Is it too early to start a 2016 girls 11+ W/SW London thread?

Just skimmed this thread. This will be us next year. Ugh.

We got one firm offer and two waiting list places. We turned down one today and accepted the other from the waiting list. The other waiting list school (City Boys) have been awful. We called several times and were told nothing. I'm not impressed at all as the other school told us exactly what our chances were.

aeganblue - did the people you know in that position apply on time? If you read the council statement carefully you'll see they say every "on time applicant" has a place. They get loads more applications after the deadline. Those people may not make the headlines on National Offer Day but then they get added in to the Waiting lists after the first round of offers, worsening the waiting list positions for everyone else.

In the interest of balance, we applied to 6 independents and got 2, thankfully the one we wanted, SCHS. Of the NOs - a couple were stabs in the dark, a couple I thought we had a chance. I admit I panicked and applied for more schools that I had intended to, spreading the risk. So glad to be out the other side.

Yes I should also like to emphasise the importance of freeing up your state place ASAP. We have been shocked that so many in my DD's class received a letter saying they currently have no place and need to phone schools to remain on waitlist (and yet the Richmond and Twickenham Times reported last week that every child has a place which may be the Council's aim for September 1st but is not the case March 1st). Last year many kids were given Twickenham Academy which is on the total opposite end of the borough, but this year nothing at all! so please fee up your state place if you haven't already!

I agree it's really important to give up your state school place asap if you aren't using it. Especially some of the schools in the Richmond borough where the catchment is shrinking alarmingly year on year.

I've already heard of WL movement, so it is happening this year already. Not surprising if they over-offered last year.

"For the record, DD got 5/5 offers, so 4 places were freed up, plus a state school place."

Apologies for nitpicking, but point of detail for anyone looking at this for next year: state schools offer only the exact number of places they have, so relinquishing one does free it up to be re-offered.

In the independent sector, it means no such thing, as schools over-offer (based on previous years' patterns of accepting and declining and the answer to the question 'where else are you applying?' which helps registrars get together and work out actual number of candidates behind the applications numbers). They expect a proportion of offers to be rejected, bringing them to the number they want (or just under) and use the WL only if they have undershot.

They would obviously prefer to undershoot and make up numbers from WL, as that is pretty much consequence-free from a school's pov. Whereas if you overshoot there is the problem of either breaking promises on class size (thus pissing off all your new y7 parents) or having to shoehorn an extra class in somehow.

Even when aiming for a undershoot, I heard that a lot of schools barely used their waiting lists last year.

Out of 4 applications- 2 offers. So a no to SPGS and G&L and a yes from LEH and NHE. Meanwhile friends had a yes from G&L and no from LEH- inevitably they each wanted the other!. lesson is cast your net wide I guess - loo trips mid exam and ink issues on the 'no's' didn't help but I never could have predicted that!
We have chosen LEH.

We got 4 out of 4 offers, and no-one is more surprised than me. We've accepted our first choice school and rejected the other 3. I think info on how much waiting lists are moving would be really useful for next years parents

yes please do let us all know the endings for those of us going through this next year!

3 out of 3 offered; 2 places & a state school place freed up

SPGS waitlist moved last year.

Congrats to your DDs Goodbye and Mumofthree.

I can appreciate that people don't like to boast particularly out of consideration for others who they fear may not have done as well. But next years parents will flick through this thread read the horror stories of the exam days and the stress of waiting for results without hearing about the successful outcomes. So its good to share.

We got 3 offers, 1 rejection and 1 waiting list (SPGS) but were offered our first choice so have gone with that as the SPGS waiting list is unlikely to move.

We got 3 offers out of 4 private school exams sat. Luckily this included our first choice! The one we didn't get was only a punt and we wouldn't have taken it instead of first choice if we'd got an offer. We have given up the other 2 places and our state place already so hopefully that will help some other candidates

So as state school offers are out and waitlists start to move, how many posters on this thread actually ended up with less than 2 offers?

I ask this as a guide for next years parents.

hope all well, and decisions made. I know a few waiting on WLs for PHS, WHS, JAGS. Fingers crossed for all those waiting.

Anyone waiting on waitlists?!

Shirley - I have sent you a PM

Hi orangejuicex

Do you mind sharing your rationale for choosing Latymer (was it for your DD?) We are 99% decided but having a little wobble and some reinforcement would be gratefully received!

Orangina (OP) how did your dd get on or have you not heard yet?
How are you?

Anyone at the G&L tour yesterday. It was a very well managed affair. Shall be signing our contract today

I missed it - could you fill me in. We will have a tour soon.