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

This might sound silly, but are the children on the WL ones that the school thinks will cope/are desirable? I am tying myself up in knots here thinking ahead of myself that since DC1 didn’t make the initial cut, he hasn’t made the cut at all.

We were away for half term when our envelope arrived years ago, we sent a relative round to open the post. But we didn’t take any action to accept/decline until we were back from half term. Hopefully more movement next week!

In case useful, although anecdotally, hopefully giving a feeling of people's thoughts processes /timings.
We know, albeit from a limited sample, of quite a few rejections that went out last week from people with multiple offers that have left their top 2-4 options to visit next week. I do not think that would have been enough to move schools to WL, but it starts giving schools an idea of where they might end up with offers / WL.
Next week is key in terms of offer holders events - from our own case, and from close friends, people intend to drop all but one or two asap after that... so I think that there might be some movement at the start of w/c 27th February.
Also, the WL lists themselves are becoming shorter as people drop from them.
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.

We have also heard nothing. Do you think they could realistically let us know next week?

We’ve heard nothing but have been promised news next week. Trying but failing not to think about it!

Anyone had any positive moment in WL or is everyone just in limbo?

i have heard that if they have more acceptances than usual they are just as likely to go into the WLs as they may now have to fill an additional form. Sadly I think it’s impossible to know what will happen and the only thing I’ve heard for sure is that most schools will make offers to WL families they’re fairly sure will accept. I’ve heard from admissions officers, at least one school head, and on Mumsnet, that the best thing to do is be in touch with the schools letting them know it’s your top choice and you’d accept an offer immediately. Good luck all. I look forward to celebrating offers on here and just hope they come in quickly!

Apparently SHS have under offered this year to ensure a smaller cohort to offset last year's larger cohort! I am waiting until our offer holder day next week to verify that.

They end up with a bigger year group than they expected! As above, Surbiton has done this before and I believe NLCS has a larger than expected Year8 (or maybe 9) because of it - it's not a perfect science ;-) But generally they know what they are doing.

Most schools offer well over twice the number of places. They go on back experience and, in some cases, complement that information on which other schools the DC have applied to ... eg GDST schools ask when applying and other schools (like Emanuel) ask at interview stage.
Agree that it is a difficult exercise - if they are too cautious they will lose good candidates that, on seeing themselves on WL may not wait and go for another (less preferred but safe) offer. If they are not cautious enough they risk having to accommodate too many students (Surbiton is frequently mentioned as an example)

Years of stats / experience !

If it’s SHS they end up with a massive intake.

What happens if schools get a higher number of acceptances than they were expecting? I can’t quite understand how they can be confident about making twice as many offers as places.

Whitgift have said a short WL so boys won’t be ranked

Make a late application for state schools. You won’t be in the initial sort but you will be added straight after state school offer day. If you have private by then, just decline any state place.

We know from friends that WHS is happy to discuss WL and to refer to whether DC is in top, middle, or bottom third of it. They have said that it rarely moves before deadline for accepting offers.

IPS said extensive waiting list. Won't disclose place. Said they'd revisit after their deadline of 6th March. Putney said lots on waiting list but to remain helpful as they've not over offered as much.

We are wait list for LEH and have a firm offer for St George's. Neither of the schools are perfect so I'm still quite in limbo. However we are in the bottom third of the wait list for LEH so may not even be a discussion to be had. The admissions lady said they had offered to our point in previous years but I imagine that would be towards the summer.

One school told me that they "make a careful note next to the child's name on WL for consideration"😵‍💫

We have WL for Whitgift, Caterham and Emanuel and no offers. I have emailed them every couple of days even if it’s a thank you, we would immediately accept an offer etc. Whitgift sent an OOO but the other two are working during half term. Even if you get an OOO, write back.

One school told me the head revisits the waitlists and decides based on reports, fit etc. not ranked at all.

We will be releasing one place at the end of next week after offerholders days and two WL spots. Holding an offer but WL for top choice so hanging in. I don’t expect movemenr until the week after next if that!

Hi all hope everyone is hanging on. Crossing my fingers for people on WL we will be releasing some places end of next week (after offer holder), I think that might be the first point where WL move, followed by beginning of March with state offer and then official deadlines. For those schools who said there was not order in the WL, did people ask how they will decide who to call first then??? Is it just a lottery system at that point? or it goes to people that showed the most interest?