Swapping school places

[Chocovore]

Ok so this is the situation for reception intake in September. We have a place for our DS2 at school A (but no longer want it, want school B) and are top of the waiting list for school B. just found out of friend has got school B (but doesn't want it, wants school A and is top of the list for school A). How do we manage the process so that we both get the other one's school place? The council have confirmed in writing this morning we are both top of the waiting lists.

You can't, and rightly so.

You may be top at A, but ninetieth at B. Why should you leapfrog the other eighty-eight children on the B waiting list just because you happen to know someone in catchment?

It's designed that way so nobody could be coerced or paid into giving up their place for another child and although on paper I realise it makes no difference to child #2 on the waiting list who takes the place and bumps them up to #1, it matters hugely to the system.

Well, if you know for absolutely sure that you are both top of waiting lists, I suggest you find out asap the individual who actually does the admin, and both of you go and see him/her and get the changes made on the spot whist you are there.

I wouldn't attempt anything short of that in case there's an admin cock up (or a new arrival on one waiting list) and one of you gets left high and dry.

Horry, I think you've misunderstood.

Yes, that was what I was thinking scaevola. Need to make sure the timing is right otherwise it all goes to pot. I didn't know whether this would trigger an automatic offer of places though or whether it requires one of us to relinquish a place first. Complicated!

I would try going in together and asking if it can be done then and there.

But it can take ages. In one case I know person A had a place at the school but was moving away. Person B was top (exceptional circumstances) of the waiting list. It still took about 10 weeks for person B to be offered after person A had refused the place.

Going in where though? The county council?

If I haven't understood, it's because you haven't given enough information, so explain it to me.

If you are on the waiting list for a school you don't want, why haven't you already come off the list?

If you aren't second on the waiting list for your preferred school, then someone else deserves the place more than you do.

Please tell me what I've missed.

Well the only way is for both to speak to the admission dept at you local authority and see where you stand.

But you need to understand that by giving up you school places at the schools you have there is no way to guarantee that one or either will get a place at the other school as waiting list change all the time.

Horry, op has a place at A but prefers B and is first on waiting list at B.
Friend has place at B but prefers A and is top of waiting list at A.
op wants to give up place at A, meaning friend will get into A from waiting list, freeing up a place at B that op can then fill from waiting list.

But if op gives up place and then admin is slow, another person may move up list in the intervening period, meaning they are then no longer top of list.

Instant place swap is preferable and this is what op was asking about.

Don't know where you could go to. there must be a real person on the end of the phone though.

The problem if you agree to come of the school to let the other one have it is if one of you gets the place and the other one finds that someone has just pipped them to it and they they don't have a place. Could lead to big resentment.

Thanks Galena. Fuck knows what I was reading. Sorry OP.

That's why I think the only safe way is to do it hovering over the shoulder of the person who actually does it, immediately after a check on the waiting lists.

It would be a massive favour - take chocolates, wine and flowers.

And it's only a possibility if you both remain at the top of the respective waiting list. For it is Number 1 on list and only Number 1 on list who will get a relinquished place.

We all have a funny five minutes occasionally, Horry!

Yes, I we will have to make further enquiries as to how to manage it although there doesn't seem to be much movement around here.

No probs, Horry.

Our admissions is at our county council. I think the only way to do it would be for you both to go in, taking written confirmation that you want to give up your places, and explain the situation in the hope they can process it straight away! Goodluck!