Can anyone help me with 11+ questions! (Private schools in Surrey)

[tickingthebox]

We are midway through the process - DS has taken 4 exams at local private secondary schools.

We have a "waitlist place" at one school - they say we need to wait until after 3rd March to find out if they have gone to the waitlist, but surely they go down the waitlist as others reject the places? Or is it that noone really rejects the places, they just don't confirm?

Who knows the process??

Anxiety is setting in as we so far have two "No" and one waitlist, last one still to come, but not hopeful.

One problem is that the state secondary school places aren't given out till the 1st March so many families may be waiting on those before making a decision, rather than just not bothering to reject a place. Good luck.

The lists will move properly once the state school places have been allocated and people have an accurate picture of their either/or choices. That's usually the trigger date, some will of course let them know before then, but they will have over offered anyway, to allow for some people rejecting places offered.

Ok this makes more sense.... I guess it's 3rd March due to state school. I don't really have an angle on the state schools...

So I'm thinking that if anyone rejects a place before they will move down the waitlist in order but as there is a volume of rejections around this date this is the one they use...

While their offer letters go out between now and half term the response deadline will be around the state national offers day on March 1st. Once that has passed the schools will review what places to make available to those on waiting list. Bear on mind they will over offer anyway knowing kids may receive multiple offers. Occasionally they receive more acceptances than anticipated so won't go to waiting list. Alternatively there may be a later exam sitting to fill places. I'm afraid you just need to hold tight and have a plan b.

I know a lot the schools over offer anyway based on the amount they expect to go to other schools. Have you the opportunity to try for 13+ or do you have to find a school for Sept? There are other less selective schools around that it might be worth having a chat to. We have gone through the 11+ this year and it has been very competitive-I think it is an exceptionally bright year. Good luck!

If you really want a place at the wait list school you need to tell them that, if offered a place, you would accept immediately. That way you will be one of the first they call when they go to their waitlist.

Not all schools use a wait list. Some prefer not to 'back fill' and will fill any remaining places (which they would expect to be few due to over offering) from any who take supplementary exams later in the year - those who move into the area etc. They also do t necessarily have to get to a fixed number......so if they are slightly down on on 11+ entry, rather than use a wait list and take people who are a lower standard, they might decide it would be better just to take more in at 13+.....a lot will depend on the overall numbers in te school, so not just one year group....so how many will they have in the 6th Form, how many are leaving Year 11 etc. It's very hard to know.
Two things you can do, is ask how many are wait listed and got in last year from said list. The other, as pp said, is stress how keen you are and that if offered you will accept immediately and write the cheque.....they may well then offer to you, not someone else who may still be hanging on for more offers/state school places etc and atill not be a certainty for them.
How long do you need to wait to know about the final place? Best of luck.....the waiting until offers on 11th seems lomg doesn't it and then the wait again until state school offers on 1 March, which brings lots of movement seems long again.

Yes we have made it clear we want the place! One of the first things I did....

last year they did go to their waitlist, but this year who knows?