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Original poster

Anyone else got butterflies waiting for primary school allocation??

52 replies

laurasmiles · 17/03/2009 18:11

Hi there, I live in Essex and news of our Primary school allocation for our first child, comes through on 1st April.
Everytime I think of it my stomach churns! I had no idea I would be so anxious to hear and nervous of the result. All the schools in our area are either very good or perfectly acceptable, but I think it's the process of picking three - it makes you feel anything less just won't do.
I'm not a great school fan and aginsied over the decision process ('cos I'm lousy at decision making on this kind of thing )
I'm just looking for a few others out there who can relate and are chewing their fingernails!!
Or are you all just cool as cucumbers - very if you are. tell me what your secret is!!

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Original poster
laurasmiles · 17/03/2009 18:12

Sorry I meant 'agonised' terrible typing...

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drivinmecrazy · 17/03/2009 18:15

I am also in essex, and am waiting for DD2 place. She is a sibling but also out of catchment so should be OK but not 100%. I took a gamble and only put down one school because I was told this was the best option. Slightly jittery about that now. DD1's school is one of the most over subscribed here so fingers crossed. Can't imagine anything worse that having to get 2 DDs to 2 different schools every day, bad enough to get DD2 to nursery where it doesn't really matter if she's a few minutes late. Good luck!

MrsMattie · 17/03/2009 18:15

I'm a bit nervous, yeh.

Live in London and won't find out until 16th April . The school we really want is the one attached to the nursery DS attends. It's the nearest school to us, small and friendly - we love it. But, it's only one form entry and not sure how many siblings are applying, so...fingers crossed. The other school he is likely to get in to if he doesn't get into our first choice is nice, too, and not too far away, but it's huge - 3 form entry - and we're worried about my son settling in to such a big place. He has some behavioural issues (although not yet got a SEN statement) and the nursery have been fabulous, so really do hope he gets in to our first choice...

eandh · 17/03/2009 18:20

I'm with you although am in kent and find out on 31st march as did it online so will get an email after 4 o clock

Although my laptop going to be fixed tomorrow so will be offline for a few days. I have a rubbish school about 2mins from where we live but did not put it on the form and am praying dd1 n ot allocated a place there. First choice is a village schoolvery close by and dd goes to preschool there although it isnt a feeder school so no automatic entry, I am chair of tehpeschool and dd2 due to start there in Sept but I'll have to resign and change dd2 preschool place if dd1 doesnt get in, I wouldnt mindf any of the 3 schools I asked for but I know I wont get the 3rd choice as its always very over subscribed. It seems ages away though and I just want to know

eandh · 17/03/2009 18:23

mrs mattie thats our dilema 1st choice school only takes 30 children and there are at least 17 applying from our preschool but I wonder how many from other preschools/nurserys/children who do not attend any setting yet are applying at least once I get dd1 in dd2will be fine and get a place

EldonAve · 17/03/2009 18:29

We have applied in 2 diff boroughs with offers out 20 March & 25 April

OracleInaCoracle · 17/03/2009 18:31

we have just been notified of ds's place. he didnt get into our 1st choice (which is where he goes to pre-school now) but has got into 2nd choice which is closer to pils, so probably more practical.

We are in Telford and there aren't many good schools around here, 1st choice is the best and we missed the catchment by 4 houses! 2nd choice isn't bad, but we are disappointed that he will have to leave the friends he's made. sad because he is an only and doesnt make friends that easily.

Original poster
laurasmiles · 17/03/2009 19:44

So nice to hear from you all! I can't beleive it's time for him to go to school come September - I wish we lived somewhere where they started a bit later. But he loves nursery and is always asking to go so is probably ready. Either that or he hates it at home!!
Yes, we didn't put our catchment school down as we weren't taken with the Juniors...Infants was nice but I don't want to worry about moving him half way through as not all the other shcools are infant and juniors split.
Our first choice is a Catholic primary, (dp is Catholic and I liked it because it's small and is in walking distance and I think they look after every child and really help them at whatever level they are at. But the other two - well, we don't have a hope of getting into really. So if we don't get first choice we are at the mercy of Essex County Council!

