How optimistic are you about getting your 1st choice secondary school?

[Eastie77Returns]

Wasn't sure if I should post in Primary or Secondary board so just opted for Chat😅

First choice is a school DD does not want to attend (Grammar). Very competitive so she may get her wish, all depends on other kids exam scores.

Choices 2-4 are schools I really like but we are not the closest to them. All in catchment but they are all oversubsribed and furthest distance offered for most of them last year was around 0.8 and we are about a mile away.

No 5 is the one virtually on our doorstep. Requires improvement, stabbing in the playground not long ago and wasn't overly keen on the Head Teacher during the open evening. Had a chat with the head of Maths and she said they ensure the classes are all evenly mixed because "we know boys can be immature and boisterous so it's good to have nice quiet girls like your DD to help keep them in check" 😔

I only listed it because there is another school nearby which is even worse. I was worried if I only put 4 choices and didn't get into any I'd get into the worst one.

Optimism level: about 5 out of 10.

Seems like you've done all you can, especially putting the least worst local choice school to avoid getting something random. Of course it all depends on the cohort they're placing, hopefully you'll get one of the schools you want.

If you're in England, consider going on all the waiting lists of all schools you want. We often have Year 7 movement (we're oversubscribed) and we have new starters right into the start of term from the waiting list. Just remember to find out when the waiting list is reset (ours is valid until the end of December). In my area you have to ask to go back on the waiting list after that. If you don't realise then you could miss out.

It also isn't terrible to move in Year 8 or even Year 9. We have movers across all year groups during the school year, it isn't unusual. The issue only comes when students are choosing their GCSE options, if you get a place after that, you could miss out on having the full choice if some options are full.

DS1 was lucky to get his first choice. Our catchment school was bottom of the list as they were having a rough time with OFSTED/ academy status/ industrial action, and SEN provision is not the greatest. He's the type of quiet, bright SEN boy who is easily overlooked, managed poorly (no, he doesn't cope with diluting the chatty girls, he just shuts down then explodes at home).

DS2 has sibling priority so I'm quietly optomistic. Bonus points that his best friend also had sibling priority.
He's also quite taken with our second choice school which is reassuring.

Catchment school is on the up and is less unsuitable, so I'm happier than I was first time round.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you that its either a low birth year and she gets into the 2nd choice, or that she gets into the grammar for you.

Good luck.

Good luck. Its a smaller year group nationally so everything crossed for you.

We are fortunate to be 99.5% sure of getting our first choice... we are in the top category after looked after/echp. Her sister is there, she attends the feeder school and we live in the (fixed) catchment area. So unless 200 looked after or ECHP children apply, we are guaranteed a place really.

No one should to attend a failing or unsafe school.

@GettingColdFeet thanks...and good idea, will ensure I'm on waiting lists. I think this happens automatically? I think we will definetly be weightlisted for the Grammar. DD said the exam was quite easy so I imagine scores will be very high with only the top 180 getting an offer. I do know many families accept offers and then decline as other offers come in so there is movement.

@BogRollBOGOF glad it worked out for your DS. It would have been so challenging to end up in the school with poor SEN provision

@PuttingDownRoots I know, no schools should be unsafe. A family on our street pulled their child out of our unwanted 5th choice due to violence in the playground. The new HT strikes a 'no excuses, I'm going to improve everything' note but he seemed extremely authoritarian in a way that made me uncomfortable. Guess it's a hard balance when you're dealing with behvioural issues.