London state secondary schools - waiting lists?

[goldenoldie]

Our London LEA has said that if you don't get offers from any of the schools on your list you automatically go on the waiting list. Does that mean for all six or just for the one at the top of your list?

Anyone know how long the waiting list operates for? Do they close and tell you to look elsewhere after 6 months or a year?

bumping for you

goldenoldie, my understanding is that the LEA do the waiting list until the September of the relevant year (ie. the point at which the secondary transfer takes place) and then hand over to the school, who may ask you whether you still wish to remain on the waiting list.

But that was information from a VA school. You're Islington or thereabouts aren't you?

Frongs - thanks, yes we are city/Islington/Hackney way and not applying for any schools round here. Know we won't get offered places at any of our favoured schools because we don't have siblings there, nor do we live in catchment area.

DS is in the private sector and can stay where he is till 13, so we would be happy to stay on waiting list for 2 years - if need be.

Ahh, clever strategy. Which schools are you aiming at?

Any half-decent ones where a child has more than a 2/3 chance of coming out with 5 good GCSEs. Any suggestions?

Ah. Dunno. Tricky for boys, isn't it -- even the good schools are all a bit, well, urban. Latymer or QE boys seem to be the ones people go for. Scary odds, though. Suddenly the whole Diane Abbot fiasco appears in a different light...

Girls are (slightly) better -- we're going for a Catholic grammar school in Barnet, and Greycoats in Westminster. With a couple of private backups incase it all goes pearshaped.

Yes - can see us keeping DS in the private sector.

You do get a bit spoilt in the private sector - and when you then go and look at what is on offer in the state sector it is a bit of a shock.