please help re allocations

[ALovelyBunchOfCoconuts]

I have changed my mind and want DD to go to the third choice school. we stood no chance getting into our first choice but have been offered second choice but have changed my mind about that one.

How do i choose the third choice? Decline the offer of the second choice?

I feel so nervous. Ive ruined it by putting that school on now I dont want it!

I too have changed my mind! Whilst mine is still a theoretical situation (we find out today - eek!) I now want 2nd instead of 1st choice and did a thread about this a while ago.

I was told:

Accept the place you are given - it is a good fallback and ensures you end up with nothing/something you really don't want.

Get on the waiting list of the school you would now prefer.

When we looked around schools we were told (by the headmaster of the school I now want first) that things change even after allocations as people change their minds about what they want, move away, may go private etc. and I am hoping that this will give us a good chance of getting into 2nd choice (of course our dream will be to get it today).

If you go on the list you can find out what place on the list you are at. I have been told that the list is held in the same order as the allocations when places are initially given.

Good luck!

How do I go on the waiting list?

Phone your LEA and ask them if there are any places left (it may have some?) or if not ask to go on the waiting list. If they give you any problems with that start a thread with that in the title - there are some fantastic experts on here who will tell you what to do then!

Also it may be worth also contacting the school aswell but definitely make sure you get on a formal list.

thanks. the number is in my phone ready for when they open at 8am!

Im so upset with myself :(

Lovelybunch - I have answered something like this in a previous thread. I changed my mind (secondary VA school), went on the waiting list but did 'phone the LA as well as the school. I also followed it up with an email asking them to confirm that they had received my request. They were not able to tell me straight away where I was on the waiting list but after 2 weeks (I think?) was. Because I would have been accepted at our 2nd choice, was 1st on the list. I did, however, accept the 1st choice school until I had a firm offer from the LA. I also asked the LA informally, how much movement there is generally and they said approx 300 children would move about. I know this depends on the size of the authority etc. - I am outer London.