Offers day: 1st March 2024

It seems every school is different (which is a bit of a pain!), at the school my DD has put 1st they will tell the people who get a 'maybe' where they are on the list and also how far into the maybe list places were allocated in previous years (around 15-20ish typically; some children sit the 11+ for the school with the intention of using a 'yes' letter as bargaining tool for an academic scholarship for independent schools and don't intend to apply to the grammar). DD has a couple of friends who are within the first 10 on the maybe list and their folks are desperate for a positive answer on the 1st but also scared of being in limbo; we know of a couple of kids previously who didn't get offended the grammar and then got an offer within a few days of secondary starting!

I didn't know the primaries got told the secondaries today. I wonder why they need to know earlier?

It’s also frustrating in that our LA releases allocation info to primary schools today but doesn’t tell parents until Friday!

@Hopebridge yes some are only age 11 etc but millions navigate tubes, trams, buses etc and having to have your mum take you to school as you haven't ever left the house alone at Yr6 really isn't the norm. Most high school kids who walk do so in packs or with friends and at home time walk in a sea of other kids.

Bricking it. Catchment and last choice is now inadequate. First choice school has changed admission criteria this year to prioritise baptism over siblings. This moves us up the ranking, but I think other unbaptised families with siblings have lied on the SIF - the priest signs it to say they’ve seen the baptismal certificate and then hands the form back, so the families are then ticking the “seen certificate box”

I am. We’ve applied to our local faith school and it’s really oversubscribed. It should be fine because we’re in a nominated parish, but you just never know. I keep thinking that I’ve filled the paperwork in wrong or they’ll have lost the copy of the baptism certificate or something. Just really want to know now.

I think it's difficult as some children may only just have turned 11. I know a few that have birthdays the end of August. It is a big leap. It depends on where people live to how feasible it is for them to get themselves to school as well. Everyone's circumstances are different.

I appreciate the schools can't give preferential treatment.

Yep but not massively high on the criteria.

To add to the can of worms - the secondary's just had the Ofsted call this morning so hopefully they do well and they can see that there's a place for a warm and nurturing place rather than the "we exclude everyone for the wrong type of label inside their underpants"

@CoffeeWithCheese no sibling priority?

@PuttingDownRoots looks like over subscribed schools he's too far from as 77th on wait list. Sounds like they only wanted a school on same bus route as his younger brother who travels on two buses. Mum now learning to drive so she can take him to school so he doesn't have to walk.
It's never going to wash with the LA unless he has needs that it doesn't mention. Yr7 are expected to walk or navigate public transport. And what about in Yr8/9/10/11 - is she still expecting to mummy him?

He won't get anywhere with that. The fact their son has never been out of the house unaccompanied (if true) is their problem, not the council's. A child of secondary school age should be able to get to and from school under their own steam.

If it is true that the admissions team told them they wouldn't be able to withdraw their son from religious assemblies, that was wrong. Parents have the absolute right to withdraw their children from RE and collective worship.

Terrified this year - it's for DD2 who has a lot of SEN but academically is able, and the most local schools have all gone completely bonkers with sanctions for breathing incorrectly - which would be a nightmare and totally wrong for her.

Hoping she gets into the school her older sister is doing well at - which is much more nurturing, but we've moved a bit further out of catchment since DD1 got her place so it's always going to be a bit of squeaky bum time. Based on last year's numbers we should be OK but I'll believe it when I see it.

We've already got DS in Y8, so a fairly foregone conclusion here, although I'd still like to know!

Ours is more about who else gets in, it's massively oversubscribed (and not even that good!) where DS goes, and likely DD will follow.

I notice that article doesn't say why his applications were rejected... did they apply for the closest schools or ones further away?

Father calls for Barnet school admissions changes after months-long search www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-67659675

That's interesting as the children I know that got maybes didn't apply as thought it wasn't an option. I was told children may apply from outside of the area. Good to know they didn't give out as many yes's this year. I'm hoping my DS gives grammar a chance if he gets a place. I think it's a big change being away from friends and travelling to school.

Please post the link to the BBC article.

I've just been reading on the BBC about a family refusing all offered high schools, even those good ones within walking distance, on the basis that the boy had never left the house unaccompanied and his brothers school was different way. They blaming Barnet LA. Some extreme examples out there!

Me too, but apparently a couple of 10 year olds know more than the adult who completed the application, ha. At DD's 1st choice my understanding is that they give out 'yes' letters only to the 155 highest scoring applications, then 'maybe' letters to those who pass the 11+ but are place 156 and beyond. So in theory if you get a yes letter it's a comfortable expectation to get offered a place, but I imagine there could be students who have an EHCP/are looked after etc who might contribute to movement from the list.

Ah yes :) I told my DS it wasn't a guaranteed yes. A lot of his friends didn't get a Yes which has meant he is unsure he wants to go now 😬 I am hoping he does get in and will change his mind.

Yep (I think I recognise your username from the Devon grammar thread the other day!)

Is it a grammar school?

V v nervous! My DD is convinced she is going to her 1st place school; there is no catchment area/sibling factor, if you get a 'yes' letter the expectation is that you'll be offered a place and children she knows who have siblings at this school have all told her it's a done deal. But of course it's not a done deal until the deal is done! I can't believe how long the wait is; this isn't my first time with a child applying for secondary school but I swear it gets longer each time!

Thank you for responding, guys. Interesting 🤔

I just ask out of curiosity. I have no intention of appealing. I live in catchment of many great schools.