8th on waiting list!

[mamawldn]

How much movement happens first year of primary?
Do we think 8th place has any chance of a place, I already know 1 child who isnt going to take their place at said school.
Thanks

How many children/classes per year?
How transient is the population in the area?

You'd have no chance at my DD's 1-form entry primary where there's very little movement (2 children in DD's class in 5 years).

However, larger schools in certain parts of the country will have a much more transient population, particularly certain parts of London, Birmingham.

You could phone the school to ask how much movement they typically have.

Whereabouts? In eg London there’s a lot of movement, but in a village school it’s probably less likely.

Even in a 4 form entry, you'd need 2 children per class to move on before you got a place. I think it's unlikely.

I think it is unlikely 8 will leave but it is worth noting that once you actually start school, people may decide they are happy with their allocated school and don't want to move their child. So you might get lucky if a space comes up and the 7 ahead of you say no.

DD is Reception in a suburban 3 form entry school. 2 children (twins) moved abroad this year.

Not sure on class sizes but its a large inner city London school. Saying that is very over subscribed.
When I called and asked about movememt the lady said she didn't really know and couldn't say 🙄
I've got my fingers crossed!
Thanks for everyones help 💕

DD was 42nd at this point of the calendar on the waiting list for the London primary we were after - and in an exceptionally high birth year. We got a place 3 weeks after the start of the Autumn Term.

If you are happy to move after the start of term, there's a definite chance. Make sure you reregister after 31st August with the school waiting list. At the moment they will have everyone who put the school higher than their allocation on the list, after 31/8, it will just be people that actively want that school.

Was a total PITA having to buy a new set of uniform, but worth it.

Doubt you will get the coveted place... but stranger things have happened!

Could you go private?

My daughter is in reception and we've had 3 leave and 3 start over the whole year, so you'd not have any luck being 8th on the list here.

@Heckythump1

My daughter is in reception and we've had 3 leave and 3 start over the whole year, so you'd not have any luck being 8th on the list here.

Can I be nosey and ask how many classes there are for your child’s reception year? Thanks.

There are two classes, 30 children in each class :)

@Heckythump1

There are two classes, 30 children in each class :)

Thank you. That’s interesting to know.

Single class entry here. 2 children left after the second term in reception. One was replaced. The other space is still open, despite the school being oversubscribed, presumably because the other people on the waiting list are now happy with the school they ended up at. So if a place comes up it may be that none of the other 7 want it!

@welshweasel why would the other children not want the place?

My son's class has had 3 leave and three took those places. Recently a child with serious additional needs left to attend a specialist school. So PAN of 30 - now at 29.

[quote DingDongThongs]@welshweasel why would the other children not want the place?

My son's class has had 3 leave and three took those places. Recently a child with serious additional needs left to attend a specialist school. So PAN of 30 - now at 29.[/quote]
Presumably because they have now spent two terms in another school and the parents have decided not to uproot them as they are settled/have organised wrap around care/realised the allocated school was better than expected?

oh

Our village primary had 17 in reception and 4 left in the first 4 years. I had assumed turnover would be much lower.. 1 moved house, 2 fell out with the head teacher and 1 was really unwell. Schools seem much more transient now than when I was at school..
So assuming 2 form entry you could hope for 2-4 to leave in the first year and maybe 2-3 won't take up their places so you have a chance but will need luck too!

Depends if the school has 5 form entry or 1 form entry ... the former you have more luck with

Is the area also known for private primary? Some people may do a switch late in the game if they are on waitlists there as well

Don't forget to factor in that waiting lists are fluid. You might be 8th now but another child might move into the area, live closer than you and go higher up the list than you..... We were first on a wait list for a while.....we saw 2 kids take 'our place in the school....we had a sibling there too at the time.....don't bank on a spot opening up. (We finally got a place on appeal.)

If you are talking reception there’s a chance some kids will take another school or have a private school lined up and haven’t decided.

When’s the cut off for accepting a place?

There could be parents on other waiting lists, waiting for others to move/accept offers, especially if you have a church school near by.

The cut off for cancelling a private school place penalty free is Easter, but in the scheme of things paying for a term in lieu of notice might still be worth it if a state place came up. You may find if places come up after September others will decline having settled elsewhere. Otherwise if your dc is not five until later in the year you could hold off starting at allocated school in the hope a place comes up from wl, but there is a risk nothing changes or you move down rather than up in the meantime.

I’m talking 8 years ago... but popular inner London school ... two form entry.... fifth on list and offered place ... end of year 2 (nearly 3 years)

But school place pressure in our area far less now than then

@mamawldn

Not sure on class sizes but its a large inner city London school. Saying that is very over subscribed. When I called and asked about movememt the lady said she didn't really know and couldn't say 🙄 I've got my fingers crossed! Thanks for everyones help 💕

If you’re willing to stick out the wait, in inner London, yes you’ll get a place. People move a lot. But it might be year 1 or 2 etc.

Could be reception, though. The people above you will likely settle into another school and not go back on the waiting list (you have to keep going back on the list, I believe).

I say this as a former teacher in an inner London primary! There was a lot of movement.

Firstly thanks so much for everyone's input its really helpful to hear other peoples journeys and definitely gives me some hope!
I called up the admissions end of this week and I was told he is now 3rd on the list which is great news. I'm really hoping for that little bit of extra movement during the summer and through out reception 🤞

I also was going to do an appeal but after reading a lot of posts on here I really dont think I have enough grounds, especially seeing some people who have siblings in the school and still dont win an appeal 🤷🏼‍♀️ I think I'll stick to waiting out the waiting list and hope that 3 children go elsewhere!