Waiting List Question

[jaded]

My DD is on the waiting list for another school. There is a place coming up in this school for year one. Do schools wait until the end of August to offer places? Or am I right in thinking they may already have offered the place to someone else?

The first problem is to know whether the person has actualy been able to communciate to the school formally that their child is leaving and thus a place has been created. Obviously this much more difficult during the summer break.

Until the 1st September the responsibility for all admissions other than in reception year and year 7 for secondary schools rests with the school but from the 1st September the responsibility lies with the LA. So I would be very tempted to ensure that the LA is aware that you are looking for a year 1 place at the school. You need to formally ask for a place at the school and then wait and see what happens.

I suspect that you may well find that nothing happens till September, given that the LA has 30 school days to arrange any appeal. You are obviously not at that stage yet, you are simply asking for a school place.

Thank you - I will get in touch with the LEA and hopefully we'll be lucky!

Do you know whereabouts your daughter is on the waiting list? Presumably, unless she is top of the list, one space coming up is only going to change your position rather than gain you a place?

The last time I checked (a year ago)she was number 15 but people have moved out of the area since then and I am also hoping that the people ahead of her are so happy with their schools they won't want the place!!! It sounds like a long shot, I know, but it's worth a try.

Hmm, sadly as people move out, people will also move in and if they fit the admissions criteria more closely, they could end up pushing your daughter down the list further. If you can find anyone at the school, it might be better to phone and find out where she is currently.

My positive angle on the story. My Ds didn't get a place at the same school as his two siblings. He was originally number 11 on the waiting list. Two months later, he was number 7. A week after I'd phoned the LEA and found out he was number 7 on the waiting list, he got offered a place at the school. One place had become available, and all of the six people who were ahead of him on the list declined the place, so we got it.

In our case, where he was on the waiting list bore no relation to the chance he had of getting a place.

Everyone who applied to the school automatically got put on the waiting list. Obviously the majority of them were happy enough with the school they did get offered, even though it was probably their second or third choice. They remain on the waiting list whether they want to or not. When a space comes up, the LEA phone up everyone on the list, starting with number 1, until somebody says yes please.

Thanks, Celery - that is really encouraging. I know I shouldn't get my hopes up but you just never know! I suppose I won't really know until end of August or beginning of September.