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Anyone else stuck in waiting list limbo?

133 replies

AmeliaEarhart · 08/04/2022 18:16

… And haven’t gone the appeals process? We were offered our third choice school back in March 1st. DH and I are happy enough; it’s not perfect but has enough going for it that we’d be okay with DS going there (walking distance, good facilities, great SEN support) but DS is completely against the idea. He has ASD and can be extremely rigid so we’ll be in for a tough time changing his mind. It doesn’t help that only one other child from his class at primary is going there.

So he’s on the waiting list for choices 1 and 2. Number 19 for school 1 and 9 for school 2. Neither is straight forward as both schools have multiple waiting lists (1st choice because it’s an academy and faith school with different admissions paths, and second choice because it has a banded intake). Everyone keeps assuring us that, being in central London, they’ll be lots of movement before September and DS might still be offered a place at either school. We didn’t consider appealing as our reasons for preferring schools 1 and 2 (other than DS’s insistence that he’s not setting foot in school 3) are that they have better results, which doesn’t seem like a strong argument!

Is anyone else in a similar situation? How are you feeling about it? Are you prepared to hang on in there until September, hoping until the bitter end for a place at your first choice, or preparing your child (and yourself) to settle for what you’ve got?

OP posts:
Bellawella1978 · 29/04/2022 20:12

Im in Birmingham @AmeliaEarhart .

drinkwithanumbrellainit · 29/04/2022 18:32

@amelia I wonder if you are near me. We missed out on close by first choice due to banding and got in the big comp that has a cool school uniform! In our case we decided to go for it and not have the stress of waiting lists.

Bellawella1978 · 29/04/2022 17:44

All I can say is the next 4 months are going to be long, hard and full of anxious phone calls to see what position we are on the damn list! Making that call gives me a large knot in my stomach as if she doesnt move up and get a place she wont be going to school come September!
Although saying that I know in reality she may have to for a while but at the moment I kind of have my head in the sand pushing it to one side otherwise Im obsessed!

ancientgran · 29/04/2022 17:05

AmeliaEarhart · 29/04/2022 16:48

I’m kind of glad I don’t have access to any online lists or I’d be obsessed! The only progress here is that yesterday DS said he supposed going to his allocated school wouldn’t be so bad “because the uniform is pretty cool”. I guess that’s a step in the right direction.

That's a good sign. Ihope it all works out.

JulieBeds · 29/04/2022 16:59

We gave up a state school place at the beginning of August a few years ago. Don't give up hope.

AmeliaEarhart · 29/04/2022 16:48

I’m kind of glad I don’t have access to any online lists or I’d be obsessed! The only progress here is that yesterday DS said he supposed going to his allocated school wouldn’t be so bad “because the uniform is pretty cool”. I guess that’s a step in the right direction.

OP posts:
ColdHappyBap · 29/04/2022 16:16

Nothing is shifting here. I need to stop checking the online waiting list.

hayh · 27/04/2022 09:15

No movement still. But appeal date next week…..

Bellawella1978 · 21/04/2022 17:54

Its the same here, no movement.

hayh · 20/04/2022 21:35

Just keeping thinking of different things in my head….

are they holding back places until appeals are heard?

my LA says they offer places as and when they come available, but I also know if one definite refused place.

grrrrrhhhhhh

AmeliaEarhart · 20/04/2022 20:28

hayh · 20/04/2022 20:09

I find it odd, so little (no) movement.
waiting waiting waiting. 😢

Same. I’m wondering if the sudden rise in the cost of living has led to people who were planning on going private changing their minds and hanging on to their state school places instead.

I kind of wish DS hadn’t done so well on the banding test for choice #2 as the “catchment” for the lower bands was bigger and we probably would have a place there by now.

OP posts:
hayh · 20/04/2022 20:09

I find it odd, so little (no) movement.
waiting waiting waiting. 😢

Bellawella1978 · 20/04/2022 18:56

Its so hard though isn't it!? The question of when is a question with no anwser and its something we have absolutely no control over!

Bellawella1978 · 20/04/2022 18:53

Thank you @ColdHappyBap !
And me you!

ColdHappyBap · 20/04/2022 13:21

I will keep my fingers crossed for you. We don't get this second round either, I think it just sort of moves in dribs and drabs. Especially as we border a grammar school area so people get grammar school places off that waiting list and free up places here.

Bellawella1978 · 20/04/2022 10:59

Hi @ColdHappyBap. I am on other waiting lists but only one with a realistic chance where I am in position 6. In Birmingham there is a shortage of secondarys to go around it seems and we dont have this 2nd round of allocations I have read about on here. So who knows!

ColdHappyBap · 20/04/2022 10:41

Are you only waiting for one school or do you have other on your list @Bellawella1978? If there are any others near you. I know not everyone has as many schools around them as I do!

Bellawella1978 · 19/04/2022 22:15

Im that flustered and at my wits end with it I cant even write properly!

Bellawella1978 · 19/04/2022 22:13

simply and allocated

Bellawella1978 · 19/04/2022 22:12

Im still living in this uncertain hell! My problem being my daughter simy cant go to her located school as it might aswell be shut down its that terrible so currently she has no school to go to so every day is a day soent in this nightmare of everything hanging on the wait list coming true for the school she NEEDS!

ColdHappyBap · 19/04/2022 20:50

On waiting list here as well. Our allocated school ought to be ok, but I’d really like our first choice. I’m not massively hopeful though. I keep checking online. We did move up a few places today but still 25 ahead of us. I know other people waiting for the same school who all live closer too.

waiting2022 · 19/04/2022 14:25

Waiting lists do seem slow in London this year!

AmeliaEarhart · 19/04/2022 14:17

So DS is up to 16th for 1st choice school. I feel like the big flurry of movement everyone promised always happens in London just isn’t this year.

I really need to figure out how to sell DS on his allocated school!

OP posts:
hayh · 14/04/2022 21:47

Taking over… I agree… I am constantly logging on to see if wait lists have moved…
Absolute nightmare.
The whole admissions process doesn’t seem consistent, I was told (for essex) places are awarded as and when they come available…

Bellawella1978 · 14/04/2022 20:42

I am and its all I think about from the second I wake up to the second I fall asleep! I am in Birmingham and we dont have to accept offers here we just have to contact LA if rejecting the place so Im not sure when there will be the most movement on the lists? Im thinking it will be September when people dont turn up? Anyone in Birmingham know?

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