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Original poster

Secondary school waiting lists Solihull and Birmingham

94 replies

Karpuz26 · 27/03/2023 10:17

Hello everyone,

After an anxious wait for offer day on 01st March 2023 my daughter wasn’t offered any of our 6 preference schools. Instead …We have been offered a local failing secondary school. A school which we made sure to visit for ourselves, the visit reaffirmed it was not an option to be put on our list.

Our preference schools were all realistic options.

So now we are left hanging on to hope through the waiting list process!

As of today, my daughter is 15th position on 1st choice, 59th on 2nd and 83rd on 3rd choice - the other three schools are in the high 100’s.

Does anyone have an experience of waiting list movements in birmingham/Solihull? I know the appeal deadline is 29th March, I’m hoping this will have some bearing although that may not favour our position. Are there so called ‘second rounds of allocations’? I read about these in other regions.

I can’t see how waiting lists move - the LA only ask parents to contact before 15th if they are refusing the offer. So that’s has now past leaving us in the above positions.

Has anyone been in my situation of waiting list positions that could share their experiences?

It’s an awful situation - I feel a have a dark cloud hanging over me and my daughter is so disappointed.

Any advice, experiences, opinion are most welcome!

Thank you for reading
Karpuz26

OP posts:
Blueuggboots · 06/04/2023 13:18

We were allocated heart of England (catchment school) - I have friends with children there. There was no way I was going to let my son go there based on their experiences - eg. Teachers ringing them to say their child was missing - she was in the toilets at the school??!
.
We put down Tudor Grange, Alderbrook, Arden and H of E. We live 2.4 miles from Arden and 3.1 miles from H of E.
We went private and released a place for someone else (this was last year).

Blueuggboots · 06/04/2023 13:13

Ah, have read your update.....4th is better....you may have a shot....

Blueuggboots · 06/04/2023 13:11

In that area, there are a few grammar schools and private schools who will take some children out if the equation, but realistically, with the waiting list positions you quote, you're highly unlikely to get into your top three choices.
I'm sorry.

Carmella9 · 06/04/2023 13:10

Could I ask for which school this was?

Carmella9 · 06/04/2023 13:08

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not poor. It’s just its results are half of TG and we are an academic family and it’s far for us.

JuneOsborne · 06/04/2023 11:36

I know kids offered places in the first week of the new school year starting, and the lists are usually maintained until Christmas.

The issue is buying uniform.

I know one school where a child was 50th on the list and by the first day of September term was second.

I think you're in with a good chance.

Motherhubbardscupboard · 06/04/2023 10:55

@Carmella9 how is Heart of England poor? It's rated Good and as far as I know has always been at least Good. It has always been seen as slightly below Arden and TG but it's also nowhere near them, kids who live in BC (lovely area) go to HofE.

Original poster
Karpuz26 · 06/04/2023 10:35

Update… We are now 4th on the waiting list for our 1st preference school.

I know this position can change at anytime and go either way! But for now… I’m a very happy bunny🐣😁

To all waiting list holders please remain hopeful! Nothing is guaranteed but everything is possible!

I’m feeling gleeful at this position and looking forward to cancelling both appeals😉👍🏻 Just a few places to go🙏🏼👍🏻

OP posts:
Carmella9 · 05/04/2023 17:23

Great to hear! Will call tomorrow.

usererror99 · 05/04/2023 17:12

Carmella9 · 05/04/2023 13:30

Im not sure what SW academy is, we have the Balsall common school

Have you been allocated Heart of England or is that the one you wanted?

Hunter2501 · 05/04/2023 14:12

oh ok, SW is smiths wood.
Just to give you some hope, just spoken to Solihull Admissions and we’ve already moved 8 places up on the waiting list for Arden, have moved down the waiting list for Alderbrook though. But it shows that there is movement!

