Skip to main content
Search ExamKind
Reading options
Colours
Reading comfort
Background tint

Saved in a cookie on this device only.

Free and independent. No ads, no affiliate links. Every fact shows its source and the date we checked it.

Choosing a school

How to rank your school preferences

The short answer

List schools in the order you genuinely prefer them. In England, schools are not allowed to give extra priority to families who put them first, so ranking a school higher never harms your chances at the others. Each school decides who qualifies under its own rules, and the council then offers your highest-ranked school that can take your child. Include at least one school your child is very likely to be offered.

What to do next

  1. Step 1: List schools in your real order of preference

    Putting a school first never harms your chances at the others.

  2. Step 2: Include a school your child is very likely to be offered

    This gives you a sensible outcome whatever happens.

  3. Step 3: Send your application

    By31 OctoberSchool place applications close (common application form, CAF)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against GOV.UK.The source says: You must apply for a secondary school place by 31 October.View the official source

    Send it to your home council on the Common Application Form ().

How does the system actually work?

It helps to picture it in two steps:

  1. Every school you list looks at your application separately, using only its own admission rules: test result, catchment, distance, siblings and so on. It doesn't know or care where you ranked it. This is because schools must not give extra priority because of the order in which you rank themNo extra priority for naming a school firstChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Department for Education (GOV.UK).The source says: give extra priority to children whose parents rank preferred schools in a particular order, including ‘first preference first’ arrangements;View the official source.
  2. The council then looks at all the schools that could offer your child a place, and gives you the one you ranked highest. Under the Code, the council makes only one offer per childOne offer for each childChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Department for Education (GOV.UK).The source says: only one offer per child is made by the local authority;View the official source.

So putting a school lower down doesn't make it more likely to offer you a place, and putting your favourite first doesn't cost you anything elsewhere. People often call this the "equal preference" system.

Should you put the grammar school first?

Only if it really is your first choice. A common worry is "if I put the grammar first and we don't get it, will we lose our place at the local school?" No: because of the two steps above, your local school considers you exactly as it would if you had ranked it first.

A real choice to think about is whether you would actually prefer a particular grammar school over a particular non-selective school. Long journeys, single-sex or mixed, and how your child feels about each school all matter. Rank the way your family would genuinely choose.

Is listing only one school a good idea?

No. GOV.UK is clear: Listing only one school does not increase your chances of a place thereNaming only one school gives no advantageChecked 9 Oct 2026 against GOV.UK.The source says: Listing only one school will not increase your chances of getting a place there.View the official source. If you list only one school and it is full, the council must offer a place at another school, usually the nearest school with places leftIf none of your schools can offer a placeChecked 9 Oct 2026 against GOV.UK.The source says: The local council must provide a place at another school, if your child is not offered a place at any of the schools you’ve applied for. This is usually your nearest school with places still available.View the official source, which may be a school you would not have chosen.

You can name at least threeSchools you can name on the application (at least)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Department for Education (GOV.UK).The source says: Parents are able to express a preference for at least three schools.View the official source schools, and many councils allow more. Use them.

What is a "realistic" choice?

A school your child is very likely to be offered, based on its admission rules and past allocations. For example: your catchment school, or a school where offers have reached further than your home in recent years. Put it in its true place in your order, often last, so you have a good outcome whatever happens with the 11+.

What if you don't yet know the 11+ result?

In most areas results arrive before the deadline of 31 OctoberSchool place applications close (common application form, CAF)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against GOV.UK.The source says: You must apply for a secondary school place by 31 October.View the official source. If you are waiting for a second-stage outcome or a review, you can usually still name the school; check your council's rules about changing preferences after the deadline.

What should you check before you submit?

  • Every school is named correctly, including any in other council areas.
  • The order is your genuine order of preference.
  • Any supplementary forms have gone to the schools that need them.
  • Any evidence, such as for pupil premium priority, has gone where it needs to, by its own deadline.
  • You have a confirmation from your council.

Sources

Facts on this page come from the School Admissions Code 2021 and GOV.UK school admissions guidance, archived on 9 October 2026.

ExamKind is independent and is not connected with any council or school. We never advise a particular order of schools for your child. How we make our content.

Facts used in this guidesources in each row
FactDetailSource
No extra priority for naming a school firstschools must not give extra priority because of the order in which you rank themSource: Department for Education (GOV.UK), checked
One offer for each childthe council makes only one offer per childSource: Department for Education (GOV.UK), checked
Naming only one school gives no advantageListing only one school does not increase your chances of a place thereSource: GOV.UK, checked
If none of your schools can offer a placethe council must offer a place at another school, usually the nearest school with places leftSource: GOV.UK, checked
Schools you can name on the application (at least)at least threeSource: Department for Education (GOV.UK), checked
School place applications close (common application form, CAF)31 OctoberSource: GOV.UK, checked

Written and checked by the ExamKind Editorial Team. Every fact on this page links to its official source. ExamKind is independent: no test provider, school or council owns us, and we have no ads. Spotted a mistake? Report an error on this page, or see every correction we have made.