Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Education

Join the discussion on our Education forum.

Original poster

Secondary school admission

40 replies

R4444 · 13/03/2025 09:59

Hi! We didn’t get in any of our choices. We are in 400’s on the waiting list for our preferred secondary school (that was the only school we were in the catchment for according to last year’s allocation) and in 300’s for our 2nd on the day the places were rolled out. People say there are lots of movements till September. Could there be this much movement?

OP posts:
camomileTee · 14/03/2025 12:16

Tiredmumofthreekids · 14/03/2025 10:26

thats correct, still 400 people on the waiting list in the catchment (as per the previous year catchment) sounds quite a lot, I know one of the most desired North London comprehensive schools didnt have such a long waiting list of kids living in the catchment, but OP didnt clarify which area she is in, so im not sure about the situation in other parts of London, it must be some large school with large catchment area id assume?

Show quote history

I'm guessing it's Barnet, as the offered school is there.

Holdonforsummer · 14/03/2025 12:20

R4444 · 13/03/2025 10:23

I guess they have the correct address as the council sent me where we are on the waiting list with the distance which seems about right. We are in 3 and 4 hundreds on the waiting list for our first 3 choices of schools. We were in catchment for the first choice according to last year’s allocation, not in catchment for our 2nd and 3rd choice even though these are the nearest school to us.

The OP has admitted that she was out of catchment for her 2nd and 3rd choices based on last year’s data…. II think that explains her predicament, no? Why would anyone waste two choices on schools they were almost certain not to get?

TickingAlongNicely · 14/03/2025 12:24

Holdonforsummer · 14/03/2025 12:20

The OP has admitted that she was out of catchment for her 2nd and 3rd choices based on last year’s data…. II think that explains her predicament, no? Why would anyone waste two choices on schools they were almost certain not to get?

Show quote history

Most people are normally only close enough to one school to get a place. She said they were her closest schools. Your two closest schools and one you would have got into last year seem extremely sensible choices (if distance is the tie breaker)

camomileTee · 14/03/2025 13:15

Some of the Barnet schools have non-distance criteria, like postcode catchment, feeder schools, aptitude tests, and banding, which might produce strange swings from year to year: https://admin.uat.barnet.gov.uk/sites/default/files/allocationtable2024final-correctedtaa2.pdf

https://admin.uat.barnet.gov.uk/sites/default/files/allocation_table_2024_final-corrected_taa_2.pdf

CarrotParrot · 14/03/2025 15:39

TickingAlongNicely · 14/03/2025 12:24

Most people are normally only close enough to one school to get a place. She said they were her closest schools. Your two closest schools and one you would have got into last year seem extremely sensible choices (if distance is the tie breaker)

Show quote history

If it's London then you have six choices so using two on long shots is very common, as long as you have at least one likely one as a safe bet.

CandidPoet · 14/03/2025 15:50

It's sounds as though all the schools on you list of choices were long shots. Since you did not meet the criteria to be offered a place at any of them, the allocation people are not mind readers and have offered you a place that has a space. It sounds very unlikely that you will get offered a place at any of your preferences so you may need to live with the option given to you.

Araminta1003 · 14/03/2025 19:25

On paper, the school you have been allocated looks decent. Will they let you visit? That is what I would do. You may be pleasantly surprised. As mentioned, you can get yourself on waiting lists all over London now (anything within commuting distance).

Original poster
R4444 · 15/03/2025 08:47

Holdonforsummer I had no other choice but to pick the 2 nearest schools for 2nd and 3rd choices even though we weren’t in their catchment according to last year’s allocation. I skipped the 3rd nearest school as it’s more artistic than academic (it’s always have place). I didn’t even consider, didn’t even know that the 4th nearest school is our 4th nearest as it’s not in our area and not related to our background or beliefs being a Greek Orthodox School, the school we were offered and also always have a place. Than I added our 5th nearest for 4th choice and so on. Our 1st choice the only school that we were in catchment for according to last year’s allocation (and the 2 schools that I mentioned that always have a place, they ‘don’t’ have a catchment ).

