy or free schools). For a few of these schools, under their admission rules, you're put in a higher category if your child attends the linked nursery. You'd need to contact the schools about this individually, but then, it MAY be helpful to get your child on the waiting list for the nursery asap (although it's more likely that other factors would also come into play here, if the nursery is oversubscribed, such as your faith, and proximity to the nursery).

The independent sector is slightly different - they may operate more formal 'waiting' lists from an early age. However, if you turned up with a giant bag of cash, my guess is that they'd manage to find you a place, whenever you applied, given the current economic climate and reduced take-up for private schools. Just a hunch.

Hope this is helpful. Basically, do a bit more research (look at the individual school rules)... but don't panic at this stage, you haven't missed the boat! Bon voyage!

SchoolGuru: Ah yes, we know your sort. We asked Herts CC to clarify your position, and the response was as follows: "The address you use on your application form should be your child's current permanent address. 'Permanent' means lasting for a long time, or not expected to change. If you were to rent a property, but maintain your current residence with the intention of moving back to it, then the rented property would clearly not be a 'permanent' address. If we believe an applicant has given incorrect information on their application we will investigate accordingly. All such cases are looked at on an individual basis but, where we believe a school place has been obtained fraudulently, we may withdraw the offer and allocate the child a place at another school, which could be some distance from their home". Some headteachers are also turning detective to ensure that the rules are followed. Hope that's helpful, Mr Geezer.

SchoolGuru: Oh yes! For primary schools, please contact the local Admissions and Transport team where your first ranked school is located (call 0300 123 4043 for more information). All applicants will need to fill in Hertfordshire County Council’s application form. For secondary schools, apply using your own Local Education Authority’s application forms. Your preference for a particular Hertfordshire school will be passed on to Hertfordshire LEA and/or the school, and your application will be considered alongside other applicants. For primary and secondary schools, you will also need to complete the school’s own application forms, and/or or undergo selective testing, if the school requires it. Your application to a Hertfordshire school will be judged according to the published admission criteria, and processed in the same way as is for residents. The fact you live and/or work outside Hertfordshire will not affect your application, unless it is relevant to the admission rules (eg, if the rules state that you need to live in a particular priority area, and you don’t). If you deserve a place under the admissions criteria, or the school is undersubscribed, you will be offered a place. For primary schools, you'll be notified of the outcome by Herts CC. For secondary schools, it will be your own Local Education Authority. Good luck!

SchoolGuru: There is a separate application process for admissions to junior and middle schools. Applications for places in junior schools need to be made when your child is in year 2; applications for places in middle schools need to be made when your child is in year 4. If your child attends an infant school with a linked junior school, and you wish your child to attend this junior school, you will need to make an application when your child is in year 2. To ask for a 'Joining Junior or Middle School' booklet, phone 0300 123 4043 or visit Hertfordshire County Council's website.

SchoolGuru: Yes, some voluntary-aided and foundation secondary schools select a proportion of pupils by ability or aptitude - eg Bushey Meads, Parmiters, Queens, Rickmansworth, St Clement Danes School, Watford Grammar School for Boys, and Watford Grammar School for Girls. If they have a specialism, they may admit up to 10% of pupils on the basis of aptitude in their specialist area(s).If a school is selective, it will be made clear in their published admission rules. Contact the individual schools for more information.

SchoolGuru: This is certainly true for some schools. The test administered by Parmiter's School, Watford Boys' Grammar School, Watford Girls' Grammar School, Rickmansworth School, Queens' School, Bushey Meads School and St Clement Danes School is converted to an "age-standardised score" based on the child's age in completed months. This takes in to account that some children are very young in the year group. Other schools may run a similar policy - we suggest you phone the specific school to check.
You are able to apply for one, two or three schools that select or partially select by ability. However we strongly advise that one of your three school preferences is a 'safe bet' school (with no examination criteria etc). Even the brightest children have off days and the examination process can be stressful. Good luck!

SchoolGuru: Any maintained (state) secondary school in England can apply for specialist status in one of ten areas: arts, business & enterprise, engineering, humanities, languages, mathematics & computing, music, science, sports and technology. Schools can also combine any two specialisms and some schools now have a second specialism.

SchoolGuru: There's no simple answer to your question - as there could be a good explanation for what's happened at your school... or a mistake could have been made. However I hope the following info will give you a clearer picture about what could have occurred.

What are Continuing Interest (CI) lists?
For community and voluntary controlled schools, these are the waiting lists that are managed by Hertfordshire County Council following allocation day. After a period of several weeks, they revert to the schools to administer themselves.
For schools that manage their own admissions (eg voluntary aided, foundation and academy schools), the schools will manage their own CI lists straight after allocation day (or ask the Council to administer them on their behalf).

What will your position be on the CI lists?
Everyone on the list is ranked according to how they would be considered under the school's published admission rules. Your position may have nothing to do with the distance that you live from the school. It may be, for example, that faith or a sibling connection, or living in a certain postcode or zone, will give you priority over distance. As children move on or off the the lists, your position could go up or down, and there are regular shake-ups in the weeks after allocation day.

Likely scenarios to explain the situation at your school
Perhaps the child who's been admitted has got in on appeal - or a mistake could have been made in the admissions process, so that the child should have been entitled to a place on allocation day. Maybe the child has special medical or social needs that you're unaware of, which could place them in a higher admissions category.
Finally, it is possible that a mistake has been made in offering the child a place. If I was the parent of the child who didn't get in - and couldn't see an obvious reason for it - I'd definitely appeal!

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