Waiting for Results on 1st March

[GORGEOUSPSYCHIC]

Thought it would be nice to start a support thread on here about the wait for our DC getting into secondary schools. Anyone else glad the tests are all over?

I would guess they deleted it because you should have asked very nicely first!

Pixie do they ever win?

My son is Yr 5 so we apply in Oct but I have 'lived and breathed' allocations for two years as we moved last year for one reason only, to avoid the failing school we KNEW from allocation history we would get allocated if we stayed put. Nothing is guaranteed but we can be fairly sure we will get the school we would like. I've seen some very upset people at our primary school this morning, and it is so unfair that a system that allows there to be a failing school in the first place puts this kind of hideous pressure on our children (and us...) :(

After a morning of hitting refresh, I've phoned the council, who gave me the admissions number for the first choice school. After a bit of creepy pleading they've informed me that DD1 has been offered a place!
I'm so pleased.
The school is way out of our local catchment, it's Church run and is academically the best school in the whole area. It's the only school DD wanted to consider.

Congratulations to everyone who got the result they were looking for, and good luck with the appeals for the rest.

I hoped it would be so, Pixie, and knew the "rules" - but was interested as to whether they ever got bent in unsatisfying ways. Thanks.

When we appealed there were about 40 parents appealing for the same school. Most of them on very flimsy grounds. Afaik we were the only ones who got our child in (on SN and medical grounds).

2 points off the school we want so we'll be going through the appeals process, not what I need right now.

They'll allocate places to children who won't take them up too, people who edge their bets by accepting a private place and then sitting the 11+, now if they decide to go for the private place the grammar school won't write to me and say by the way do you want it, it could go to a child who's 30 points off but their parents appealed.

Okay people do win appeals, and sometimes the grounds haven't seemed that strong e.g. the quality of the art facilities. However I havd also known people not win despite their child having a severe nut allergy and the school not just not being nut free but preparing nuts in the school kitchens.

No one can predict 100% whether or not you will win or lose you appeal. I would listen to the advice of the admissions gurus here and prepare your case carefully if you choose that route.

However congratulations to everyone who has got what they wanted! Commiserations with the rest of you, from someone whose DC1 got in via the waiting list.

Can i have a list/register of the appeals experts please

Mummytime, my daughter missed out on a Grammar school place due to her score in the entrance exam. We think she must have been very close to the cut-off as everyone else in her school who passed the exam got in and we are category 5 for intake. We don't really see the point in appealing as we're sure the process was correct but we are keen to get her name on the waiting list. Can you share any insights as to your experience? Can you find out where they are on the list for instance? When did you find out you had the confirmed place? Many thanks in advance.

SK4 - please appeal, there is every reason to believe he will still get a place, my neighbours child was 18 points off the pass mark and was accepted, the head of her current school will need to write to the appeals centre to say he had a bad day and his work is usually up to stand etc.
I'm not sure if the other children appealing will leapfrog you on the waiting list, but i'd imagine that would be the case.

That can't be right about appeals leapfrogging waiting lists, or if it is right it's unfair!

Moscow, is the school you moved away from FB? I ask because we are currently looking at houses in the St Albans area and they seem decidedly cheaper in that catchment. The primary school situation seems a nightmare too. We are seeing two houses this w/e in the M'wick area and the F'ville area. I need to research the secondary catchments carefully.

We are also looking at W'stead too and my understanding is that many kids there go to schools in H. Where we lived previously, my kids went to independent school but we're hopeful of the state options in and around StA if we could get into any!

Yes, it's all about knowing the right thing to say at the appeal...

Okay appeals don't leapfrog the waiting list. BUT if the school is full or over full after appeals then no more people will be accepted until the numbers have gone down again. Also in my experience the LEA can be slow processing the waiting list.

My experience: we started at 25th, but for various reasons (lots of people going private) we were soon 1st. However we stuck at 1st for about 3 weeks, despite the LEA saying they would offer a place as soon as one became free. I knew at least 3 people who rejected their offers of places, after we were at the top of the waiting list. A week after we got our place, the appeals were heard, and I think 15 people got in.

First thing to do is to get yourself on the waiting list of any schools you prefer. Then start to reassure your daughter about the school she has been offered, talk to the school, go and visit it, start to get prepared for going there. Then in about 2 weeks or so the waiting lists will have been formed and you can find out where you are, but you can move both up and down. Decide if you are going to appeal and start to prepare your appeal.

Good luck!

sk4 mum

are you from the Heatons in Stockport by any chance. Might be able to offer advice/info is so, let me know?

Do you have the grammar system in Stockport? I use to live in Trafford where so many people paid at primary so they didn't need to at secondary. But of course catchment was also key.