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2. Choose Six Catholic Schools
Out of the schools you have seen, choose six Catholic schools that will be suitable for your
child. In some parts of the diocese, this may not be possible. In some parts of Hertfordshire,
for instance, it may only be practical to name two or three Catholic schools. In most parts of
London, however, there will be at least six Catholic schools which are accessible. Naming six
Catholic schools will maximise your chances of a place in a Catholic school.
Decide in which order of preference you wish to list the schools. You will probably have
formed some strong preferences as you visited the schools. But before you decide, make
sure you have read the current Oversubscription Criteria for each school very carefully.
Remember that these Criteria change from year to year and school to school.
Reading the Oversubscription Criteria for each school will help you to understand how well
you meet the criteria and whether you have a realistic chance of being offered a place at
that school. You should ask the school how far down their Oversubscription Criteria was the
cut-off point between successful and unsuccessful applicants over the past few years. Whilst
there is never a guarantee that the pattern will repeat itself, it gives you a good idea how
likely you are to be offered a place. For instance, if a school has consistently been unable to
give all applicants in its criterion 2 a place, and you only meet their criterion 4, you are
unlikely to be offered a place at that school.
Always make sure you have at least one realistic choice (i.e. a school where you are very
likely to be offered a place) in your choices. Every year there are some Catholic schools that
are able to offer a place to all Catholic applicants. If you put one of these schools in your list,
this will maximise your chances of getting a place at a Catholic school.
If your child is eligible for a place at more than one school, your child will be offered a place
at the school which you have ranked the highest on your form.
3. Fill in the eAdmissions Form (previously called the CAF)
You must complete the on-line LA eAdmissions form listing up to six schools that you would
prefer your child to go to in September 2024. Each LA will have its own form. You must use
the form of the LA in whose area you live. You do this no matter where the schools you
wish to apply for, or your child’s current primary school, are located. If you do not use the
form of your ‘home’ LA none of your applications can be considered. If you are not sure
which LA you live in, please check with any LA. It will normally be the same as the authority
to which you pay your Council Tax.
The eAdmissions Form will invite you to name up to six schools and to rank them in order
of preference. For all of the preferences given on the Form, your child will be considered
against the admission criteria for the schools concerned. The order in which you list schools
should indicate your genuine order of preference for the schools.