Carmella9 · 05/04/2023 13:30

Im not sure what SW academy is, we have the Balsall common school

Hunter2501 · 05/04/2023 12:13

Hi,
don’t worry about being moved down for any other reasons - they are very strict and operate based on the criteria.
If it’s SW academy, I believe they have not long had ofsted in and moved to inadequate so I imagine there’s an abundance of free places at the moment.
Keep the faith, something will come up!

LockInAtTheFeathers · 05/04/2023 12:07

Carmella9 · 05/04/2023 11:52

Yes and sent to a school 9 miles away! It’s so disheartening. Solihull Admissions were very dismissive and told me not to bother and just accept bad school or I’ll end up home schooling. I replied that I was aware and she repeated it another 4 times. Are they trying to put people off? After that I went down 10 places. Am I paranoid or could they have done something?! Feel so powerless

I really sympathise Flowers They shouldn't tell you not to bother with appealing and waiting lists, as you have nothing to lose with either, but they are correct that you should accept the school you have been offered for now unless you are prepared to home school or go private. If you turn down this place, they have no obligation to find you anything else, meaning that you could have no school in September if your appeals and waiting lists are unsuccessful. Accepting the place doesn't disadvantage you in appeals or on waiting lists in any way, and doesn't mean that it is the end of your hopes of another school. Waiting lists are also held strictly in order of admissions criteria and there is no way that you would be moved down for disagreeing with them on the phone, so don't worry about that!

SoFED · 05/04/2023 12:03

Ridiculous to miss out on a catchment school!!!

Carmella9 · 05/04/2023 11:52

Yes and sent to a school 9 miles away! It’s so disheartening. Solihull Admissions were very dismissive and told me not to bother and just accept bad school or I’ll end up home schooling. I replied that I was aware and she repeated it another 4 times. Are they trying to put people off? After that I went down 10 places. Am I paranoid or could they have done something?! Feel so powerless

Hunter2501 · 05/04/2023 11:24

How awful to miss out on catchment schools, really hope there is movement for you!

SoFED · 05/04/2023 11:08

Are people missing out on schools in their catchment? That seems wrong. I understand if it’s not a catchment.

It’s a very high birth year.

Carmella9 · 05/04/2023 11:04

Disruption not district job!

Carmella9 · 05/04/2023 11:03

Thanks. I do find the whole system really opaque. Even the appeal system seems a huge imbalance of power with those in the know and who fit the bill in terms of not being too pushy, striking the right chord etc getting a place. We have found that we have moved down not up the waiting list after offer day. My daughter is really gentle and I didn’t in my wildest dreams think she wouldn’t get any of her offers. We’ve lived here twenty years overpaying on our council tax and house because it was a great catchment for schools. LA and MP were aware of this issue but didn’t think they should inform the residents. After all the covid district job it feels really unfair. I definitely would have moved had I known this would happen.

CornedBeef451 · 04/04/2023 21:21

This sounds like a bit of a nightmare OP.

You might end up having to start at the rubbish school but make sure you stay on all the waiting lists after Sepember as depending on how the lists are kept they sometime clear them at the start of the school year.

There is often a lot of movement in the first term so even if she has to go to the rubbish one it hopefully won't be for long. It's not ideal but better than having to stay there.

LockInAtTheFeathers · 04/04/2023 20:52

Best of luck to everyone on the waiting lists. I wouldn't give up on the Birmingham grammars either for those hoping for a place- the waiting lists have been known to move significantly.

LockInAtTheFeathers · 04/04/2023 20:44

@XanaduKira Badgering the LA and school will make no difference whatsoever- the waiting list will be held in order of admission criteria and places offered in that order, not by who badgers the most.

XanaduKira · 04/04/2023 20:11

We're in Solihull.

XanaduKira · 04/04/2023 20:11

Plus the person in first place lives in catchment and opposite the school (they moved into the area after places were allocated) so they can't be beaten on the waiting list legitimately unless it's someone who has moved into catchment with a sibling already in the school, so the 'school-less' need does make sense.