11+ 2025 support thread #3

Sorry to hear that Purple. Good luck with the waiting list.

We are ok. Have met a few kids who will be at secondary with DD and she has an induction day in June. The journey is still bothering me a bit but too late to worry now.

We received an email yesterday afternoon we are 12th so keeping fingers crossed. 2 of her class mates who live a bit closer got places so fingers crossed.

Just an update. My dd got her offer today for her 1st choice grammar. She is very happy 😊

We got ours too❤

Ah brilliant news. So pleased for you both

Hi mine was for Kent

@Pipsquiggle I've pm you deets

Been away a while as this all got a bit painful. As a reminder, DS fell well short in the Bucks test. Went to selection review with an amazing set of reports and recommendations from his primary, they rejected it out of hand. Went to final appeal, which took months. Result arrived today. They agreed that the selection review didn't do its job properly. They agreed that DS is academic enough to go to a grammar and that his 11+ result was out of character. But unfortunately they also accepted our local grammar's case that they're full and can't possibly take one more pupil. So they've put him on the waiting list, from which nobody ever emerges because nobody ever leaves. Off to the local upper he goes.

I'm happy that he finally has an official bit of paper saying he's qualified for a grammar school, he certainly earned it over seven years of hard work. But I'm beyond furious that the selection review panel fucked up, as had the process worked properly he would have 100% been allocated a place on national offer day. He's been utterly, utterly screwed over by the system, which is a level of unfairness that's hard to take when the victim is a smart, hardworking, 11-year-old child.

Oh Dolphin thats awful. I am glad he got some validation will keep fingers and toes crossed for a miracle spot x

I'm so sorry to read this - totally sucks. Basically, some idiot effed up the initial review and now unfortunately you guys pay the price for someone else's shortcomings! As shit as it is, I believe everything for a reason. Your son will excel wherever he goes. My friend has a son at Oxford Uni, who is doing a course alongside one of his old primary school mates. His mate passed exams to get i to QE Boys, whereas my son's friend missed it by a few points. They've both ended up at the same place now, though. I know you're probably too mad to care (as I would be, too!), but I hope you find some solace in knowing that you tried everything in your power to turn it around for your son. Fingers crossed that someone moves! Xx

Oh God, I'm sorry, Dolphin. Are there any other grammar waiting lists you can go on?
He won't be the only bright child in the upper - this system delightfully fucks over many people, including those with English as a second language, those with ADHD, anxiety, dyslexia, dyscalcula etc. But poor DS. I'm so sorry.

Thanks everyone. As I said, it's a bit of a fucker. Like someone steals your car and the court agrees that it's yours and that it was stolen but says they can't make them give it back. He's only qualified for the one we appealed for, that's how the system works, so all or nothing. We think he should be very close to the top of the list but don't know exactly where. I found an old thread on here where someone said a few kids had quit in term one of year seven one due to it being too hard or strict or whatever so maybe we'll get lucky. But who knows. Hard data is very hard to come by.

Aw Dolphin. I'm sorry, what a swizz. I really will keep everything crossed for someone moving house or choosing private. Surely it must happen sometimes? Round here there's quite a lot of movement but know it's a bit different outside London. Either way I hope it gives him the confidence to wring every last drop out of secondary school.

@DolphinOnASkateboard can bucks council put you on the wait list I know people who have moved from RGS and John Hampden in the first few weeks of term.

He's on the waiting list for AGS and AGS alone, his "qualification" can't be transferred as it came from an appeal for a place at a specific school rather than a selection review that would qualify him for anywhere.

Just need one thing to go in our favour between now and September but our luck so far has been non-existent so I'm not getting my hopes up. Council has literally said they won't tell us whether anyone has ever got off the waiting list from this position before.

His SAT scores put him in the top 5% nationally, but of course in Buckinghamshire that counts for absolutely nothing when it comes to deciding how "academic" he is.

I think if you did an foi request they'd have to tell you if they hold the information, but they would get 21 days to reply.

Yeah, thought about that but by the time they reply it'll be a moot point. Plus, and I know this sounds dumb but that's the point I'm at now, we'd have to put the question to the school itself (as an academy) and I don't want to do anything that makes us look in the least bit bothersome just in case.

On Sunday I spoke to a couple of people who were absolutely 100% sure he'd get a place. On Monday I spoke to a couple of people who were absolutely 100% sure he wouldn't. Kind of more depressed about the whole thing than I was on results day and SR result day because now we know he is officially good enough but it could all be for nothing. The school he has an offer from is going to take one look at him and his SATs and say "right, don't need to do any work on this one" and concentrate their limited resources on lifting up kids who need help to get their heads above water.

HE GOT A PLACE! He got a place he got a place he got a place!!!!

Just heard from admissions and someone somewhere must have decided to go somewhere else and not tell the council because a space has come up and he’s got it!

I could actually cry in fact I think I will.

Of course he’s just spent two weeks getting settled at his upper school but what’s two weeks against five years? And I need to go a whole new shopping spree for uniform, which is financially unhelpful but a hell of a lot cheaper than years of extra tutoring.

I still can’t quite believe it. Thanks so much to everyone on here who has been so supportive. I 1000% would NOT recommend doing it this way but after a year of shit I do suddenly believe in happy endings.

So pleased for you! I have been following your story since the beginning and was hoping you'd have a happy ending.

How does your DS feel about it?

This is the best news Dolphin, I’m delighted for you and your DS. I’m sorry that the journey has been such a stressful one.

Omg I am so so pleased for you @DolphinOnASkateboard & for your son too! Have been quiet on here but followed your story as we are in bucks too and was gutted for you with the farce of the selection review. So glad he got a place in the end. A pain now with the uniform etc but itll be so worth it in the long run

Oh this is fantastic news! When I saw the thread had been updated I really hoped this might be why! He will be absolutely fine starting now, they're still all finding their feet. Someone needs started in dd2's class this week for the same reason. Aw, I'm so pleased for you. All that stress I don't envy, but so glad it came right in the end. Is he happy?