Offer Day Dilemma

[RockChickRocks]

Dilemma. Help please!

DC has several offers which we are really excited about but just informed they have been placed on the reserve list for Caterham which isn’t an assessment we thought they’d pass based on their description of how the day went. Pessimistic or realist child here. Never know which one better suits.

Anyway, I suppose that’s changed our outlook on possible future school but need to know how much a reserve list moves? If at all. Are they the same thing as waiting lists I hear mentioned on other threads? Would we be stupid to not accept elsewhere on the hope that they’d get a place here.

Anyone else been in this position that could throw some light and hope our way? or is anyone in the same position currently?
Better still, anyone receive an offer that they are considering not accepting?

Dream school, for which we never thought would be within reach. Some distance away too but I think it would be worth it. This has really thrown us!

[Ratrace123]

Hello - I would contact the school to confirm if it’s the same as waitlist. It could be a separate list before they go to wait list. You could also ask if your child is at top of list and how far they usually work down?
I had one child get into preferred school via wait list and he was at the top so we heard the same day as offers deadline. Best of luck!

[PiedImperial]

Definitely call the school, and make sure you tell them that they are your first choice, and that you would 100% accept a place if one came up. This may (unofficially) bump you up their list.

Their admissions team will probably be working throughout half term, so you could try calling them next week.

Good luck!

[RockChickRocks]

We’ve asked where on the list we are (called and emailed) but have received no response at all. DC has other options, thankfully. Real shame, but if we hear nothing by Friday, not about to give up a good offer in hand or lose deposit elsewhere when we’re clearly not important enough to receive a reply. Does this sound like the wrong attitude to have?
Feel very much in the dark and in limbo. If we knew more we really would feel better about waiting. Such a horrible position to be in.

Don’t also want to mess around the other schools.

Would be really great to hear from someone who has been through this. What would you do?

[LIZS]

Not heard of a reserve list but do know some who got in having sat a later set of exams. I would expect any movement to be after state school offers are published. There should be someone in over half term though, and normally they are good at replying.

[BestOption]

We paid the deposit for the firm offer while waiting to hear for the first choice, annoying but given the cost of the schooling not a huge percentage

She got the First Choice school and loves it and while it was an added expense it gave us peace of mind. But it was affordable. I think it depends how much it’ll impact your family to pay the deposit on the firm offer.

Don’t worry about ‘messing the other school around’ they really won’t be phased, it’ll just get offered to the next child on the list - they’re very used to it.

It’s a daft system

[RockChickRocks]

Thought ‘reserve list’ sounded funny. Everyone else is talking about ‘waiting list’. This might explain no response. Too far away from possible offer place

A person could easily go crazy during this period. DC thankfully not phased, but I think this will change once back in school next week when they find out where friends are going.

liz I know we are likely to know more after state offer day, but some info now would be great, especially knowing where on the list DC is.

[RockChickRocks]

Thanks BestOption think both our posts crossed lol

Financial we can afford the school, just and appreciate many will be ok with losing £1,000 or so deposit, but this wouldn’t be us. You’re right. A very daft system!

Will keep my fingers crossed for a reply next Friday. Am sure their busy with those who received an outright offer. Just wished I knew our rank/position. That way if quite low down, we would just remove ourselves. Maybe another reason why they haven’t replied as they’re likely to want to keep their back up list plump and parent keen.

[byfleetpuddles]

Nearly all schools over offer so they won't know whether they will go to the waiting list until after the last day to except offers. I presume caterham deadline is beginning of March on state school offer day. I would very much doubt that the wait list will move before then and may not move until a few days after the deadline. I would lose the deposit if need be. Think about how much money you have "lost" by registering for schools you have turned down or been rejected from. £1k in the £100k+ it will cost over the whole senior school cost is nothing.

[RockChickRocks]

Just updating. Still nothing (reply/response) from this school. Has anyone else heard? Fortunately DC has other equally good options. Going to encourage them to accept one of these. This 11+ process is brutal and kids are not treated as people. Really glad to be done with this whole process

byfleetpuddles paying a deposit and losing it is not an option I’d be willing to consider when dealing with a school not polite enough to respond and give us feedback on where our DC is on their list. Very stressful for all, but how one is treated during the process speaks volumes and Thankfully helps push decisions one one or another.

All the best to those still waiting on their ‘waiting list’ and ‘reserve lists’ . While it honestly looks like too big a ‘back up’ list for anyone to be successful, fingers crossed for your DC x

[FiddleOnTheRoof]

Have been here myself and totally understand the dilemma this 11+ system places on parents and kids. Very pleased you have other options! Best position to be in and I wouldn’t waste a deposit either at a good school for a school which doesn’t keep you in the loop. Voting with your feet is the best way to show them they don’t hold all the strings.