Do state sixth forms let students know if their application is unsuccessful?

Or

a) they've used a fake email
b) they've used a school email that doesn't accept external emails
c) they've mistyped their email
d) they've mistyped the parental email address
e) they've not entered either email
f) they've forgotten what email they used
g) it's an email address containing text that falls foul of a profanity filter
h) they've not completed the information needed (eg, any of DOB, address, postcode, telephone numbers, contact emails)
i) they didn't hit submit at the end
j) autocomplete has completely screwed up the form filling

A fair amount of work attempting to engineer the application system so that all of the above are reduced/eliminated is done, but there's always some novel way in which people (not just teenagers) manage to circumvent the information requested on forms to their detriment.

But most sixth forms actually take applications all the way up to and including September, as this allows for plans changing, results being different to what was expected in the Autumn or just the teen deciding that they want something completely different, so it is never the end of the world. After all, the Admissions Code is very clear that they can't just say 'Nah, don't fancy you coming here, even though you meet the grade requirements'. And they need to be full as it's how they are funded, so it wouldn't be in the sixth form's interests to do otherwise.

You could also ask the school to consider your application under criterion 5 - exceptional social need - but you would ideally need:

1. a letter from your daughter's previous school to evidence the circumstances of the bullying (you may have this already),
2. reasonable evidence that all the other schools will have members of the bullying gang there (more difficult, but fairly crucial, and something must have convinced your daughter of this).
3. A letter from a GP confirming anxiety might also help, but not as important as 1 and 2 because anxiety about school transfers is not generally considered to be exceptional - it's very common.

The clause also says you should submit the evidence at the time of application, but some schools are relaxed about this (ours is).

I've sent you the document. I think it's only fair to warn you that your chances of a place look slim. They have to prioritise their own year 11 students. There seems to be 210 of those (assuming it's the same as current year 7), and only 150 year 12 places, so they are likely to fill with their own students, especially as it's a popular and succesful school.

That said, there are several issues with the policy and it is definitely not compliant with the admissions code. Any parent can refer a policy to the schools adjudicator anonymously. If you want to do that I'll happily tell you what the very solid grounds for objection would be.

You could also appeal for a place on the grounds of a non-compliant policy (whether or not you have an adjuducator judgement to back it up) but that would only help you get a place if you could show the non-compliance has disadvantaged you.

I think it has. They have not published a PAN for a minimum number of external offers, and the final criteria is random allocation, so if it were me I would argue that even if just one external place was guaranteed I would have as much chance as anyone else if getting it.

So, if you have the strength to fight for a place, do, but either way you need a backup plan.

I have replied to your other thread.

Yes, of course schools tell students they have not been successful. They are dealing with children!

Timings wise will differ between schools. Some may do it now (ie no conditional offer but ask them to reapply on results day) . Some may do it after results day.

Email the school. Ask them.

And yes, as PP said - check your spam/email. Have you had anything from them yet? If yes, then at least you know they have the application and the correct email. If not - definitely chase it up (unless application was only very recent). We get 300 applications - and I email both parents and students with each step of the process....there are some bounced emails ("inbox full" or clear typos on the application form). I try to rectify as, generally, either student or parent email will be working. But this could be your issue.

You will have zero guarantees until results day. This is part of life....

As per my other reply - your DD needs to focus on her GCSE's now, that will give her the most open doors.
Take the focus off this one school. Get a plan B and plan C...just in case....so you are not dealing with results day upset and scrabbling around for alternatives in August, but don't make a big deal of it.

i have two children who have recently been through sixth form and yes, round here, they were told if they’d got an offer. My work colleague’s son has applied to a local grammar but was told yesterday that despite having excellent predicted grades, they have had plenty with higher, so have already given out all of their offers. They’ve been told to go to the school on results day and see if anyone has not got the grades (assuming he has) and he might still be able to secure a place. The school says they ask for approx 8 x 6s but obviously this year, there must be lots of people with much higher predicted grades.

If you pm me the name of the school, I'll have a look for you. I'm a school governor, so know what should be there, but a lot of schools seem to cut corners with their year 12 admissions policies, and many breach the guidance. I think that's because the policies are less likely to be challenged by local authorities and parents.

