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Original poster

Its 2018....countdown to 1st March secondary school allocations!

632 replies

Hersetta427 · 02/01/2018 12:10

Well two months down and two to go to 1st March. I have been fairly chilled since applications were submitted however now that 2018 is here it is creeping into my thoughts more frequently.

We are truly lucky to live in a town with very good secondary schools but I know DD would be heartbroken if she didn't get her first choice (a top 10 non selective girls school).

Realistically we should be virtually sure of a place as if we don't qualify on distance within our feeder school group then she should get a sports aptitude place (she score 10 percentage points higher than the required score for the last 3 years). However a part of me is still nervous as I imagine what if all 200 girls taking the aptitude test got amazing scores too. Logically I know this isn't the case as other girls at her school score 20-25 marks lower than DD but there are only 9 places available so the margin of error is small.

Anyone else beginning to get jittery? Please tell me I'm not alone.

OP posts:
PipnJo · 25/02/2018 22:05

I think E-mails were sent out at midnight here previous years.
I'll be staying up and then probably won't be able to sleep Grin

ineedamoreadultieradult · 25/02/2018 21:46

I don't know what time we can find out in my area but I will definitely be checking constantly after midnight! We are going out for a meal on the evening as it's our wedding anniversary so it will either be a double celebration or a way of taking all our minds off it.

Rewn7 · 25/02/2018 21:33

Last year I woke DD up at 5 past midnight to tell her the thankfully good news. She smiled and rolled over back to sleep.

I really hope all your DC’s get the school they want but I think the little gift is a lovely idea to either celebrate or distract.

BeesAndChiscuits · 25/02/2018 21:21

I have just ordered a little present for ds, inspired by this thread, so he has something to either celebrate with or act as a distraction on Thursday. I will be checking online at a minute past midnight.

FuckYouDailyMail · 25/02/2018 20:27

Glad I've found you, first time I've had to go through this for years and I'm very nervous for DFS. He should get in to the best school for him the looked after children criteria is applied but as his circumstances changed after the application we aren't totally sure if that's being taken into account. Might be having to fight after 1st March.

PipnJo · 25/02/2018 19:53

Hii

I'm feeling incredibly nervous now.
We're hoping for 1st choice, out of catchment but linked school. I know all the numbers from who got in last year and it will be very close.
So i keep saying to DS that if he doesn't get in to 1st choice he will definitely get in to 2nd choice (always very under subscribed catchment).

I'll be honest, if he doesn't get 1st choice i'll be absolutely gutted.

CotswoldStrife · 25/02/2018 16:17

I am getting slightly more nervous as the day ticks closer, I had a chat with DD yesterday pointing out (yet again) that her first choice might be tricky (it's a single sex school going co-ed for the first time, so effectively halving the number of places available for her!) but any of her list would be good. She got another excellent report this week, so I know wherever she goes she'll do her best even if it's the one I don't want and keep saying it would be difficult to travel to

I'm making the day a celebration whatever we get, so I've just ordered some merchandise for her favourite group so I'll make it a good day whatever we get!

Gileswithachainsaw · 25/02/2018 13:37

I've been too ill to drink or chew so I'll be making up for lost time next week Grin

TheWoollybacksWife · 25/02/2018 13:35

My liver is fine - giving up booze for lent is a blessing in disguise Grin

DH is so blasé about the whole process so can't understand my anxiety. I'll be back on Thursday to either celebrate with virtual champagne or to vent my frustration.

Gileswithachainsaw · 25/02/2018 13:27

Well four days left.. .how's everyone's liver and nails?

Original poster
Hersetta427 · 23/02/2018 15:22

Ineed - my kids had to do that 2 years ago. DS wore his dinosaur costume and went as the word extinct and DD went as the word geeky and wore a red pleated skirt, red knee length socks, white shirt, bow tie, hair in bunches and fake glasses. She won her class prise !

OP posts:
ineedamoreadultieradult · 23/02/2018 15:07

I'm in the North East and everyone apart from me seems completely laid back about the whole thing. One Mum said to me this morning she was going to call the council and ask to change her preference order! Why am I the only one around here stressing out?! In World Book Day news my children have to dress up as a word. Because they are unimaginative they have both decided to dress as the word 'child' and just wear their normal clothes.

Original poster
Hersetta427 · 23/02/2018 14:46

yep, just had mine too Shattered - as if I needed a reminder !

OP posts:
Shattered04 · 23/02/2018 14:41

Just got a "reminder" email from Herts CC. Apparently they will be dispatched "during the afternoon". They say the online system will only be updated once all the emails have been sent out.

Ugh. Why can't it be Friday next week already?

GrockleBocs · 23/02/2018 13:57

Our lovely primary school is celebrating it without dress up. Hurray!!

MedusaBadHairDay · 23/02/2018 13:51

They can all be Muggles Grin

dipsydoo22 · 23/02/2018 11:57

Im in london. No idea if ill do world book day for my kiddies this year

CotswoldStrife · 23/02/2018 11:51

I thought this would be the last year, but I was looking on the website of DD's first choice secondary school last night and they dress up for World Book Day! So next Thursday may not be our last!

I don't mind the costumes really, just when the school only gives us a few days notice. DD also does drama and that has dress up days too, so I'm used to slinging something together with a fairly tenuous connection to the theme on a regular basis. Let's just say she's never won the prize for best dressed but has always participated.

Original poster
Hersetta427 · 23/02/2018 09:54

yep us too. I have told DD she has to wear her complete hermione outfit she wore last year - i am not putting in time and money for a 1 time outfit.

OP posts:
Gileswithachainsaw · 23/02/2018 09:20

God yea book day is the last thing I can be arsed with..

Complete non effort this yr

Shattered04 · 23/02/2018 09:03

I hate hate hate World Book Day. It always seems to be at a bad time (one year was literally the day after I had an emergency c-section!)

This year I have four DC to prepare. I'm afraid my mind will be on other things.. maybe they can sort it out themselves!!

There are lots of us in Hertfordshire! Wonder why that is? A particularly stressful county maybe.

CotswoldStrife · 22/02/2018 23:00

It only dawned on me yesterday that it is also World Book Day so I'll have to come up with a costume as well. I'll have plenty of time for those finishing touches while I refresh the website at midnight!

dipsydoo22 · 22/02/2018 22:54

Hi everyone.

1 week to go till we find out eeeeeeek

Original poster
Hersetta427 · 22/02/2018 22:34

Hello gardengirl. I am in (very) east Herts too. Welcome and god luck.

OP posts:
gardeningirl · 22/02/2018 19:39

Hello to all and the fellow Herts mums :)
I'm in East Herts. Getting sick feeling anytime I think of next week....
Good to know Sittinginthesun we need to accept place even if its not one we want.....