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Original poster

Secondary school admissions help

51 replies

SpringBloomSunshine · 26/02/2026 23:10

Hi,

I applied for a grammar school place in Birmingham back in October as my son got a really good score in his 11+ exam and was confident he would get his first choice school since he is PP, lives in catchment and achieved above the qualifying score.

I was contacted 27 October for proof of address and replied on 28 as requested along with extra supporting evidence. I didn’t hear anything back from admissions, despite chasing whether everything was in hand in December and again January.

By February I was getting more anxious so sent a third email chasing it and again heard nothing until i finally phoned only to be told my application wasn’t processed because they never received my proof of address before the deadline of 31 October.

I have been relentlessly trying to resolve this because I sent everything by email as requested on 28 October. They said they didn’t receive it until December which is absurd.

I’ve since been emailed to say the application will be processed as a “late application” and on 2nd March, next week, I won’t receive any offers. This has practically shattered my world after my son prepared for the test for 2 years. It was a lot of hard work and emotional turmoil. The chances of him getting a space at grammar now is slim because we’ve been told he will go onto a waiting list for each of the grammar schools we applied for.

I have escalated it to a formal complaint with the council and am yet to receive a response from their “stage 1” process.

Can anyone suggest what else I can do or give me any reassurance about what might happen. I’ve been at my wits end for weeks trying to push for it to be processed as “on time” and to get offers made on 2 March, but since the formal complaint takes 15 days for a reply, I’m now at the realisation that the application won’t be processed as “on time” despite it being no fault of mine.

OP posts:
Original poster
SpringBloomSunshine · 02/03/2026 16:26

Thank you so much @prh47bridge I hope I can share some good news soon

OP posts:
Original poster
SpringBloomSunshine · 03/03/2026 19:27

Received the formal complaint reply today following their investigation- they are maintaining that no proof of address was received until December 5. This means my application will be processed as “late”

My first 4 choices were all grammar schools - Does this mean I will only get a space through going on a waiting list? @prh47bridge are you able to help explain the process of late applications and waiting lists?

My question is will all the late applications be processed before they allocate waiting list spaces?

OP posts:
prh47bridge · 03/03/2026 20:11

You can still get a place by appealing. You should do so. If you have good evidence that you provided your proof of address by the deadline, you have a good case.

You may also get a place through the waiting list, but don't wait for that.

You should not be at the back of the waiting list just because they class your application as late, but I am aware of one LA that has found a way round this (Stockport). Once they process your application, you should be in the waiting list along with all the on time applicants. Your position on the waiting list will be determined by the school's admission criteria so, if you would have got a place if they had treated your application as on time, you should be at or near the head of the list.

prh47bridge · 03/03/2026 20:14

Question - you say you sent an email in December. Did that include a copy of your proof of address?

LIZS · 03/03/2026 20:17

Do you have any evidence of the date you submitted the supplementary information?

Original poster
SpringBloomSunshine · 03/03/2026 20:34

@prh47bridge I didn’t specifically include the proof of address in my December email - the December email was just me chasing up what was happening and if they needed anything further from me.

However because it was sent from my same email address I used in October to send the proof of address and was sent to the same email address on their side, my previous thread was visible - so this is how I’m assuming they received the proof of address attachments. But this only further strengthens my case that they could see my email underneath in the thread from October 28 because that’s where the attachments were. I didn’t resend them in December

yes @LIZS i have proof of all the emails sent

OP posts:
Nushi21 · 03/03/2026 20:40

SpringBloomSunshine · 03/03/2026 20:34

@prh47bridge I didn’t specifically include the proof of address in my December email - the December email was just me chasing up what was happening and if they needed anything further from me.

However because it was sent from my same email address I used in October to send the proof of address and was sent to the same email address on their side, my previous thread was visible - so this is how I’m assuming they received the proof of address attachments. But this only further strengthens my case that they could see my email underneath in the thread from October 28 because that’s where the attachments were. I didn’t resend them in December

yes @LIZS i have proof of all the emails sent

Oh his I’m crossing my fingers for you. You and your dc must be stressing out so much. Whatever is meant for you will find it’s way to you.

prh47bridge · 03/03/2026 20:43

SpringBloomSunshine · 03/03/2026 20:34

@prh47bridge I didn’t specifically include the proof of address in my December email - the December email was just me chasing up what was happening and if they needed anything further from me.

However because it was sent from my same email address I used in October to send the proof of address and was sent to the same email address on their side, my previous thread was visible - so this is how I’m assuming they received the proof of address attachments. But this only further strengthens my case that they could see my email underneath in the thread from October 28 because that’s where the attachments were. I didn’t resend them in December

yes @LIZS i have proof of all the emails sent

If you forwarded the original email it would include the attachments. If you replied to it, the attachments would have been missing. I think it may be useful to ask the LA to send you a printout of the December email where they claim you provided proof of address, asking them also to print the email headers. That may help us understand what has happened. Note that they have to answer any reasonable question you ask to help you prepare for your appeal.

Original poster
SpringBloomSunshine · 03/03/2026 21:04

@prh47bridge Do you think I should escalate this to stage 2 of the complaint given that im not satisfied with the outcome of stage 1? Or will that delay my application being processed?

