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Original poster

Regretting turning down a grammar school place

33 replies

ASingleJourney · 02/05/2015 22:07

A friend of ours turned down a grammar school place for her DS in favour of an indie but is now having second thoughts.

She's wondering whether it is possible to reverse her decision or to go on the waiting list? If it is possible for her DS to go on the waiting list, will he be at the bottom or at the top (according to his exam results)?

Any insights would be much appreciated.

OP posts:
BadgersArse · 03/05/2015 12:30

Nope - they will have given the place to the next person

teddygirlonce · 03/05/2015 12:28

I would have thought that such a child would go to the bottom of the waiting list....(if there's any sense of what's right in this world).

Surely? Otherwise schools could have loads of issues with this type of behaviour??? As responsible adults, surely parents should be making up their minds before decision-making and then sticking by what they've decided?

Sorry - harsh but fair to everyone else on the waiting list I would have thought!

TeddTess · 03/05/2015 12:09

she needs to phone the school and local authority and find out where he would be. we can't tell you that.
sounds like if just based on exam result (like eg Tiffin) that he will be at the top of the list.
they may not have even got to waiting list yet. she'd better be quick though. these decisions aren't made lightly though and nothing has changed, the fees nor the distance. she must have accepted the indie and turned down the grammar for very good reasons.

Original poster
ASingleJourney · 03/05/2015 10:08

Thanks, everyone, for your responses.

Our friend is concerned about distance (grammar school is much closer) and financial implications of paying fees for 7 years (this indie's fees are rather high, even after deduction for his 25% scholarship).

We think her DS's grammar school selects through exam results alone (no catchment area).

OP posts:
meditrina · 03/05/2015 09:20

She'd have to put him back on the waiting list.

The waiting list has to be ranked by how well the pupil fits the criteria, and as he was a good enough fit to be offered a place in the first round, I think it is highly likely he wil, be at or near the top. How much the list moves will depend on whether they have gone over PAN (by admitting after successful appeal) because it has to fall back to one below PAN before anyone is made an offer from the list.

I don't think 'we changed our mind' is going to be the basis for a successful appeal.

Why is she having second thoughts? These aren't decisions taken lightly, so has something major come to light?

StrongAsAnOx · 03/05/2015 09:12

Different grammar schools have different criteria e.g. our local grammar ignores pass score. Either you pass or fail, then thereafter the admissions criteria include distance from school, in care, special needs, religion, sibling at school. On that basis someone with a sibling or could be much higher up the waiting list. So your friend needs to check the admissions criteria but also the numbers in the school. Our local schools rarely have places opening up after allocation. Could be several years and then they'd have to its the 13 plus.

LimeFizz · 03/05/2015 09:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
ASingleJourney · 03/05/2015 09:06

In case it is relevant, our friend's DS took the 11+ exam, which I believe is the only entry point for grammar schools (outside of sixth form).

OP posts: