secondary school waiting list

[Squeeze139]

Hi hope someone can help. My daughter was offered her second choice - it was a bit of a toss up actually - 1st choice - local school where we are a street out of the 'catchment' or 2nd choice - a school where she won a music scholarship (not private) but next borough and a slightly longer bus journey. We like both schools but now she has been offered her second choice and we know it is a good school, however we automatically go on the waiting list for our first preference. I am a bit confused - if she is offered her first preference will she automatically lose her second (and her scholarship) or do we get the opportunity to think and choose once she is on the waiting list and see what options we have. Hope this makes sense and hope someone knows the answer! I am in a london borough. I have looked online but there is conflicting information.

[prh47bridge]

If you have accepted the school you've been offered they should not take the place away just because you get an offer from your first choice. However, some LAs get this wrong, so it is safest not to rely on this. Ring them and ask. It helps if you get it in writing so you have evidence in case they do something different from what they say.

[Cuddlysnowleopard]

It depends where you are. Herts has always automatically moved you onto the higher placed school, if you get a place off the waiting list. Not sure if it's the same this year, though.

(We'll, they said that's what they'd do, although I parents I knew did get a phone call first).

[pappajonessecretchild]

I am in Herts, and yes, you loose your place for a higher ranked preference if a space comes up, however this was made very clear with a chance to come of the continue interest list when accepting the school, so unless yours said this when accepting the school, you would be best to check with your area to clarify.

[Squeeze139]

Thanks for the advice - after thinking about it they are both good Schs I’m not going to stress on the waiting list so going with our offer x

[Lozzerbmc]

Im in wokingham Berks and we automatically loose 2nd choice school we have accepted if the first preference becomes available