7th on waiting list - is this a nonstarter to get a place?

[Fkrkrodps]

Hello. I realise this question is very ‘how long is a piece of string’, so I probably shouldn’t even be asking. For those who have experience of seeing movement with admissions, do you think there’s any chance of getting a reception place before September if you’re 7th on the waiting list? The school has 120 pupils in reception. I live in London, if that makes any difference. Thank you.

In same position except trying to get into year 5 in a very popular school. 9th on the list but only 45 in the year - okay, I can see the writing on the wall for me but you’ll be fine, if not this year then the next.

Only needs 1-2children per class to leave. What's local mobility like? Lots of families moving around creates more school movement. But remember you can go down not up...

(In Yr4 my DD was the first child admitted in her year group since Reception, and she was admitted on Appeal bringing the group size to 61. In most years they had several children leave and start every year...)

Thanks for your responses. Stupidly I don’t know how mobile this area is. I hadn’t thought about going down on the list... I think I’ll phone in a month to see where I am.

Good luck Coronawireless!

If the school has 120 pupils in reception and you are 7th on the waiting list then there is a chance, especially given it is in the London area, that there will be a reasonable amount of movement due to people moving. As always nothing is guaranteed and the best bet is to ask the school how much movement there is. You should always check to just make sure that you are on the waiting list for the preferred school.

Thank you admission. That’s a good point about asking the school. I did try to get an idea from Admissions at the Council, but understandably they said they couldn’t make any predictions.

How transient is the local population? At my local school, you'd easily get in as 7th on the list. Not necessarily by September, but by the end of the autumn half term definitely. Lots of people just fail to show up in September, having moved, but they don't tent to bother to tell the school or LA ahead of time, so it takes us a few weeks to get them off roll.

*tend

Thank you for your response, puntastic. I’m not sure how transient the population is, really. I don’t think it’s more so than elsewhere in London. That’s useful to know about your school. I know it doesn’t mean the same will happen here, but it shows it’s possible. That’s really bad about people just failing to turn up.

I’ll call in a month and then at the end of July when hopefully appeals should be over. I think that will give a clearer idea.

It depends a lot where you are and what the cohort of the school is like, but in most parts of London I’d expect 7 families to change their minds/move/get another offer they prefer before September. And if it’s often applied to as a back up for people who will also have opted for private then I’d say it’s even more likely. My children have both got waiting places at a very over subscribed 3 form entry primary near us (so 90 places) having initially been in the 30s on the waiting list. We are in zone 2 and a lot of people apply but then go for their private option, or end up moving away.

If it's helpful you should be able to get some information from the council on historic waiting list admissions using a freedom of information request. I did this when trying to find out how likely it was that DD would get an in-year reception place after we moved house, it was actually really reassuring as there was far more movement than I would have expected.

I’d say definitely a chance. My DD was 10th on the waiting list on offer day last year and was 2nd when school started. This was a 2-form entry primary (also London).

I'd say you are definitely in with a chance, especially given 4 form entry.
DC1 (now well into secondary so a while ago) was 5th on the waiting list for reception with only 1 form entry. They got a place in July to start reception in September.

Thank you very much for all your responses. I also was thinking that some people may opt to go private and may have not yet made a decision or been offered a place by a private school. I am a bit concerned though that we may get moved down the list as families move into the area. We don’t live that close to the school.

The FOI is a good idea, thank you, I’ll consider that.

Your stories of waiting lists are all very promising. I realise that it may well end up working out very differently in my case, but it seems there’s definitely hope. If it makes a difference, I’m in zone 4 in London. If we are lucky enough to be offered a place, I really hope it’s before September as I would feel extremely conflicted about moving my child after they’d started at the other school.

Thanks again. I will update when I’ve got news, in case it’s of interest/ helps anyone in the future.

Just in case this is of interest to anyone now or in the future, my child has been offered a place at the school where she was 7th on the waiting list. Thanks to everyone who posted and best of luck to those on waiting lists/ awaiting outcomes of appeals.

Excellent news @Fkrkrodps ! That was quick!

@NotBot

Excellent news *@Fkrkrodps* ! That was quick!

Thank you! I was very shocked. I had been planning to phone in the next week or two to see where I was on the list... and was fully prepared to be told I’d dropped further down.

I would say there was a good chance. We were 3rd in a school with 160 places, also in London.

Oh how lovely for your child @Fkrkrodps !
I do think London is particularly mobile this year and/or people are being slow to apply (even late) due to covid.

I think you'll be OK, especially if you're in area where some of the applicants never really intended to accept because they're going private.

Oh dear. I really thought I'd read the thread too...but I was right

This is great to read we where 15th on waiting list when offers where sent out on the 16th of April for. 90 places reception class then stayed at 15th on the 3rd of May for first offers being sent out then today 8th of May we are 7th so hopefully there hope for us 🤞