decision on 1st March? Anyone want to sit and sweat it out with me?

I think ds2 is the same manky. I have been trying to reassure him that we really don't mind which school he gets into, that both have pros and cons, that we really like both, but he is quite nervous. Big outburst about it a couple of weeks ago. I think he'll be better when he knows as well.

DS1 is feeling it a bit more than I thought - it all came out last night, about how he is nervous about leaving primary. I think he will be better when he knows which school he is going to - I think it's the uncertainty that is making him nervous.

MaryBS: come and join us on our thread...

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/special_needs/1690589-Children-starting-secondary-in-September-2013-support-hand-holding-tips-and-advice

DD is now in Y8, and I'm relieved to have got through that first year tbh, which brought all sorts of problems, even though we felt it was the right school. DS is a different kettle of fish though, and transition for him is going to be a lot harder, because of his Asperger's. He's very immature socially (which can be adorable to me, but not to his peers)

Elsewhere.

The comp isn't particularly popular (prob because of the area its in) but it gets good results and I really liked the ethos. The local rag has just published an article about the head and I read it and thought how much I liked the school and their approach to learning. I think I will secretly be disappointed if he gets the grammar I don't get quite the same vibe from it.

Because it's a low birth rate year, with the exception of the grammars, you can pretty much pick which schools you want this year (in my area I mean). I think it will be a bit harder when ds3 comes to choose a secondary school as his cohort is larger.

Saintlyjimjams, are you in London or elsewhere? Good luck....It sounds as if you are in a win win situation regardless of the result....

Marking space as will be twiddling thumbs on Thursday waiting to log in at midnight (system usually work here - although knowing my luck....)

First choice is the boys grammar, second choice the local comp.

I actually quite like the local comp and think it would suit ds2 but everyone else wants the grammar. DS2 will be upset if he doesn't get it :sigh:

We know he passed the 11 plus, but don't know whether he got a place or is on the waiting list.

Yes, would go along with what VivaleBeaver and ChippyMinton have said (waves!).

I think that a term and a half down the line from starting at secondary school, most of DS's cohort's parents are quite happy with the schools their children are now attending, even if they weren't necessarily their first choice ones.

I think if it's possible (once the initial shock has worn off), just be open-minded and flexible. Primary school admissions taught us that as soon as you 'let go' and accept another option it is much more likely that you might be surprised by an unexpected positive outcome elsewhere....

Only 5 more sleeps...

Relax!
What will be will be on 1st March.
If it's what you/DC want, that will be fantastic.
If it is not, then it will be the springboard for a whole world of angst, phone calls, letter-writing. appeals prep etc etc. In which case enjoy these last few days of blissful ignorance.

Hope its all good news for you.

I was here last year. DD passed her 11+ and unfortunately didn't get a place at the grammar (its the nearest 180 kids on distannce). I waited up till midnight and then got the bad news. I went to bed and sobbed and sobbed, didn't sleep for most of the night.

We lost our appeal and dd has ended up going to a comp in the next town. She's doing fine, loves the school. She seems to be doing well though probably not been pushed as hard as what she would have been at the grammar. But she's happy and enjoying it.

Just wanted to say if it isn't good news it isn't the end of the world. Her been at the comp is working a lot better than I thought it would.

Good luck everyone!

I wondered if there were a countdown thread... eek and argh. Can I have an especially large eek as it appears the preferred school is looking to change its school uniform, to something more formal with ties, blazer etc, and my aspie son and ties do NOT mix!

Envying the majority who can check online! We have to wait for snail mail as we have applied out of borough and that's the way it's done here. And with our post, DD may not hear until late on 4th.
It's stressing me more than her. On Friday morning I phoned our 'destination' borough just to make sure (again) that she was on their list. They are getting fed up with me, I'm sure I heard some muttering about 'neurotic nora' in the background.

Entering the home stretch now.

This was me last year, wish I'd have know about mumsnet then as I was a right wreck waiting for the 1st March and could have done with lots if friendly virtual hand holding! Good look to everybody :-)

My DD has done very well and hopefully has got a place at a semi selective. Has just got into the 12 number cut off. However, I won't feel happy until I have official notification and am (ridiculously) slightly anxious. Do hope it all works out. If, and just if, she doesn't get in she will go to the local school with her friends....just she is really excited about going there, making new friends and no longer being thought of as one of the nerds...
DS younger and going into ks2 - shouldn't really be thinking about his future yet.....(not sure he will do as well in the exam as very different child!). Feel for those who are in a different position....hope it all works out for everyone.....

Well our DS goes to a grammar school out of Borough so no sibling rule will apply for DD (7). There are girls grammar schools around too but not sure at this stage whether with increased competition, DD will make it. The half-decent non-selective girls school in Borough is on the other side of it. It's quite possible that although historically all girls from within Borough have been given places, because of the rising birth-rate and its increasing popularity, by the time DD gets to that stage she might not even get a place.

DW is already starting to agitate about it..... and it's still four years off before we get really angsty.

The birth dip is sickening for me, because DD, who's in a lowbirth year is likely to end up going to a single sex school and hence DS will have to fend for himself in the chaos of September 2015 entries without a sibling leg-up

And as I've flagged up already, you don't see the Councils rapidly expanding existing or building new secondary schools..... yet.... They will undoubtedly wait until there is a crisis for places before they act...

I looked it up on the ONS website. There was a dip in 2001/2002/2003 then it creeps steadily upwards.

I would agree with that, it's what we were told too.

It's one of the reasons I am hoping we get DS1 into the boys school - if we do, the sibling rule will mean DS2, in YR2 at the moment, will have the option of going there too, if we deem it the best fit for him closer to the time.