1st March offer day - anyone else nervous?

I can tell you how the rounds worked in my area last year but I cant tell you if its the same everywhere and this year....So on allocation day you receive your offer. You have a choice of accepting or declining the place. You really ought to accept the place even if you don't want it because if you decline it you are left with no place at all and wont be given preference to get another school you want. Once you accept the offer, your child will also be placed onto the continued interest lists for any higher ranked schools that you didn't get and that you are still willing to hold out for. As far I can remember this is automatic, and if you don't want to stay on the continued interest lists because you decide you are happy with your offer you need to contact the admissions team for them to remove you from continued interest list. Then in a few weeks they do a first round of continued interest, basically a reshuffle is worked out based on everyone who decides to accept/decline offers etc and what spaces have opened up are then given based on the same criteria as allocation day. Then if you still don't gain a place at your higher ranked school you can stay on the continued interest list again. Then they do a second and final round in around another month. Whilst you are on continued interest you can also lodge your appeal, get all this prepared just in case continued interest doesn't go your way. If I am incorrect in any of this information, im sure Tiggytape or Prhbridge will step in. As I say, we got the one school we really didn't want, we waited on continued interest and lodged an appeal. Continued interest round 1 came and went with no luck, but round 2 we made it! So, it is definitely worth being on those lists if you aren't happy with your given school.

If you apply after the acceptance deadline then yes it probably does make a difference as they will not be able to take into account your preference

Even if you apply after the acceptance deadline it makes no difference to your position on the waiting list. As Meditrina says, your position on the waiting list is determined entirely by the admission criteria.

I was nervous just opening this thread.

We had three choices and all three required exams. I hope ds doesn't beat himself up if he doesn't get his first choice. I really want him to get it as well (although have obviously told him all three schools are great and we are proud of him no matter what and he'll love whatever one he goes to).

I'm not keen on the 2nd choice as it's so far away (though is a great school), and the third choice, while on our doorstep - his absolutely always in trouble terrible influence friend will likely get in there and I want them split up!

If he doesn't get in to any and ends up at one of the others in the area? Oh christ. I don't know what I'll do.

My understanding is that waiting lists will take into account the oversubscription criteria for that school. If their criteria is distance then going on a day earlier than someone else makes no difference. If you apply after the acceptance deadline then yes it probably does make a difference as they will not be able to take into account your preference.

"I have a question please; does speed of asking to go on waiting list affect where you are on the list?"

No, it doesn't. The waiting list is ranked by how well you fit the entrance criteria. That's why you can go down the list (if someone applies to the school and joins the list who fits them better than you) as well as up (as freed-up places are offered out to those on the list).

I have a question please; does speed of asking to go on waiting list affect where you are on the list?

Wondering whether to call LA morning of March 1st and ask to go on waiting list for my first choice school. Would it make me top of the waiting list? Or doesn't it make any difference if I ask them on March 2/3/4th?

I'm not sure how waiting lists work in Bristol, but do you just phone the school direct

I haven't checked specifically for Bristol but most LAs will manage the waiting lists for all schools in their area until the start of term in September.

Could you also go on a waiting list for a school you didn't apply to

That's up to the LA. Some will allow you to go on as many waiting lists as you want. Others will insist you come off the waiting list for one of your preferred schools if you want to go on the list for another school.

Thanks Tiggy. I'm not sure how waiting lists work in Bristol, but do you just phone the school direct? Could you also go on a waiting list for a school you didn't apply to? I'm presuming yes.
I'm not considering declining an offer, but just interested as I have no idea what will happen as I'm in a weird position house wise.

I meant hopefully.

Thanks. I often hear about this second allocation round and have no idea what it really means. Luckily I we'll get where we want!

I guess waiting lists also get freed up by people who just decline their place too without fully understanding the possible consequences.

harry
Don't decline. You could end up with no place. Accept and ask to go on waiting lists.
There will be natural movement as some people will choose to take up their private place rather than allocated school. this then creates space somewhere and then everything moves around.
(At least that is my understanding, prh or tiggy or admission will correct me if I'm wrong).

Oh! I had it in my mind it was the 31st March which has been a good thing as we haven't been on edge.

Lucky here as three choices and first two are right next door to each other and equally as good. As such, it was difficult choice deciding order of 1st and 2nd, so either will be fine. Not letting prospect of third choice enter the equation as that is (hopefully) unlikely and will cross that bridge if it comes to it!

Can anyone explain how the second allocation round works as we have to reply to offers quite soon after the 1st round date. If you accept an offer then that's that? Or if you decline you just go again?

March 1st here in Bristol. I'm nervous. We get 3 choices, and I put down our nearest comp as 3rd choice even though we're not keen. Really hoping for 1st or 2nd. Both are schools where hardly any of dd's friends will go which makes me even more worried - although that was her choice.

I think second round just means offers from the waiting list. There can be quite a lot of movement on waiting lists in London. I know a boy who got offered his first choice in the May half-term. People hang on to a private place and a state place and then take ages to decide.

It must be challenging putting down six. What is the second round thing, I haven't heard of that before? Is that only in certain areas too I wonder?

Worried here. Really don't want local school. Will have to think about private if don't get into other schools.

We are only allowed 3 choices here.

I checked my email and we find out at 00.00am on 1st March. (email is very precise!) Fingers crossed here, we are only about a mile away and heard most of the children get the first choice around here. It is single sex so that will cut down the numbers a bit, however it is a popular one so keeping my fingers crossed.

Even living ridiculously close I'm still nervous something will go wrong, I keep having to remind myself I'm sure it'll be fine. fingers crossed for you all.

Ours our emailed after 5 for online applications on the 1st. I won't get mine till the 2nd, fingers crossed anyway as ours will be posted 1st class on the 1st. Bit annoyed, we had no choice but apply via post due to having to provide extra medical information! I'm half and half with nerves, we can only really consider 1 school and should get it as its under a mile away and had medical reasons to be close to. However ds isn't attending at the moment due to medical and anxiety issues so may well not need the space anyway! Good luck everyone!