Anyone else anxious about tomorrow's primary school admissions email in London?

I honestly thought about it so much and analysed everything. But no amount of stats and visits and hearsay and Ofsted reports and SATS scores and “vibes” can really tell you how your child will get on! So much of that will be about things that you can’t control for, even with the best will in the world.

(I’d still be fretting though. This is very easy to say with the gift of hindsight! 😂)

Ahhh good luck everyone! This was me this time last year. I had agonised about the preferences and spent so much time researching schools and doing all the digging. I could have gone on Mastermind with local primaries as my specialist subject.

We got a place at our first choice school. Delighted. It then had an Ofsted inspection after we received the offer - and the report was absolutely awful. We were so upset, and unable to get into any of our other choices before the summer holidays started. It was such an anxious time. Anyway, fast forward to now and my child goes to the first choice rubbish Ofsted school and seems to be doing great in reception. A new head is in place and the school seems to have got its act together. My child is learning loads and had plenty of lovely friends and - above all - is happy.

Meanwhile, a friend of mine moved house to be in the catchment for one of the top performing primary schools in the country. Unfortunately, it’s not been the best fit for her child so far and they’ve had a really challenging year.

I’m not sure what I’m trying to say with this. Other than, even with the most considered school preferences, you can never really know how things will work out. Your first choice may go to seed! The uninspiring fifth choice could end up with a lovely group of children in a class and teachers they really gel with!

I really hope you all get what you’re going for - but I also think things might be better than you expect even if you don’t!

Always go on the waiting list if you want a particular school. Things can move right before school starts.

They would have been based elsewhere. London and Surrey are always 5pm, and it's quickest to log onto the portal, although it can take a while to log in dead on 5pm when everyone is doing so.

We are getting a junior school place tomorrow, this is our 4th time (2x Reception places, 2x junior places) and we've always had the email some time between 6pm and 8pm. We are guaranteed a place at the juniors (they prioritise kids from the linked infant school) so no anxiety this time, other than the irrational worry I forgot to apply!

So the other MNers who said the portal was update after midnight were not London based?

I’ll not bother having a cheeky check at midnight then.

I'm super nervous too! My first choice school isn't my closest and is actually out of borough. Although we're still in the catchment area and meet all the criteria. It far surpasses all the other local schools and is the best in both boroughs. I didn't realise the results come out at 5pm!! oh gosh going to be a nervous wreck all day.

I had an unofficial confirmation when my youngest magically appeared on the schools app yesterday. Not sure how long the schools have known but clearly getting ahead with any paperwork they’ve got to do!
Obviously a sibling so will definitely get a spot anyway, but will be nice to have an official confirmation.

Pan London results are released at 5pm, never any earlier. It’s a horrible wait all day - reading all the threads on Mumsnet etc as some places releases places just after midnight, some at 9am etc
I’ll keep fingers crossed for anyone waiting.

We live in Merton and were applying last year. If its any comfort, every primary school bar 2 still have spaces even now in reception. Schools that previously had very long waiting lists, have spaces this year. Don't underestimate of combination of those leaving London and the falling birth rate. My DD's school has had quite a bit of movement in her class during the first autumn term as well.

@Alicexo ah okay. My first choice is a 23 min walk 😣 feel like Ive got no chance. Tbh the only one closer was 17 mins. Yes I’ll keep you updated - sending positive thoughts 🥰

I really hope you get your first choice!! I think if you’re really close you should be fine. It’s so stressful isn’t it. My neighbours last year got offered one so far away and then got a closer one via waiting list in August. I feel like that would just stress me out so much, waiting and not knowing and being able to plan. I just seem to live in a weird place where we’re not really in catchment for any school!

@Alicexo ive been checking today too 🤣 so funny. I just had to clean my flat to distract myself for a while. Im convinced Im gonna get our 5th choice which I really don’t want. Not even sure why I put it down really, I panicked I think. But it’s the least oversubscribed out of all of them

Don't know, sorry.

@Shuffletoesxtreme oh wow, what area if you don’t mind me asking? I feel like this could easily happen to me based on what I’ve heard from neighbours etc

We got a randomly assigned school last year as no offers from any of our six choices but then got first choice two days after reception started.., (so had to ditch a whole set of uniform that had been worn for 2 days…)