Passing is only one gate
Selective schools often have more qualified applicants than places. Once the academic requirement is met, the school still has to apply its published admissions policy.
That policy may include distance, priority area, looked-after status, pupil premium, siblings, score rank, or other rules. The exact order matters.
Example
A child qualifies for a grammar route. The family names a popular school ten miles away. The school gives priority to children in a defined area and then uses distance. The child may be academically eligible, but not high enough under the oversubscription rules to receive an offer.
What parents should check
- The school’s admissions policy for the year of entry.
- Whether there is a catchment, priority area, or distance rule.
- Whether distance is measured straight line, walking route, or another method.
- Whether historical allocation information is published by the school or local authority.
- Whether the journey is practical if a place is eventually offered.
How to use the result
Treat the pass as permission to check the school properly, not as evidence that the place is likely. The school policy tells you whether distance is a minor detail or the rule that controls the offer.