SW London Private and Grammar Schools Waiting Lists (Y7 2023 entry)

We’ve had encouragement to get back in touch at the end March from one school, and another have more or less said no chance and invited us to register for an occasional place in Y8. Completely different responses and could mean nothing - I think we have at least a 2-3 wait now. Have emailed or called our 2 WL schools today and plan not to contact again until after National offer day. I don’t think anything will change until then.

Also, from 2 years ago I don't remember any waitlists at all moving before the state offers came out, the deadlines to accept places in independent are always a few days after the state allocation. Some people don't let schools know before the deadline that they're not taking places but lots of schools have an idea by then so there's sudden movement. Good luck everyone waiting.

We went through the WL process two years ago, it's nerve wracking at the time but it worked out for us. We had one straight no and one WL. The school we really wanted was the WL one and it is a school that is often chosen as a reserve so I was hopeful. The waitlist letter said the date for expected movement on the WL was something like 5th March onwards but we got a phonecall the evening the state schools came out on 1st I think, so beginning of week as opposed to end. In our borough they only email state offers at about 5pm so they were pretty quick off the mark. I think they say later as they don't want people phoning them constantly to check!

Also, in regard to the deposit, we've had an offer that we've accepted this year and the terms and conditions specifically stated we have 14 days from their receipt of the completed acceptance booklet / payment of deposit to cancel the place and get a refund, in line with distance selling regulations. So check terms and conditions.

Last Tuesday, they said “We are still hearing back from families who have been offered a place on the waiting list to confirm if they would like to continue their son or daughter’s application or not.”

Has anybody heard from Emanuel WL?
Waiting for 10+ but wondering if the 11+ WL has had any movement...

I have already exhausted my emails and calls during half term so they already know I want the place and it’s our first choice but was thinking to call to play dumb and ask what the waiting list process was and then throw it back in there again! Lol

I’m just checking my phone every five minutes!!

Not yet. Will wait for a few days until after offer holder days. I just walk round hoping by some miracle they are going to call and offer a place. Probs the movement might happen after 1st?

Has anyone called the schools this morning re waiting lists?

@WombatChocolate @SheilaFentiman thanks for your posts.

It made me think a lot. I have been so desperate to get DS into our favourite school that being on the WL felt like a catastrophe. I felt very panicked about it (probably not helped by offer day being a really stressful work day).

But you’ve made me put this into perspective. Do I want him to end up at a school where he might struggle if he’s on the weaker end academically when he could go to a state school where he might be one of the clever kids…

Now trying to fall in love with what I assume will be available to us!

Magnoliasunrise is right. The deposit is non refundable. Just like to add that they ask if the deposit is using to offset on the DC’s final term’s fee or to donate to school’s charity for bursary.

Thinking of those on waiting lists as we start a new school week. Figures crossed for good news!

I spoke to one school who said those who they had asked if they wanted to be on the waitlist hadn’t even replied so they are waiting for those people to respond, then movement after taster days, acceptance deadline and state school offers. Between this period (now to 3rd March roughly), there is lots of movement.

I think this is very wise from WombatChocolate.

Also, for schools to do WL offers once, or in a couple of batches, means they can balance various factors across the group.

DS1’s school, to sort them into forms, makes boys pick what language you want or study in year 7. Suppose the top 10 on the WL all want German, but the forms are underweight in French. Suppose boy 12 and 15 on the list are siblings, so it would be good for the school to get those in if they can. Suppose boys 3 and 8 let slip in interview that the school wasn’t their first choice, so they might well disappear off the list soon anyway. Suppose 6 of them come from the south of the school, but the south bus route is already full.

Agree that staying in touch will help!

I think the exact pattern depends on the specific school and whether applicants with offers are likely to have a preference for other schools.

