I guess that for my DD, I'm adopting the " you only regret what you don't do..." Although, it will be really disappointing for her if she doesn't achieve a place with a Vocational School for September 2014, at least she will have tried. Whereas, if we shy away from it now, she may always be thinking "what if?".
DD is year 5 and this is a year of discovery and auditioning, all with a hopeful end game of achieving a vocational place. DD knows that the chances are slim and that there are 100s of little girls and boys all with the same dreams.
Picturesinthefirelight, there is always next year - from what I have read, lots of people don't make yr 7 selection but subsequently get places in yr 8.