A thread for parents with children on a boarding school waiting list — a place to be grumpy / happy / hopeful / fed-up together

[marsandrolos]

I don’t know how many people are in a similar situation to us but being on a waiting list isn’t fun and I thought having a thread where one can come and whinge at one’s leisure might be nice.

My DS has a place at a school we like and is on the waiting list for a school we prefer. Entry is for September 2026, so the time is drawing nearer, and it’s getting harder. We’ve been told new offers would be made in February/March this year (I’m guessing after half term), and I really hope my DS gets his offer then. I think we might pull out of the process if he doesn’t... though, to be honest, I never thought we’d wait this long in the first place. Things change when you’re in it! We initially thought we wouldn’t accept a waiting-list place at all. Not too cool for school any more! On the bright side, DS doesn’t seem to mind and sees September 2026 as a lifetime away.

Let’s keep this chat for friendly whinging and good conversations. If you’re thinking, why would you ever keep a child on a waiting list/ poor child, etc. I get it but those thoughts aren’t helpful here. They made a lot more sense to me before I found myself in the sticky, real-life situation.

Good luck to all and hope our kids end up in the school that’s best for them! Whether that’s the waiting-list school or another option 🙏

I’d stay on that waiting list for as long as it takes. A small chance is better than no chance at all!

Guarantee there will be an offer forthcoming. Even the most competitive places have chance vacancies up to the last minute. Good Luck

February or march waiting list movement is very real and usually places of ten open up much later than people expect because of many reasons like families relocating , scholarships change or a child just simply decide they don't want to go there. I know it feels like you should decide now but in practice a lot is going to change between now and summer.
I hope you get clarity soon.

Thank you @SleepyLabrador , I think you’re right. Trying to be patient. Apparently ISEB people let all schools know who is signed up to their school for Common Entrance at the end of March and organisations finally know which kids are really going to their school and which have just been holding on to places and new offers can be made. Let’s see! Also trying to believe in destiny, in case things don’t go the way we want them to.
All the best!

It really does come down to patience at this stage in the year you've done everything right so now it's out of your hands. One thing I'd say is that wherever your DS ends up in September, the first term has its own learning curve completely separate from the admissions process. That caught us off guard more than the waiting did. Wishing you clarity soon either way.
All the best!