Some schools, particularly those as you move to mid-tier expect large numbers to turn them down. Obviously they hope they won’t, but they know from experience that they are actually second choice for many. This can be especially the case if lots of the applicants are hoping for a state grammar place. The difficulty is that it can differ year to year. Such schools first of all significantly over-offer. They have to, to ensure they aren’t too dependent on WL. Even the most popular schools do over-offer more than people imagine, as even applicants to top schools have usually applied to several and some will choose an alternative in the end due to travel or scholarship or bursary etc.

Schools don’t like using the WL. If they can avoid it, it’s better. It’s because by the time you get to the close of acceptances and then a few days in, many at the top of the WL won’t accept. They perhaps always preferred somewhere else that they got an offer from. Actually lots at the top of WL are in that position. Others might have preferred the WL school, but in the time since offers have come round to the idea of a school they had an offer from and decided a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. People talk themselves into loving what’s available to them. If they’ve paid a deposit, this is even more the case. They have probably been to offer holders days, met some families who will be going there and are excited about the school they hold an offer for. So many on the WL who are given an offer say ‘no’. And the school finds it’s having to go down the WL. It’s having to wait for people to reply to offers and some take a couple of days and in that time things move on and more and more are sorted. So they have to go further down the list to those that they’re not quite so keen to take. If they reach a certain number of acceptances, they might decide to just stop there and not go down the WL further. They know that in the next 4 months, 2 or 3 families will contact them to say they’re moving into the area and they will be able to test them and maybe make one or two offers to strong candidates. So this is the more academic schools and bigger schools who can afford to do this. They aren’t quite so dependent on totally filing their 8 Forms and if they are 4 or 5 short, they’d rather have that than take weaker students. They know that in all likelihood one or two will appear part way through yr 7 or 8. They can be a bit flexible.

So, schools that have to use the WL or use it for more than a very small number if places, tend to be those that are less academic, probably smaller and it’s more urgent for them that they fill their places. Essnrtially they are much less selective. It’s why lots of schools have a WL, but never actually use it.

Sorry, not what people on this thread want to hear. And of course, people do get offers from WL every year. I think it’s v true that they often don’t release where people are on WL, because they want flexibility in who they offer to and will go for those they think will accept the place. It’s why staying in contact is important.

I think it's probably the second. It seems to be a school that isn't keen on communication.

@Daydreamscometrue I suppose if they are more “mid tier” but still very over subscribed they might be expecting a lot of rejections right at the last minute if their acceptance deadline is the 6th? If they are used to their offered DCs being WL for the more selective schools or grammars. Or their candidates are likely to be the DCs with multiple offers to decide between.

Is it that type of school?

Or they might just be managing expectations and trying to set a “don’t call us we’ll call you” rule for February

I'm pretty sure its non refundable so if you accept and pay then withdraw at whatever date you lose the deposit.

One school mentioned no communication until the 6th of March. I would have thought that they could let people know before that point if they'd had a certain number of rejections to make a place viable.

For those with an offer for LU, can I ask a nitty gritty question re the offer conditions? If we accept the offer and pay the deposit, what is the latest day by which we can withdraw and deposit would still be returned? TIA!

@momomamiko completely agree

@QuiteAJourney

yes indeed. I can understand them being conservative and not over offer extensively nevertheless I think it makes sense for all involved to get the ball rolling and move the WL as the offers are being released rather than wait till the last hour.

Interesting that your particular school is so categorical. Others seems to be referring to not being likely but not ruling it out. I suppose that it depends on how conservative (or not) they have been with their offers

"Remember that once schools know that they might not fill in numbers they have an incentive to move to WL asap as they know that, once deposits are placed, people will be much less likely to accept a WL offer."

That is what I thought as well but our WL school said they are only able to revert from noon on March 3rd (by which time deposits elsewhere would be placed.). Do they expect people to put a deposit in a firm offer school and still pursue a WL place - I dont understand it really.

If they are on the WL, they are suitable for the school, just didn’t do quite as well in the tests/interviews as those who were offered. If not suitable, he wouldn’t be on the waitlist.