Separate research from the final form
At the start, a shortlist can include schools you are investigating. By the CAF deadline, it needs to become a practical list of schools you would accept.
Too few schools can make the process fragile. Too many can create shallow research and unnecessary test registrations.
Example
A family begins with eight schools across three routes. After checking admissions rules and travel, only four remain realistic. Those four are worth comparing properly before deciding the CAF order.
What to include
- The grammar schools tied to routes you may actually register for.
- Any school where the journey is plausible.
- Non-grammar schools you would accept.
- A note on qualification, distance or priority area risk.
- Open-day impressions once visits begin.
Keep pruning
A shortlist is useful only if it gets more accurate over time. Remove schools when the route, policy or journey no longer works.