primary admissions - waiting lists

[shelley72]

have been offered our third choice. not unexpected that we didnt get into our top 2 schools, but still feel disappointed none the less, though i realise it could be a lot worse.

anyway i was just wondering how you go about getting on the waiting list just in case everyone decides to refuse their offers. Are we automatically put on the waiting list for the top 2 we didnt get, or do we need to do something now? One was a community school, and one VA if that helps.

Thanks

We had a letter from the local authority which we had to return and we had to specify we wanted to stay on the waiting list for our preferred school. I would check with your council and see what the procedure is locally.

Michelle

Many LAs will automatically put you on the waiting list for your higher preferences but some do not. Contact them and check.

Thank you, will contact them on Monday. We are very lucky to get our third choice, so we are grateful, we just feel that our first choice would suit DS a lot better, so prepared to take the chance on the waiting list (will obviously be accepting our offer in the meantime).

However since offers are out, lots of friends are saying 'oh thats not a good school, they didnt treat x very well when he had SEN diagnosed', or 'ive heard bad things about that school' etc etc which has made me worry and doubt my judgement. Have also heard a rumour that the head may be leaving and I really liked the head at our visit. Should I worry? As i say, it wasnt our first choice but by no means the worst school we visited (in terms of how the school felt, how the children were, ofsted and SATs). Do you always get this with schools and parents/friends?

Its all very scary, and I am finding it all very stressful for some reason. I just want to try my best for my DS..

I wouldn't listen to rumors of random people - they tend to just get escalated from minor incidents. I would listen to parents of current children, but again I think you need to chat to lots to get a balanced view. There are always people who dislike something about every school, no matter how good it is. Also bad reputations are hard to change.

i totally agree with sunnyday, i was told by other parents the nightmare stories about the school we were allocated, its not the worse school in the area but it is a rather large infants and juniors, but thank god i did not listen, the school is lovely they have tended to dds disability needs perfectly infact they cant do enough so dont be but off xx

thank you, i am going to try and arrange another visit to the school just to put my mind at rest and also start going to their events - summer fayre etc. i know its all subjective but parents seem very adamant that their DCs school is the best - and that all others are therefore crap. i am sure that every school has good bits, and some bits which you dont really like. not that theres much to be done now, i think we have accepted that this is the school where DS will eventually go. have more chance of a lottery win and going private than getting our other 2 choices i think!

sunnyday its today you find out isnt it? hope you get the school you want and that your wine rack has survived the weekend

I find out 6pm online!!!! - i've relaxed slightly over the weekend (who am i kidding ) therefore i only needed 1 extra trip to the wine shop!

good luck, i feel nervous for you too! hope you get what you want..