I have categorical proof of the proof of address being sent on 28 October. How they can say it was never received is beyond me.

OP posts:
Bufftailed · 03/03/2026 21:08

OP as well as everything you are doing I would escalate to your local Councillor and MP to take up the case. This might expedite an answer. Set it out for them with evidence.

prh47bridge · 03/03/2026 21:14

You could escalate (which should not delay your application being processed) but you should also ask them how to appeal and get an appeal in now. That would appear to be your best chance of getting this resolved.

I have a guess as to what has happened here, but we'll know more if you get the printout I mentioned.

Original poster
SpringBloomSunshine · 03/03/2026 21:31

Can I appeal @prh47bridge even if no schools have been offered yet? My application hasn’t even been looked at yet/not processed so I’ve not yet received any offers

OP posts:
Original poster
SpringBloomSunshine · 03/03/2026 21:32

I will ask them for the email you’ve mentioned @prh47bridge

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minipie · 03/03/2026 21:45

Yes I was wondering the same re the emails. If you look at your Dec email in your sent items, you can see the Oct email below it, but are the attachments to the Oct email clickable in the Dec version ? Or does it just say there was an attachment but it’s not actually possible to see or open it? (If the latter you can say they MUST have received the oct email as that’s the only way they could have got the proof…)

Notahappybun · 03/03/2026 21:51

We applied to 5 schools and my son was not accepted into any, even the ones my postcode has priority. They have allocated him a school with progress below national average. What is my best option to refuse or simply not respond as when you refuse they are asking for what is your arrange plan??? And we dont have any right now!!!

LIZS · 03/03/2026 21:59

Notahappybun · 03/03/2026 21:51

We applied to 5 schools and my son was not accepted into any, even the ones my postcode has priority. They have allocated him a school with progress below national average. What is my best option to refuse or simply not respond as when you refuse they are asking for what is your arrange plan??? And we dont have any right now!!!

Turning it down absolves LA of offering an alternative. Better to accept and go on waiting lists for any schools you would accept, even if not your original preference. Your letter should tell you why he missed out.

prh47bridge · 03/03/2026 23:48

SpringBloomSunshine · 03/03/2026 21:31

Can I appeal @prh47bridge even if no schools have been offered yet? My application hasn’t even been looked at yet/not processed so I’ve not yet received any offers

I know you haven't had any offers yet, nor is there any visibility as to when you might receive an offer. It may be that your LA will say you have to wait, but I would ring them tomorrow and ask if you can appeal for your preferred school now.

Original poster
SpringBloomSunshine · 25/03/2026 22:29

Wanted to update anyone who was invested in my story, or those who read the whole thread this far, as it’s only fair. We finally got an offer at our first preference school yesterday, the day after the waiting lists were produced. Overjoyed is an understatement. It took an immense amount of patience and what should have been a straight route became full of twists and turns due to no fault of ours. But all’s well that ends well :)

Special thanks to @prh47bridge for your advice throughout and everyone else who took the time to write

OP posts:
Original poster
SpringBloomSunshine · 25/03/2026 22:33

PlainSkyr · 27/02/2026 23:00

Apart from this do consider that even as a late applicant going via Waitlist your son might get a place given his score + proximity as his place in the WL will be determined by the score (if that’s the admissions criteria) or proximity (if that’s the criteria). His position might be high enough for him to get in with a little movement in WL. This might not even go to appeal. However it’s not something you can control but you could hope for.

My DD got her place in autumn term at grammar via WL.

This is exactly what happened. We got a place through the waiting list after there was some movement, and it didn’t get to the stage of having to go through appeal.

OP posts:
MollyButton · 26/03/2026 05:55

Congratulations! Especially for staying sane. And all the best for your son at his new school.

regularobin · 26/03/2026 06:07

Wow what a journey, gulp. The school really did mess up.

So please your son has the school place you had hoped for.

regularobin · 26/03/2026 06:07

*pleased

Original poster
SpringBloomSunshine · 26/03/2026 08:56

MollyButton · 26/03/2026 05:55

Congratulations! Especially for staying sane. And all the best for your son at his new school.

Thank you so much. I was on the verge on a breakdown many a time! The lesson learnt through all of this and what I would say to anyone who goes through anything remotely similar, is don’t assume your email with proof of address (or any documents the council request from you) has reached them - you must follow up with a phone call the next day to check they have received it.

I made the mistake of assuming the email had been sent because I didn’t get a bounce back or sending failure notice. What happened to that email I’ll never know - whether it was received and deleted by mistake or if it genuinely never reached their inbox..

Anyway, it’s sorted now and I’m so pleased we didn’t have to go through the appeal because that would have been stressful - they showed us the figures for the appeal success rate and it is VERY low. Nevertheless I do believe we had a strong case for gaining a place through appeal but we would have had to speak infront of a panel of 3 people independent to the school and go against the headmaster of the school who would give his piece against why we shouldn’t get the place. Sounds awful!

OP posts:
minipie · 26/03/2026 11:18

Oh I’m so pleased for you OP! Thank goodness, clearly the right result.

gldd · 26/03/2026 11:36

Fantastic - what a great outcome and what a relief it must be! Now enjoy your summer :-)

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