If the policy isn't clear, and published on the website, and if you don't get a place, you may have good grounds for appeal.

She should hear either way.
But wanted to mention that the school supporting you to move her to another school due to bullying isn’t rejection of her. Bullying can be almost impossible to stop especially at secondary level. Its easier said than done. Schools know this, parents of bullied DCs discover this. It’s rotten and unfair, but it’s truly the best way to protect your child.

I have had to move my DC to new schools due to bullying and really it is the best thing for them. So I’m not sure why you think the school is rejecting your daughter by supporting you in doing the best thing for her in the situation?

I hope you are not agreeing with your DD or feeding any feelings of rejection she might have? It’s more of a “I’m outta here so I don’t have to put up with your shit” decision. There’s nothing better about sticking around and trying to reform a bully. Best for you to reject them and leave the old school.

The admissions policy just gives the typical offer ie 5 grade 6 to 9s and at least 5s in English and Maths. Doesn't say anything about over-subscription criteria.

If it's an 11-18 school (not a sixth form college) they have to have a year 12 admissions policy that meets the national admissions code, with oversubscription criteria, just like in year 7. It should be on the admissions section of their website, or in the policies section.

One thing to watch is that sixth forms often send the offer to the student's email address without cc-ing the parents. Some teenagers aren't used to receiving email, and may miss it, or else it may go to their spam folder.

My DD and her friends have applied and been accepted to a selective 6th form.

They now just have to see if their GCSE results are ok otherwise they lose their place.

I've never seen DD revise so hard. Ever.

She's very determined to keep her spot.

DS has four offers - one is his existing school - so a safe bet as long as he hits the grade boundary (which he should), one that is is likely to get into and two that he desperately wants but will probably not get into due to over-subsription criteria - roughly 1000 applicants for 120 places - 80% of which are existing pupils and 20% of which live closer than us. In a way, it's almost worse to have a conditional offer from them as it has made him want it even more.

Having said that, his letter did say things like 'Congratulations - testament to your interview and predicted grades etc' so perhaps they've already turned some away? But I think it's likely you will get a conditional offer as we weren't expecting any of ours to come through. DS hanging on to all four for now...

Oh I agree - you don’t need stellar grades for Woodhouse because that isn’t the basis on which they deal with oversubscription:

All students must meet our minimum grade requirement for their chosen A level programme. Offers are then made to eligible students according to the following priority:

1. Looked after children.
2. Students with an EHC plan.
3. Students who attend one of the College’s partner schools.
4. Children of current staff.
5. Other applicants who submit applications within the window.
6. Late applicants.

You should be able to find comparable oversubscription criteria somewhere on the website of your DD’s target school/college.

Have you read their admissions policy? If it is likely to be oversubscribed then the oversubscription criteria are crucial. Most schools will prioritise on distance, but as admissions aren't coordinated, they are likely to give out more conditional offers than there are places available. On enrollment day (after your dd gets her results) they will need to prioritise enrollment according to the criteria, so you can't be certain of a place until then. Even if there is a place, the courses your DD wants to study may be full with internal or higher priority external applicants. That's why it's best to hold multiple offers, with at least one safe bet. Mine has 4 conditional offers, including his own school where he is guaranteed a place.

She will hear back either way. There are state 6th forms in London which are wildly oversubscribed (Woodhouse College being an example) but if she hasn’t applied somewhere like that then it’s likely a conditional offer will be forthcoming, eventually.

My school will be turning applicants away as we are oversubscribed this year for Y12. But we follow clear oversubscription criteria if this is the case. We have an application deadline as well and have made it clear late applications may not be accepted as well.

Because we have to wait for everyone to apply prior to the deadline it can take a while to let people know.

Round here, fairly rural, market towns. There are 5 6th forms within travelling distance. The only specification is that they need 5s or above - Inc maths and English. Encouraged to do A levels in subjects they have gcse's in. All of them will take all those that apply. Absolutely no need to apply now. Nearest one is keen to have numbers buttoned down so they can at least start sorting out a timetable. But they aren't turning anyone away. Proviso being grades.

Sounds like a fresh start might be the best thing anyway to be honest. Clean slate, new friends, new teachers with no pre-conceived ideas about your DD.