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Original poster

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

359 replies

Limebasilico · 14/02/2023 09:00

Following the private and grammar school exam threads, I am starting this one for those with waiting list places. May be helpful to hear if and when waiting lists begin to move.

We had some offers and some WL places. We have released the offers we are not taking and waiting for a place on the Reeds WL.

Hoping for movement after offer holder days (next week), national schools offer day (1st March) and offer acceptance dates (circa 9/10th March).

OP posts:
Turquoiseturtle3 · 05/04/2023 13:42

Hi everyone, I was just wondering whether most people are now sorted with their schools or still waiting? When are deposits/commitment for paying 1st term fees? Trying to gage how much knock on movement there will be for state schools as we are on the waiting list for our top choice. Thanks

weightymatters73 · 03/04/2023 15:25

SleepyRooster · 01/04/2023 13:19

Going by what I read on here, it's also become normal for parents to put in for multiple private secondaries. Some of those will have multiple offers. They eventually start to let them go & the WL moves?
Enough people in London are wealthy enough to stump up thousands in fees/deposits in order to have the best sensation of "choice", right up until quite late in the day

We had a firm offer for school A and a wait list for school B. We preferred school B. As the wait lists often don't move until the deadline passes we were nearly in the position where we had to pay for school A, and then would have lost the money as school B came through.

Fortunately for us I spoke to another parent on a random dog walk and realised her DS had a place at school B that they weren't planning to take.... I nudged her in the direction of giving up the place, and we got the wait list with 1 day to go.

I think people rarely pay for multiple places, but they often do like us and pay for one place, then switch as the wait lists move.

CruCru · 02/04/2023 17:48

Ukmum2012 · 01/04/2023 08:56

Yes. This is why the Tiffin waitlist moves 30 places sometimes through the first couple weeks of school.

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That is incredibly annoying - it wrecks the plans of children who can’t afford to go private. Even if they end up in their school of choice eventually, they’ll have bought uniform for the school they were first allocated by mid August.

EA1999 · 02/04/2023 17:39

I know someone who got a place on it a few weeks ago but don’t know how much it has moved unfortunately.

ellie2468 · 02/04/2023 15:28

Also does anyone know if surbiton wait list has moved much?

ellie2468 · 02/04/2023 14:26

Does anyone know typically how many children independent schools have on their waitlists?

Ukmum2012 · 01/04/2023 13:24

Ayalga · 01/04/2023 13:13

Agree that it is a more likely scenario but would not explain the movement in WL for private secondaries that we are seeing at this stage

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Some of it is the grammar school waitlists moving (not just Tiffin also Sutton, HB) - I have heard of a few holding boarding and day school options and still deciding. I thought there might be a few calls on Friday but haven’t personally heard of that happening this week.

SleepyRooster · 01/04/2023 13:19

Going by what I read on here, it's also become normal for parents to put in for multiple private secondaries. Some of those will have multiple offers. They eventually start to let them go & the WL moves?
Enough people in London are wealthy enough to stump up thousands in fees/deposits in order to have the best sensation of "choice", right up until quite late in the day

Ayalga · 01/04/2023 13:13

Ukmum2012 · 01/04/2023 08:56

Yes. This is why the Tiffin waitlist moves 30 places sometimes through the first couple weeks of school.

Show quote history

Agree that it is a more likely scenario but would not explain the movement in WL for private secondaries that we are seeing at this stage

Ukmum2012 · 01/04/2023 08:56

SleepyRooster · 01/04/2023 08:39

Isn't it more likely that a parent would hold onto the Tiffin offer, but really intend to send their DD private? There is no financial penalty to hanging onto the state school seat until September. (Unfortunately)

Yes. This is why the Tiffin waitlist moves 30 places sometimes through the first couple weeks of school.

SleepyRooster · 01/04/2023 08:39

Isn't it more likely that a parent would hold onto the Tiffin offer, but really intend to send their DD private? There is no financial penalty to hanging onto the state school seat until September. (Unfortunately)

Ayalga · 31/03/2023 18:52

easycomeasygo · 31/03/2023 18:42

I know a few people who were still holding (first round) Tiffin offers and private offers last week. I guess a few of these will be released around now due to fees being due.

I find that really interesting (and somewhat puzzling) behaviour. They would have spent some 2k to get some extra days to decide... if they did it for the additional information on school fees for next year, that is not out yet for quite a few schools and, when out, does not tell you much about subsequent years.

easycomeasygo · 31/03/2023 18:42

I know a few people who were still holding (first round) Tiffin offers and private offers last week. I guess a few of these will be released around now due to fees being due.

Ayalga · 31/03/2023 18:23

@Boppolo that is quite interesting, especially on timings. Parents and DD must be delighted!

Boppolo · 31/03/2023 17:15

I know a child who was offered a place from the WHS bottom third last week.

Ukmum2012 · 31/03/2023 14:45

Looked at the 11+ forum and looks like they have made their second offers and assigned waiting list numbers. I wonder if this has trickled to the independent waiting lists? I believe today would be the last day to turn down an Indy school to avoid paying first term fees.

EA1999 · 31/03/2023 14:02

does anyone know if tiffin are going to their waiting list much?

birnehelene · 21/03/2023 08:19

Waitlist1234 · 20/03/2023 23:10

@birnehelene did they say if they had lots of movement? We are on the wl as well..

They spoke to my partner. Didn’t say anything about a lot of movement on the wait list. I believe just the one place at this time. Fingers crossed for your DD that things move some more!

@QuiteAJourney thank you. She is delighted!

Ukmum2012 · 21/03/2023 00:01

QuiteAJourney · 20/03/2023 21:35

@birnehelene Congratulations! It seems that lists are still moving.

I wonder whether the movement might coming from the grammars and trickling down or whether there are other events happening (not familiar with boarding timetables, for instance)

I think grammars will happen after 30 March - at least Tiffin, not sure about HB.

Waitlist1234 · 20/03/2023 23:10

@birnehelene did they say if they had lots of movement? We are on the wl as well..

QuiteAJourney · 20/03/2023 21:35

@birnehelene Congratulations! It seems that lists are still moving.

I wonder whether the movement might coming from the grammars and trickling down or whether there are other events happening (not familiar with boarding timetables, for instance)

birnehelene · 20/03/2023 21:32

DD was offered a place at SPGS off the WL on Friday. We have just released our place at G&L.

QuiteAJourney · 19/03/2023 19:38

@ellie2468 They both moved a bit around the 3rd March. But have not heard anything for quite a while - suppose that they are now pretty stable until grammar schools start going into their waiting list at the end of this month but would have thought that the movement would be marginal.

ellie2468 · 19/03/2023 19:31

Does anyone know if whs or phs waitlists have moved?

EA1999 · 16/03/2023 15:38

thanks so much for this, this group is so helpful!