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Original poster
laurasmiles · 17/03/2009 20:30

EldonAve - you're going to have a bit of a cliffhange month then!

lissielou sorry to hear you didn't get a first choice. I keep saying to myself that once they are in any school, most children do fine....
I went to three primary and three secondary schools as we moved a lot and they all had plus and minus points.

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EldonAve · 18/03/2009 12:40

I think we will have to accept one borough and then see what the second offers
We are hoping to go private but that also involves some waiting lists

OracleInaCoracle · 18/03/2009 13:35

laurasmiles, we could get into another school which is merging with our 1st choice, but at the mo its not very good and we are worried about the merger affecting class sizes.

Original poster
laurasmiles · 18/03/2009 15:45

It can be a minefield can't it. Still, I can see myself up at midnight on 1t April to read the awaited email and we'll take it from there. Good luck everyone and let us know how you got on!

Thanks for your replies, they make me feel less alone!!

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saladodger · 18/03/2009 21:25

I too am in Essex and waiting for the news. My local (very good) school is a one minute walk down the road so I am hoping DD will get in without problems (distance from the school follows looked after children on the allocation priorities list). Will feel much more settled once I have the confirmation tho.

nancy75 · 18/03/2009 21:28

i got my dd's today - got my first choice school, we do live about 20 feet away from the door but you never know, bloomin post man didnt come until nearly 1pm - my nerves were frayed! good luck, hope you all get the ones you want.

JiminyCricket · 18/03/2009 21:31

hmm, EandH I know most people can rely on sibling place, but rules have changed in some areas..my dd s school (originally our third choice school, so not our local one, which is over subscribed) was classified as rural school (SINCE dd1 started last year) so dd2 only had 4th priority..luckily we have got a place but what a stress..

lulu2 · 18/03/2009 21:37

i felt exactly the same this time last year for dd's school place. I pounced on the postman when the letter came and then kissed him as we got our 1st choice!

Original poster
laurasmiles · 19/03/2009 15:11

Just to think it's such a methodical process (and no doubt a boring task!), going through everyone's application forms at the council and allocating places. Yet, it causes all these waves of emotions!!

Congrats to you nancy75 and lulu2 - let's hope we join you soon!

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EldonAve · 20/03/2009 07:24

It's mostly electronic here

Anyway we have been offered a duff school by borough 1.

PoppetPie · 20/03/2009 12:17

We got our first choice today and I've had a big grin plastered on my face ever since! I was on tenterhooks as we live about 80m within last years 400m catchment so I couldn't let myself take it for granted we'd get in!

KathrynAustin · 20/03/2009 14:27

We got our first choice today at 8am too, but then attended a playgroup where there were a few tearful Mums. Crazy intake tis year - we're 0.2 miles from the school and we are the cut-off point! I guess that's London for you....

Good luck everyone who is waiting, I know what you're going through!

Original poster
laurasmiles · 20/03/2009 18:46

EldonAve Things have got to get better!! At least you have some other options coming up. I'll keep my fingers and toes crossed for you.

PoppetPie and KathrynAustin - congratulations!! It must be a lovely feeling knowing it's all on track. But I guess you can't grin too hard in front of those in tears!! It's not easy saying - 'we're okay' I imagine.....

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EldonAve · 20/03/2009 19:29

It's not that bad
A few people I know didn't get any offers at all

Original poster
laurasmiles · 20/03/2009 19:40

Geez - this is my greatest fear....

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PheasantPlucker · 20/03/2009 19:50

At 8am this morning I was shaking so much I couldn't type the name and password into the LEA site to get the results!!!! And then when I got them I had to keep double checking, as it seemed too good to be true, as dd2 had got in to our 1st choice school. Am still feeling quite elated about it. And very tired as I woke up and 3.14am and couldn't get back to sleep due to that churning feeling....

SENSESofTOUCH · 20/03/2009 23:28

I am feeling a bit anxious, we are out of the catchment area, but my son is already there... However the school has just had a good ofsted, and we were told in the newsletter that it was going to be oversubscribed for next year, so I am feeling rather... eek.