Secondary school waiting lists

[Libertyfree]

Hi.
If you apply to go on waiting list do you automatically go to bottom of list or would you be higher up in list depending on your distance from school etc?
So would you effectively displace someone already in List because you are closer to school than they are or is it on a first come first serve basis?

Your place on the list depends on admission factors. So yes, it's not how long, it's how close (usually).

So if you live next door (but for some reason didn't apply) you'd be at the top of the list. OTOH if you lived miles away, anyone moving in nearer would leapfrog you.

Makes sense really, or ppl moving to an area would never get into their local school.

Primary school, but secondary works the same. Moved into area in August. Applied for three schools (1st, 2nd and 4th closest. Had to drive past 4th closest to get 3rd!)
DD1 was 9th on WL do 4th closest. However there was a place for dD2... So DD1 jumped to 1st place. Was then offered a place on appeal. All 8 people had been on the list a lot longer. Another child has now been admitted I appeal, bringing the total to 62, annd still not including that original 8.

Thank you. We’re on the edge of catchment so doesn’t look promising.

Is it a popular school? If do then you’ll struggle to ever make it to the top of the list.

Primary. 2 form entry. For Reception DC was 32 on the waiting list. Got a place for September in Year 1.

It's worth being on the list though as this year is so unusual no one knows how things will pan out by next September. Places could open up anywhere if parents decide to home-educate or relocate and everything is so unpredictable.

You can go from top of the list to second place if someone goes on to the list who is higher placed on the admission criteria than you eg sibling in-catchment, luves closer,
You never know though OP. Lots of people don't take up their waiting list place once they are offered as they decide the original school they were offered is actually ok once they are there.