Waiting list movement September onwards

Thanks @zinnia and @malmontar. Current school is closer - he could cycle there. Number 1 school is close too though - under 10 mins by car so both pretty local!!! It's going to come down to gut instinct in the end I think and what he most wants to do. It's what he makes of it and how hard he tries after all!!

I agree with @zinnia in that case. The schools seem very similar and it is great to have options, especially if they have more GCSE options at the current one. I would go by distance definitely esp as he has friends at both.

Sorry I appeared flippant before @Popfan; it does sound though as if you're inclining to keep him where he is. Is the journey a factor at either? IMO it's good to be local.

@malmontar thank you for your response. Number 1 school is much smaller and the results better although not hugely so. The ethos is great and the head inspirational. His current school can offer more choice tho as it's bigger and the facilities better. If the place had come up before he started we'd definitely have taken it. It's hard now as he is so happy and we've been impressed so far. Both are good schools.

Well yes... obviously. It's more whether he'd actually be better off staying at his current school as there is so much to like about it - we'd be giving up a lot of good things - he has a really lovely form tutor for example. We did really want the other one though! Its tough as he could move and wish he was back at the other one! He has friends at both schools.

Why was it your first choice? Write a list of pros and cons. The kids probably won't even realise he's new, most are only starting their clubs etc this week. I would go for it if it fits him better. There's always a reason why it was your number 1.

I would have thought less disruptive to move a child after a week and a half than after a term and a half!

Should have said he's in Y7 so been at his school a week and a half

My DS was offered a place at our first choice school yesterday - we have to email our decision by tomorrow evening. He's very settled and happy at his current school so we are all really struggling to decide what to do!

Thanks! Is that not very disruptive for the kids though?! Argh, this is fraught!

Yes people can and do move kids in Y7. Most waiting lists (for comprehensives that is, don't know about grammars) should operate as they did before the start of term, ie usually by distance. You will need to check with the school you have in mind, or if you don't have one yet then with the local authority in Leeds. Good luck with the move.

sorry to hijack this, but am I right in thinking that in year 7 you can start in one school and move to another if a place becomes available? Also, can I ask how do they sort out the waiting list after the special needs, postcode criteria has been sorted out? ie - once all those places have been filled how do they determine who goes next? (sorry, in Ireland and looking to relocate to Leeds!)

DD went to a London grammar, some movement first week of September, at least two places then 2 in rest of the year one was middle of year, the other was last day of year 7.

There's not much movement at any high performing school I've worked in.
Usually there's appeals going on up until half term too.

I'd be surprised if you get a place before Christmas to be honest, by which point they'll be settled in their current school

@Petroleum1

My dd was offered a place the day before term started. We had an equal say. She had been to inductions, liked the school (even not being first choice and was a waiting list place from May)

However she just decided that having to go out buy a uniform in 1 day which was what they insisted and get her head round a different school entirely was too much.

We decided to stick with what we had been offered originally.

That said they were equal academically. Her original offer I did not like at all and during its ofsted last year was rated inadequate. Has we still been given that one and not one of our other wait list places I would have encouraged her to take the new one even at short notice.

@frowner, the problem is that once the school year has started, there's always potential for people (potentially even with twins or triplets - DS's grammar at a set who started in Year 9 when one place became available...) to move into the area and put their DC's name(s) down on the school waiting list too. And some, particularly those coming from abroad, may target an area specifically because of its grammars.

In DS's year group (120) I believe three places came up in Yrs 7-11 but four got in because of the twins.

Is the grammar a super-selective or in an area (such as Kent or Bucks) where there are lots of them? That will impact on supply and demand I would have thought too.

At DD’s Grammar one place (160 intake) has come up in three years (for her year). There were a few no shows at the induction day which they followed up with and so a few places came available in July but not much movement once school started.

From Y8 the admissions becomes a pool and not a list, all those who want a place get notified when a place comes up and they are invited to sit a test with the highest scoring getting the place. This can include those who moved to the area, found they can’t afford private school fees and a host of other reasons so competition is often even fiercer then the 11+ test. Check the admissions for the school you are after.

@frowner sorry that you are so near and yet so far. Could be 'no shows' or people who've decided to take their DC's names off the waiting list. I suspect you may have a long wait for a place now, unless someone has started, really doesn't like it and decides to leave imminently.

FWIW I was always under the impression that once a grammar school place became available well into a school year, all those who have remained on the waiting list (assuming there's more than one child) have to sit an exam, with the top scorer getting in?

@Petroleum1 I wouldn't give the choice to the child personally but I'm sure there's lots on here who would. Lots of kids move in the first couple of weeks and to be honest there's so many new faces they probably wont even realise shes new. Some of the schools haven't even been open a week!

My dd has been offered a place at a much better school for year 7 which was higher on our list. As we didn't hold out much hope over the summer she got used to the idea of the school she was given. She is now refusing to the take the place. It's a much better school so do I make her. Can a 11 year old make the right decision or should I take it out of her hands?

DS started at a grammar school 2 years ago. After the first Xmas hols there were 4 new starters in his class from the waiting list as places had arisen from boys leaving and not turning up including 1 child whose parents decided they didn't like the mobile phone policy being applied to their DS.