State waiting list...

Meredusoleil, yes exactly. We went back to October and all the years of research that had gone on prior to October but we were attached to the second choice and DD felt like it was hers. Whatever will be, I suppose the rest depends on thIs years cohort and that’s not something I can control.

I know what you mean about having some reservations about giving up the school you had for all this time. I felt similar to you, as the offer was made so late (but still before the end of term).

Ultimately, back in October when you completed the CAF, you put the schools in order if preference. If a higher ranking school has now come up, I would go with that as there were reasons for you placing it higher up on your application in the first place.

It is hard though, when you think its all done and dusted and (you think) your child is going to a particular school, to have that all turned on its head so to speak 😯

Our first choice school. I can’t remember we what ranking we started at, 6 maybe? Then was 2nd for months. It’s a banded school so only 30 in a band.
Our second choice was amazing and I have some reservations about giving it up.

Yay! Congratulations. Which number ranking school was this?

We got a place! Received the phone call a couple of days into the summer holidays.

Hi You can stay on the waiting list until 2021 you just have to let the school know. We are 11th on the list now for an Epsom school, it hasn't budged much in the last month, we did start at 30 so at least we have moved down the list. Trying to hold out e mailing again until August!

Yes that has happened in this school too. People do get offers in late August or early September but again that's in a 'normal' year and this year nothing is normal!

schulte if an over subscribed school, not really. Either it won't move at all (with more indie parents this year deciding to go state due to Covid) or move massively with more parents holding their state place until the last minute this year for the same reason , if that even makes sense?? I know for our local grammar there are always a few places with children not turning up on the first day as parents can' bring themselves to turn it down, just forget or simply don't care about other people

Homelandisending do you think it makes a difference - i.e. do waiting lists tend to move more/for longer in grammar vs comprehensive schools or vice versa? Our local comp is hopelessly oversubscribed and in a normal year would actually see a lot less movement than the grammar.

Same area as you I think!

Our 2nd and 3rd choices were grammar schools. 3rd choice had movement from early on after National Offers Day. We got the offer in April. The 2nd choice has had hardly any movement. So much so that I've stopped emailing the school for updates since May!

What area are you in Schulte?

Grammar...

schulte what type of school are you waiting for? Grammar or comp ?

Our journey is hopefully now over. We have gone from being offered our 6th choice school (declined), to 5th choice (accepted), to 3rd choice (declined), to 4th choice (accepted). 1st and 2nd choices seem totally unrealistic, so I have put them out of my head!

Congrats Meredusoleil!

Do people think there may be ANY more movement now before school starts in September? Surely those who were holding on to both state and private places must have made a decision by now and with schools closing for the summer holidays, I expect everything will just stop?

We're still anxiously waiting to see if DD gets her first choice - she should be next or second on the waiting list by now but it feels like she has missed the boat

@MereduSoleil that's a result! How exciting!

[quote NewModelArmyMayhem18]@Meredusoleil well done. Is your DC pleased?[/quote]
DC was happy with the other school we had accepted, but equally sees that this school will work out better all round 👍

@Meredusoleil well done. Is your DC pleased?

Congratulations Meredusoleil

Which area are you in?

Congratulations Meredusoleil

Which area are you in?

We just got a WL offer from my favourite choice school. It's rather late in the day, but at least it's still doable! Very happy 😁

Yes, newmodelarmy. We did 'the maths' and couldn't see the £19k, and rising, value of the top indie over the sought after state school. The differences were smaller class sizes, extra staff for pastoral, sports etc and facilities. However, if another year when we were feeling more comfortable financially , we would probably have gone the other way.

Also, feel there may be more advantages coming from a state school moving forward.

Something I read on another thread seemed to suggest that there was significant movement from the state sector to private (prep?) schools at primary level but that the trend is the reverse at secondary school (Yr 7) stage.

We are one of the families that would have gone indie in any other year but accepted our sought after state offer in March and turned indie down before 1st day of the summer term before fees became liable.