Understanding waiting list chances

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Hi all

My daughter just got her 3rd choice for Reception. Our situation is a bit complex - we are currently home educating my son (year 2) because we were unhappy with his school, while he is on the waiting list for two other schools (the first and second choices for Reception we made for our daughter...).

We had been hoping she would get in to either 1st or 2nd, thus giving him sibling priority in Sep if nothing else changed by then. That hasn't happened; the 3rd choice school that she has been offered (and yes, we've accepted at this point/for the time being) is one which is brand new and doesn't even have a year 2, so would guarantee different schools for the two of them, and reduces our chances of getting DS into any school by Sep (we are keen not to keep going with HE after this year if possible).

I've had a response from the council for our 1st choice - we'll know waiting list positions from 5th May, but the cutoff at this stage was 0.24 miles. Last year it was 0.32. We are at about 0.43 so I am guessing won't be near the top of the list (at least initially), and it doesn't seem like a good sign to have reduced so much.

Council for our 2nd choice haven't replied yet, no doubt will be similar... I have read and do understand that there is typically lots of waiting list movement for weeks and even months after the initial comms so I have some hope, but both are pretty popular schools.

Meanwhile, DS is 3rd on the (in-year/year 2) waiting list for 1st choice school but that position hasn't changed since the beginning of the school year (and 13th on waiting list for 2nd choice school). We have some hope of benefiting from 'state til 8' mentality at the end of the academic year but seems unlikely anything will get resolved before then :/

(I should probably have used school names above - I know people search by school name sometimes, I certainly do!, and if anyone has just got into one of these it would be really interesting to hear from you - we're in northern Islington/bordering Haringey, 1st choice Coleridge, 2nd choice Ashmount, 3rd choice Whitehall Park school. We are now second-guessing our putting Whitehall Park as 3rd rather than lower down, we maybe will ask for waiting list slots at Hargrave Park and maybe others).

Sorry for what you're going through. Is it a 'get it off your chest' or was there a question?

Good question Penguins :p. As I got to late in the post I realised that the only questions really would be for people who know about the schools in scope - I probably understand the basics of how things will work generally well enough. So treat it as a getting it off my chest post!

Which school were you unhappy with for your son? Would it potentially be a better bet for your daughter?

Are both your children on the waiting list for Hargrave Park? That would seem your best bet of getting both children into a school together in a timely fashion. But if you wanted that you could have put Hargrave Park at the top of your list.

(don't know schools, this is a general answer)
Is your son currently Y2? Because that means that next year he will be Year 3 and your chances of getting in on appeal are much higher (no infants class size rule). If you can get him into one of your preferred schools then he will grant sibling priority to your youngest ...

Also worth checking if sibling priority counts upwards - in some places it will only benefit younger children, so your DD getting into the school wouldn't make a jot of difference to her brother.

Thanks both. GreenEggs, Hargrave Park was lower on our list, OH does not love it and I think we'll hope for other options to come through first. I'd be ok with it personally. It's Duncombe that didn't go well for us and is off the list for either child.

Redsky, you've given me another uncertainty :o he is currently y2, yes.

Well you definitely won't get Coleridge. It was a remote chance at anything over 0.4. You need to find a school for your son first in my opinion and then move your daughter. Have you tried Muswell Hill Schools? I know Our Lady of Muswell has places in Year 2 and they have to take non Catholics if there are no Catholic applicants. St Martin of Porres has spaces in Year 2 too. Ash mount was tight this year too. You could try St Joseph's in Highgate as well.

Thanks bamboo. I'd have thought that 3rd on y2 waiting list would have a reasonable chance by Sep? 3 leavers at the end of y2 for a big school... In which case might get DD in off sibling priority. The Muswell Hill schools are driving distance which I'd love to avoid, but definitely better than another year of HE.

Are you hoping for movement over the summer because of 'state til 8'? If it isn't an area for that then that much movement sounds optimistic

Well if there's been no movement since Sept I wouldn't be overly hopeful. Sorry to be harsh. I mean you never know but be realistic and start tapping every option. You could walk to St Joseph's. My dd was 3rd in list in reception, dropped to 7th and after received a place in Year 3. It's been an exhausting process. You have my every sympathy. Dunc is a horrible hole, Pooles Park too. Hargreaves a bit wobbly IMO so honestly start looking elsewhere. You'd be surprised at some of the schools that have spaces.

You should also go on the waiting list for St Michaels Highgate, unless you have an objection to a C of E school. yes, of course you will be behind church attenders, but they do have cases of people offered places there deciding to go private after accepting a place so there can be some movement on that waiting list. Right up to the last minute, in September... You should also go on the waiting list for Highgate Primary.

Some state til 8 in Muswell Hill, definitely some in St Michael's Highgate...

Yes to the above, you need to widen your options.

Thanks all. Food for thought.