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Original poster

If in London and you got a place at your preferred school via the waiting list, how far down were you and how long did you have to wait for your place?

205 replies

CloudsOverHead · 18/04/2023 11:13

We're 40+ on the waiting list for our preferred school (250 intake) but before any second round offers were made. I was told by the admissions people that there was a lot of movement to come (in London so always lots moving in/out/going private) but don't know whether to hold hopes high or assume it's never going to happen.

In previous years, I know people who were in the 60s on the list (same school) who got their place in early April but others who only moved from 50ish to 30ish before giving up in August.

Really interested to hear other experiences please!

OP posts:
CamandIs · 18/04/2023 19:15

DD was mid 70s for her 1st choice school. She moved up quite a bit before the holidays, top 20 then got offered a place in the 3rd week of term. School is a 180 entry so don't give up hope!

Original poster
CloudsOverHead · 18/04/2023 17:28

Thanks for your responses. Chimes with what I thought.

We also keep getting told we'll be bound to get a place at 40 but I'm not convinced. My child doesn't want to switch in the summer so we just have this window and I guess all we can do is wait and see. And try not to torture myself thinking too much about it!

OP posts:
AmeliaEarhart · 18/04/2023 14:07

DS was 9th for our second choice, but only within his band (in a borough where secondaries have banded intake). He was offered a place in July. He made it up from 19th to 13th for our first choice (no banding). We had lots of people telling us he’d definitely get a place a 1st choice, as they’d known children get in from lower down the list in previous years, but it didn’t happen. He’s happy enough at 2nd choice.

AthenaPoster · 18/04/2023 13:53

In our experience too, the list didn't move constantly. There was some movement early on, then nothing for a while, then we went down. There was a flurry of movement after the transition day where all the kids go to spend the day at their new secondary. I'm guessing that's a chance for the secondary to realise some kids haven't turned up and chase them to confirm their place. Then a slow dribble over the summer holidays and a little rush in September.

AthenaPoster · 18/04/2023 13:46

Last year in April when the positions came out my DC was 30 for a 220 entry school. Got offered a place in August after bouncing up and down the list a lot. At one point we went from 15 back up to 26 or something.

It moved a bit after us too, new kids joining in September and I think even now. You may also find it moves faster in late August/September as people higher on the list may turn down a place. But there are no guarantees at all. We tried not to think about it too much and always talked about the offered school as the one they were going to.

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