Giving up on waitlist place

[Hopeandaprayer]

Are there any success stories of people magically getting into schools just before the September term starts?

My daughter was waitlisted at our preferred 2 schools (NW London) for the 4+ but neither of the lists moved and both have now said they're full for reception.

Is it completely ridiculous to expect any movement at all before the term starts? When are parents expected to pay the first terms fees? I have heard anecdotally of people paying two holding deposits and deciding at a later date but does this even happen? I've also heard of parents using the independent schools as a back up for not getting the state option they wanted.

Am I insane for holding out hope that she may get a reception place? The admissions teams have said that she's very high up on the list given most people have now dropped off waitlists.

No actual experience, but I’d imagine there’ll be a drop at every point that fees become due.

If I was holding a place but undecided, I’d probably choose to keep the place until I had to pay more to keep it, in case my preferences/circumstances changed in the interim period.

I’d also think that there’s a possibility that people will drop the private place if they got a preferred state option (or they would where we live, where it’s not at all hard to enter private education at a later point). We very nearly went through the full process of applying to private until we were satisfied that our house move meant that it was 100% certain we’d get the state school we liked. Before the house move we would have paid deposits etc for a private school place if offered, but declined if we were lucky in the state school applications.

I wouldn’t give up, but don’t pin all your hopes on it either.

People do hold more than one place, though typically at an older age group. People also move before the start date. I wouldn't say you have no hope but have a plan b

I’m in a similar position! We’ve paid the deposit for our second choice school
but I can’t stop hoping that we might somehow get a spot at our number one choice where we are waitlisted. I’m not sure that’s healthy as even the admissions officer said it’s ‘highly unlikely’ there will any movement… Just out of curiosity OP - did you keep in contact with admissions after the classes were filled?

@HopefulMAM I did keep in touch just to reiterate interest.

@Ursulaursula82 I spoke to the admissions officers at both schools who have said that DD is very high up on the list (hopefully this means first or second spot) given other people have taken themselves off the waitlist. Each school takes between 30-40 girls in reception so hopefully with 60-70 girls, at least one will have a change of heart or circumstances?

That makes sense. Sadly, the place we have been waitlisted at has a very small intake (24 spots) and I’m pretty certain nobody will be giving up a spot as the school is very sought after :(((

@HopefulMAM if you want to PM me we can hand hold! Is your school in nw london too?

Things may change after Easter when state places are allocated and a term's notice to cancel is due.

@Hopeandaprayer tried to msg but for whatever reason it’s telling me the username doesn’t exist..?! Yes, in NW London too…

We were state rather than private... but DHs job unexpectedly moved abroad the summer DD started school. We heard July, DH started his new role in August.

Yes, sometimes people relocate or have a change in circumstances such as divorce or unemployment.

Picked this up from another thread, thought useful for this -

generally you would think there may be potential movement :

1. when the state schools offers deadline to accept will pass (15th March) and

2. the 14 days cooling-off period for independent contract lapse

3. just before the summer term begins (from 12th April onward) so people who don't really need a place, will give it up, not to be liable for a whole term of fees

4. towards the end of the summer term or first week of September as people's situation may have changed by then.

Some thoughts anyway ...

@SEdad1980 there may be no official deadline to accept a state place, some areas will assume it is unless told otherwise,. For primary places offer day in England is 17th April.

@SEdad1980 thank you so much for this! Actually very useful. I’ll use this as a timeline to re-contact the schools to see if there has been any movement.

@Hopeandaprayer just note that as LIZS says, the dates above are wrong.

Primary school allocation day in England is Monday April 17.

Some areas will simply assume acceptance of an offer if not told otherwise, and some set a "deadline" around May for acceptance, but they still can't take the place away just because they don't hear by the deadline. They need to try to get into contact with the parents again at that point.

So it's not as cut and dried I'm afraid.

I think a key point may be the start of summer term (which for many of the private schools will be sometime between April 20-24) as the last point in many cases to avoid paying a terms fees if you intend to actually take up a state offer.

London has a highly mobile population and over the summer is a popular time to move, but people will hang on to a place until they exchange contracts.

I know people who got places in hugely over subscribed schools in the first week of term.

@PatriciaHolm, thanks for this. I want mostly to have some points at which to contact admissions departments so that they are aware that we are still interested in a place. It feels brash to keep calling randomly so having some reason to call is a bit more helpful. I am aware that the date for state school results is the 17th, I'm hoping if I contact the independent school that day, we are fresh in their minds if someone drops out.

@EyesOnThePies thanks for this! Really good to know.