Nervous about Secondary School allocations out this week!

I was the same. There are several rather bad schools in our area - some of last years intake didn't even get any of their preferred choices.
There are a handful of children in DS's class that I really want him to get away from bc of bullying.
Thankfully he got his first choice and will be going to a good school with his best friend from nursery and the lovely little lady from next door who he's known since he was 3.
Panic, worry and stress over 🙃

Hi my son attends FCH. It is a brilliant school. Excellent teaching and pastoral care. Would choose it again now. Produces lovely, well mannered boys with excellent values and high academic aims.

Every year I read these posts and am very glad in Scotland you are for most part put in your catchment area.

I don't know anyone that didn't get their catchment though do know some who asked for placement out with their catchment

All this applying seems so stressful

I work in admissions for a London local authority.

I should do an AMA at some point !

Rest assured, we will find 100 different ways of telling you that unfortunately there were more siblings, medical/social needs, and people closer to the school than you, more out of boredom than anything else. Quite a lot of the time we're not the admissions authority, so you're downloading to the wrong person.

But we'd really rather be telling you that you did get the choice, it's just if 1500 parents apply and put a first preference for a school with 240 places, that's over 1000 disappointed and occasionally hysterical people.

Hi,
Anyone here know Finchley Catholic High School, my son got in but we’re not certain if it is a good choice now.,

Also check the reason why your dd has been refused a place, if all the other local children have been offered from a feeder school make sure an error hasn’t been made on distance.

We got our 6th choice 😭
Yet 15th on wait list for our first choice. I know last year up to 54 got a place so hoping this year is the same

@Cariocbirello, in Kent the scenario would be DC narrowly fails the 11+ and is offered their back up option (leafy state). Parents are heavily invested in the grammar system and appeal or go on grammar waiting list for a non Super Selective and get a last minute grammar place which they leap at, opening a last minute place at leafy state.

Scenario 2 is that child doesn’t quite make the mark for the preferred Super Selective and goes on the waitlist whilst accepting offered place at a ‘normal’ grammar. The parents of a child who does get a place at the Super Selective decide instead to go Private as class sizes are smaller and the facilities are perceived as better. A place opens up at the Super Selective which is taken by the waitlisted child, opening up a place at the ‘normal’ grammar.

KGS is a great school too. Friends have children there and they're very happy. Obviously Tiffin is free!

Tricky- we ended up sticking with our private option but that was partly due to location. Narrowing down on location with KGS v Tiffin doesn’t really work!

@Enoughisenough2021@SunnySpringDay

Thank you! DS is super keen on KGS and we were wibbling about single sexed schools, but obviously the money aspect and academic rigour of Tiffin appeals. He's pretty easy going though so at least there isn't that pressure to contend with!

[quote ProfessorPootle]@Meredusoleil

It's a school in Surrey, is it the same do you think?[/quote]
Have sent you a PM. But its not Glenthorne as that comes under the London Borough of Sutton I believe.

[quote ProfessorPootle]@Meredusoleil

It's a school in Surrey, is it the same do you think?[/quote]
Glenthorne?

How interesting. Thank you.

@Meredusoleil

It's a school in Surrey, is it the same do you think?

Also heard that more people have applied for private this year, we applied but had always planned to move to independent for secondary. All the schools we applied to said they had unprecedented numbers of applications this year, definitely some of that is down to people applying to more schools, so applying to 7-10 schools when in the past 4-5 was considered a lot! Also the new ISEB exam meant you sit one exam for multiple schools. From the letters we received from schools numbers were massively up though so definitely also lots applying that wouldn't normally have.

Just got text message at 8.16pm to say email has been sent, no sign of it in my inbox though! This area is rubbish. I managed to get online at about 6.30pm though after the site crashing in this area the whole afternoon/early evening and ds has his first choice. He took performing arts exams last year as their admissions criteria offers 10% of places on that basis to children who wouldn't get a place on distance (out of borough) 🎉

@JohnMiddleNameRedactedSwanson @louisejxxx anecdotally I have the impression that more people are applying for private. Similar reasons including more stability and better teaching during lockdown. But I'm in London and that may well be it's own microcosm. I also think the people who apply or are borderline for independents tend to be professionals who haven't been that affected financially by the pandemic.

Tiffin and Tiffin Girls has brilliant online learning, so no problem there

Also, make sure you are on the waiting list-it's possible you'll get a place through this before the appeal. Best of luck

I work in a Prep school and we have been inundated with parents wanting to have a better education. They have seen what their school has offered is inadequate homeschooling and lessons online, some have offered very little, so we have had people calling enquiring.
The school is fairly full but some children naturally leave at Year 6 for state. No bigger numbers, but the the usual number that we have very year.
One private school that I had as a 'back up' for my dds is closing and two children were going there. They're just discussing if they are staying on or finding elsewhere.

We applied to our local school, having been told by all the schools that our primary was a feeder etc. Everyone from our area goes to this school. But surprise surprise, she didn't get in! I was shocked to begin with, and worried that DD would freak. She had severe anxiety early in primary school that led to school refusal and we eventually home edded for a few years as she couldn't cope. Going to the high school that she expected, with her peers was massively important.

However she's been fine about it! Massively underestimated her. We will be appealing as the local school is more successful academically, it is closer and easier logistically and her best best friend is going. I've approached the GP and home ed contact at the council for evidence of her previous anxiety, and head teacher will testify to it. But I feel much happier to see her excited about another school anyway. She's currently watching the other school's online open evening video.

Also, I think many have seen how well many indies have done home schooling, and this has persuaded some to go down that route too.

yelloworanges. The Tiffin wait lists do move quite a bit, so you never know. A good number of pupils offered will stick with their independent school.

Fingers crossed for you. My DS is there. It's a great school!