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Secondary education

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Nervous about Secondary School allocations out this week!

334 replies

PinotLover · 23/02/2021 09:25

Just another to thing to stress about but it's for my PFB so never been through it before. We find out on the 1st March, am being a silly stress head on here rather than in real life. Any one else? We are in the same postcode as the school we prefer, so it's a big deal if it goes wrong!

OP posts:
Enoughisenough2021 · 01/03/2021 19:30

@YellowOranges

Thank you! We didn’t have high hopes as DS came out (cheerfully!) proclaiming he’d missed out loads of the questions but it’ll be nice to know how he did Grin
You will get a letter with DSs score and what the cut off was. We were told in the letter that we would definitely be offered a place by Easter- in reality it was the end of March. He missed the original cut off by 1 point ( although there may have been lots of boys with the same score!).
Cariocbirello · 01/03/2021 19:28

Brilliant explanations, thanks Patricia & kingscote Smile

indie123 · 01/03/2021 19:23

None of our choices but my borough got back to me very quickly with waiting list positions. We have no chance except for one school for which we are in single digits. So that's a relief. However i know positions can change due to late applications. Im going to call the school first thing in the morning

JohnMiddleNameRedactedSwanson · 01/03/2021 19:16

I’m curious to know if there are any early indications of more children applying for, and accepting, state school places this year as some of the economic effects of the pandemic are beginning to be felt?

KingscoteStaff · 01/03/2021 19:11

@Cariocbirello
Little Johnny has a place at St Cakes Indie. He also applied for Grammar and Leafy Comp.

This morning he hears that he has missed Grammar and got Leafy Comp. He turns down Leafy Comp and goes to St Cakes.

Hey Presto, Leafy Comp waiting list moves.

PatriciaHolm · 01/03/2021 19:09

@Cariocbirello - indeed, you can only hold one state place (excepting the rare occurrence of the the establishment of a new free school) so movement on lists is usually caused by people taking private places instead, or moving, or getting places from the wait list on other schools as a result of the first two!

In the case of grammar, what might happen is that applicants who have a grammar place who give it up in favour of a private place then free up a place for someone on the grammar waiting list; who would be expected to accept, and give up their place at a non-grammar. So in effect another state school place is freed up by this process as the child at the top has gone private.

Cariocbirello · 01/03/2021 19:01

Probably a silly question, but can anyone explain how offers for grammar school places may result in places at other schools being freed up for those on the waiting list? I assumed that those who applied to grammar schools would have those as their first choices, so those who are successful in getting a grammar school place would not also be offered places at other schools that they would then decline. I’m sure I’m missing something obvious!

YellowOranges · 01/03/2021 18:05

Thank you! We didn’t have high hopes as DS came out (cheerfully!) proclaiming he’d missed out loads of the questions but it’ll be nice to know how he did Grin

PatriciaHolm · 01/03/2021 18:00

@YellowOranges You would need to contact the school, but Tiffin general ask parents not to do so and will have more information in a few weeks. They should give you information on scores tomorrow which will give you an idea.

YellowOranges · 01/03/2021 17:56

Does anyone know whether it’s possible to check what position your child is in for Tiffin Boys waiting list?

cautiouscovidity · 01/03/2021 17:50

@Vinorosso74

Sorry to hear that indie123 A question for you expert: if you live and applied for a school place via London borough 'A' and are allocated a school in borough A. However, if you want to find out waiting list places for higher preferences which are in borough 'B' which council.do you contact? To me B seems sensible but having done the application via A I was unsure...
I my case (not London boroughs) the waiting lists are maintained by the authorities where the schools are located. The authority I applied to (and where I live) had no idea about waiting lists for my first choices, so I contacted the authority where the schools I'd applied to are located.
Vinorosso74 · 01/03/2021 17:30

Sorry to hear that indie123
A question for you expert: if you live and applied for a school place via London borough 'A' and are allocated a school in borough A. However, if you want to find out waiting list places for higher preferences which are in borough 'B' which council.do you contact? To me B seems sensible but having done the application via A I was unsure...

BlowDryRat · 01/03/2021 17:29

DS got a place at our first choice. It's a decent school and he's thrilled to be with all his friends. I'm having an extended FOMO moment and think I should have put the 2nd or 3rd choice as 1st choice. Reality: current offer is a good one and he'll do well.

Stokey · 01/03/2021 17:24

We got our second choice as expected but will stay in the waiting list for the grammar.

Puffthemagicdragongoestobed · 01/03/2021 17:21

We got our first preference. But I would have been very upset if we hadn't as we had made a point of moving extremely close to the school.

indie123 · 01/03/2021 17:14

Heartbroken. Got none of our choices and allocated one of the worst schools in borough. I will be contacting the council first thing to see where daughter is on waiting lists

Vinorosso74 · 01/03/2021 17:13

There is a bit which says "view outcome" you need to click on there

GeorgiePorgieOrgie · 01/03/2021 17:10

Argh am Surrey but no email and no results when logged in.

Vinorosso74 · 01/03/2021 17:09

Got our 3rd choice which is a really good if a bit bland school. I thought it would be 4th. There's no chance at 2nd but am going to keep everything crossed on waiting lists moving!

Asiatarta · 01/03/2021 17:03

The results are in! First pref whoooooooooooo!

Asiatarta · 01/03/2021 17:00

It’s 5pm!

Sarjest · 01/03/2021 16:29

Psychobobble, it is likely that someone will go private, change their mind, get divorced or move house in those who got into the school you want, releasing a place for you.

The children on our side of the road got into a popular school one year and one on the other side missed out on March 1st. We got in somewhere else after a few weeks and the boy moved out of the area, so there is movement.

We got our first preference this time which was no surprise. It’s been a breeze compared to last time! Congratulations to all those who got what they wanted and don’t give up hope to those who didn’t.

Vinorosso74 · 01/03/2021 16:11

I'm getting very impatient for 5pm!!!!

indie123 · 01/03/2021 15:59

The London results should be live for all boroughs at 5. In previous years I've heard the site has crashed for a bit as everyone swarms to get on.

One more hour to go!! Ahhhh

PanelChair · 01/03/2021 15:53

@prh47bridge

If anyone wants advice on appeals, I would recommend starting a thread with some information about your case and putting the word "appeal" in the title.

I can't answer for other appeal experts but I will always respond to PMs if you don't want to post information publicly.

I agree - it’s far better to start individual threads than to have one where everyone’s case gets jumbled. And do look at the current thread with tips on accepting places and appeals. I’m also happy to respond to PMs within reason.