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Original poster

Is this madness? - 10 week old daughter is 'on waiting list'

19 replies

susie100 · 23/10/2007 15:49

I have gorgeous 10 week DD. We live in nice area in SW London with an excellent local primary where we hope to send her (I know it is crazy to be planning but my parents are both teachers so am focused on this!) DP and I have both been to both private and state schools and in my case the teaching in the state sector was better although I also got a lot out of the extra curricular activities I had started at private prep school.

Anyway - from a philosophical perspective we are neutral and will send dd to the best school for her - whether private or state. I want to put her down for some private ones as an insurance policy as a lot can change in 5 yrs. I don't even know if we will be able to afford private when the time comes but hopefully we can juggle things around if it is the best thing for dd.
Everyone told me I needed to put dd down early, she is 10 WEEKS OLD and I am being told I am a bit late and she is on the waiting list at 2 (high up but still!)

Am I being naive or is this crazy? Am am being crazy with this insurance policy idea as well (£100 non-refundable deposit!)

I am just about getting the hang of bf and feel I have already let dd down in her education! This just does not happen in Italy, France etc. Argh! Please help me see sense...is this nuts?

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singersgirl · 23/10/2007 16:25

If she is 10 weeks old she was born in August, right? So this adds evidence to what I was once told - that by the time your summer-born child arrives the waiting list for certain schools is already filled with children born earlier in the school year.

Schools ought to keep waiting lists closed until the whole yeargroup has been born.....

bozza · 23/10/2007 16:35

Then they would have a mass rush on 1 Sept! I am not quite sure that it is the state school or private school that she is on the waiting list for. I assume private, because I don't think state schools work like that - they have an application deadline. And surely a lot of the people on the private schools' lists are edging their bets like you, so a lot more places should come up.

OrmIrian · 23/10/2007 16:46

Must be private I think. We aren't able to put anyone on any lists until the February before they child is due to start school in this LEA. Which is as it should be IMO. No-one should get a headstart because their parents know the system or are more organised.

Original poster
susie100 · 23/10/2007 16:50

Hi there - it is the private ones, I think the state you apply the year before (less madness here!)

I have heard similar rumours, e.g. in some schools they allocate 2 places per month and women have early elective cs on the first day of the month in order to secure a place. If your baby is born end of Oct then forget it. This is putting me off already but I want an insurance in case the local schools change (I know how much difference a headteacher can make for example!)

This is madness though isn't it?

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Original poster
susie100 · 23/10/2007 16:53

Good point about hedging - basically I am part of the problem I see that! I imagine with selective schools it would be different, no waiting lists they just meet the kids and decide who they think has the most potential? Not sure I want to go down this route. Can't believe I am worrying about this already.

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foxystein · 23/10/2007 17:01

in answer to your question, yes, it is madness. but frankly if you've just had a baby and this is what you have to worry about then things must be going well.

Am very curious as to where you live though [fishing? me?)

Good luck to you, ther's no harm in it!

Original poster
susie100 · 23/10/2007 17:46

Hello, I am in Clapham (there you are...revealed!)
Yes they are so far (well apart from leaky painful boobs, sore bits, no sleep etc). No honestly I am so happy, dd is a dream. Both my parents are teachers and MIL is headmistress of a primary school (which she has turned around in 2 yrs, was in special measures, now excellent) so I suppose it is always a topic of conversation in my family and at the forefront of my mind!

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juuule · 23/10/2007 17:54

I have always put my dc name on the waiting list sometime in their first week/fortnight. Part of my to-do list once the baby is born along with registering the birth. That way I know that it's done and I won't forget.

Hulababy · 23/10/2007 17:55

DDs name went on the waiting lists at a year old, following the advice at the time - but we are not down South, so the pressure is not on like it is down there. Also we didn't have to pay any deposit or registration fee in order to this.

Lulumama · 23/10/2007 17:55

where we are, you cannot put your child's name down until they are two and have to give birth cert and proof of address, to ensure you are in the catchment. that is state school , however.
schools can change a lot in the time it takes your children to get to age 4 /5 when they are actually starting

foxystein · 23/10/2007 20:36

LOL Susie, I suspected as much - just down the road then

blueshoes · 23/10/2007 20:53

dcs on wait list for nursery places from 3 months pregnancy. On wait list for private schools from birth. Cost me a fortune in non-refundable registration fees.

SueW · 23/10/2007 21:09

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at OP's request.

Original poster
susie100 · 24/10/2007 12:02

Thank you for all your replies, does look as though thingks can change quickly so fingers crossed. I will be more organised next time and will be calling from my childbirth bed! We have already missed the boat on sessional morning nursery, I was meant to do that preggers as well but it just felt like tempting fate to me! Argh.

It does seem that London is a bit crazier than other places, exp SW London. Was Clapham a dead giveaway then? There are at least lots of schools to choose from although some do seem totally over the top!

Does anyone have experience of the GPDST schools e.g Putney or Wimbledon High? They don't have a waiting list as they based on assessment?
Right must stop worrying about this now but thanks for your replies!

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janinlondon · 24/10/2007 12:56

There is at least one lovely Mumsnetter who has a daughter at a GDST school near to you...she may pop up at some point, or they may be on half term hols. From what I hear they are very pleased with the school. Admission based on assessment is the norm in most of the Dulwich schools, which are also quite close to you. Did you want a non-selective school particularly?

Original poster
susie100 · 24/10/2007 13:38

Thanks janinlondon, I am happy to go down the selective route if she is bright and would thrive in that environment but don't want her to be under pressure at such a young age. Having said that - if she is anything like me, I only really thrived once put into a more high pressure environment and had been coasting and bored and therefore performing quite averagely until then!

I will also look at Dulwich as quite near as you say.
Thanks for all your help ladies!

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ellehcim · 24/10/2007 13:41

It is madness. We went to view a school for DS1 when DS2 was a week old (the only time DH could get the time off to come with me!) and were amazed when they told us we needed to register DS2 at the same time to ensure he got in!

foxystein · 24/10/2007 21:38

You do know that this thread will create a wave of panic and we will ALL start putting names down, don't you?

Original poster
susie100 · 25/10/2007 09:15

This has all the makings of a chick lit book - there was one written about getting children into prep schools in New York and it was hysterical (and scarily believable now) How I (then childless)scoffed at it all

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