OP posts:
camomileTee · 15/03/2025 09:22

R4444 · 15/03/2025 08:47

Holdonforsummer I had no other choice but to pick the 2 nearest schools for 2nd and 3rd choices even though we weren’t in their catchment according to last year’s allocation. I skipped the 3rd nearest school as it’s more artistic than academic (it’s always have place). I didn’t even consider, didn’t even know that the 4th nearest school is our 4th nearest as it’s not in our area and not related to our background or beliefs being a Greek Orthodox School, the school we were offered and also always have a place. Than I added our 5th nearest for 4th choice and so on. Our 1st choice the only school that we were in catchment for according to last year’s allocation (and the 2 schools that I mentioned that always have a place, they ‘don’t’ have a catchment ).

Edited

@R4444 I think St A's has historically had places for exactly the reason you say - it was the first Greek Orthodox school in England, therefore a bit exotic, and people assume it's not for them. However, it is no more religious than the average CE secondary school, and certainly not as religious as many Catholic secondary schools. It's previous head was ecumenical - not sure about the current one, but he doesn't have a Greek name. The academy trust bought into the original spirit of the free school policy to help local parents set up schools they wanted for their areas, which is why they have a small mixed bag of faith and non-faith schools. There is a common approach to high quality education but, unlike some big academy-chains, each school has its own personality.

The other reason it has historically had places is it's lack of a permanent site - but the fab new building will open in September, just in time for you.

Original poster
R4444 · 15/03/2025 10:14

Yes, it’s Barnet

OP posts:
Original poster
R4444 · 15/03/2025 10:56

R4444 · 15/03/2025 08:47

Holdonforsummer I had no other choice but to pick the 2 nearest schools for 2nd and 3rd choices even though we weren’t in their catchment according to last year’s allocation. I skipped the 3rd nearest school as it’s more artistic than academic (it’s always have place). I didn’t even consider, didn’t even know that the 4th nearest school is our 4th nearest as it’s not in our area and not related to our background or beliefs being a Greek Orthodox School, the school we were offered and also always have a place. Than I added our 5th nearest for 4th choice and so on. Our 1st choice the only school that we were in catchment for according to last year’s allocation (and the 2 schools that I mentioned that always have a place, they ‘don’t’ have a catchment ).

Edited

Sorry I mean’t to reply to Candidpot and not Holdonforsummer

OP posts:
R4444 · 15/03/2025 23:44

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

camomileTee · 16/03/2025 07:15

This reply has been deleted

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

Their last distance offered this year is 1.273 miles, so your child's second classmate must meet another criterion: https://www.barnet.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2025-03/Secondary%20Transfer%20-%20How%20places%20were%20allocated%20%28updated%202%29.pdf

The low take-up of their pp places is interesting. Maybe word hasn't got around.

https://www.barnet.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2025-03/Secondary%20Transfer%20-%20How%20places%20were%20allocated%20(updated%202).pdf

GummyNut · 19/03/2025 10:42

Holdonforsummer · 14/03/2025 12:20

The OP has admitted that she was out of catchment for her 2nd and 3rd choices based on last year’s data…. II think that explains her predicament, no? Why would anyone waste two choices on schools they were almost certain not to get?

Show quote history

Catchments change from year to year - usually not that much however it turns out this year was different. For example, for one of our preferences, the catchment area doubled this year (compared with last year).

SneakyScarves · 19/03/2025 11:20

OP, as others have asked, are you sure you’re in the 400s on the waiting list? Given that it’s your closest school that seems impossible. I would call the council to question this. Perhaps there are 400+ people in total on the waiting list for the school but you should be much closer to the top! That said it sounds like your allocated school is good, so hopefully it will work out for your DC either way.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page