Grammar school waiting list. So sick of all this.....

[HotCrossPenguin]

Oh where to start? My DD passed her 11 plus, we got notification of that at the beginning of the month. We didn't put the Grammar school as our first choice as here you only get one offer of a secondary school place, and we weren't sure that she'd pass the 11 plus, so we put the next best school, a Catholic Secondary, as our first choice to secure her place there. DD is at a Catholic primary. The other secondaries in our area are bad, so we felt we had to secure her place in the Catrholic secondary.

Another Mum I know who's DD is in yr 8 at the Grammar, told me that if we are to get offers, it should be soon. She's phoned me this morning, her DD has had an offer of a place. (From the waiting list.) We haven't received a letter. I am feeling very . I know perhaps there's still a chance, as our mail can be erratic and our letter (if there is one) might turn up on Monday. But I feel that I am having to resign myself to the fact that my DD isn't going to be offered a place.

I don't know, I guess I'd kind of pinned my hopes on being made an offer soon. I suppose all the letters went out together, so I shouldn't get my hopes up for a letter being delivered on Monday.

Also, a lot of parents have been grilling me about where we're sending DD, have we put her on the waiting list etc. and that's been pissing me off, it's like, "go away, stop asking me questions, it's not your business." I had a Mum come up to me the other day and say to my DD "I hear you're going to the Grammar school."
DD is out today with relatives so haven't told her anything yet.

The Mum I know said not to lose faith, there's still a chance we'll be offered a place, as the waiting list changes all the time, and even from those being made offers now, some might turn it down.

Just feel very today. The Catholic secondary is a good school, and we're lucky we've got the place there, but I was secretly really hoping the grammar would make us an offer soon.

It's been awful really, since before she sat the 11 plus. All the preparation, the exam, the waiting to hear if she's passed, the waiting list, not knowing what's going to happen etc and now this.

Always turn to MN at these times just felt the need to offload.

It is all such a lottery isn't it? And it is so much in the public domain which also makes it difficult. But if she passed and you're ont he waiting list then there will still be some changes before the end of the summer term I expect.

Have you received a letter confirming her place at your first choice school?

Yes, she's definately got a place at the first choice school. That's our saviour really, her best friend was turned down. We're not sure why, all the boxes are ticked, as it were, she's Catholic, Holy Communion done, all that. It may be that she wasn't taken to church enough, as thinking back, there was a lot of times that the girl and her parents weren't there. There is still such an emphasis on all that, especially with our Priest, he's very much a stickler for attendance. DD's best friend's Mum has been saying that the Priest made a mistake by not signing their form, but I don't know the exact ins and outs of it.
The girl is now having to go to the catchment secondary which is really poor.

It's great that my DD passed the 11 plus, a real acheivement for her, and it means that
she'll go to secondary in top streams, and I know all isn't completely lost with the grammar, she will eventually be offered a place as she's passed the exam, but if she's at the other school then, we will then have the dilemma of whether or not to move her.

i only ask because in our borough if you apply for the grammar as your second choice you will not get in - likewise for the good catholic secondary. There are too many people putting it down as their first choice for second choices to stand a chance.

Yes, it's the same here. If you put Grammar second, you won't get an automatic place, but can go on the waiting list. We knew that DD wouldn't automatically get a place, as we hadn't put it first choice, but were also led to believe by one source and another, that we would have a good chance of a place with the waiting list. As I said earlier, it's not over yet, and DD may still be offered a place. All we can do is sit tight and wait.

Our Catholic secondary won't even consider second choice applications. They were very oversubscribed again this year.

Where do you live, dustystar, out of interest?

I really wouldn't stress about it. You say that the Catholic school is very good. Presumably many of her friends from her Catholic primary will be there too. It's not as though the alternative to the grammar is some sink school. If she gets a place at the grammar (which you admit knowing was a risk when putting it second) all well and good, but, if not, she'll be going to a good school, in the top streams and with her friends. It's a win-win situation, really, isn't it?

Where are you, geographically?

Poole

That's interesting, dustystar, I'm in Bournemouth. From what you said about the Catholic secondary in your area, I had a feeling we might be in similar necks of the wood, as the schools sounded similar.

Yes, you're right Freckle, and I do feel a bit better about things now. Well, there's nothing I can do is there? I am glad that we have the Catholic secondary for DD to go to, as it is a good school, only I've had concerns as there are some behaviour issues I've heard about which concern me. DH and I weren't actually that impressed with the open evening. One example was there was a lad in one of the classrooms and a teacher there too, and the lad was larking about, talking about some girl he's 'dumped' and generally behaving not very appropriately when there were prospective new children and parents there. The teacher in the room didn't tell him to stop being silly or anything. But then again, the boy may have been told off about it the following day.

Also I've heard horror stories about behaviour on the school bus which DD will have to take as I don't drive, and anyway, I have to get DS's to primary school, and often, you can't get to the secondary in the time you have after primary drop off. Some parents though have said that it depends on what route you're on, and I think our route may be okay.

Would just much prefer the grammar for reasons of locality (it's much closer to home) and from an education point of view too. However, we're staying on the waiting list so we'll see what happens.

At least we're not in the position DD's best friend is, having been turned down by the Catholic school, and being given a place at the failing catchment secondary. The behaviour there is awful, the teaching is too. It's just failed it's ofsted for the second time, so I'm told.

BRILLIANT NEWS!!!!!!!!!

Had a letter this morning offering DD a place at the Grammar school!
We are over the moon!

And there was me feeling all weekend because others had received their letters on Saturday, and we hadn't had one, so were thinking that she hadn't got in!!

Rock on!!

That's great news. How does dd feel about it?

Really pleased, but not quite as excited as me!

Brilliant news. I'm really chuffed for you!

Thanks! Still feeling like I've won the Lottery! In fact, this is probably better!