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Original poster

Changed my mind.

50 replies

Ella978 · 12/04/2023 07:57

Good Morning,

I wondered if anyone had any experience or insight regarding my situation.
my daughter is due to start primary school in September. I applied for her places on time. A few weeks ago I changed my mind ( my fault I know) I now want her to go to the school her older sibling goes to rather than the closet. I contacted admissions and they said it was too late and nothing they could do and I would have to try again after offer day. I have repeated emailed asking how ti go about this and what is the best way to contact them, however I have still had no response.
I have seen online there’s an option for a late application, would I be best filling in one for those for him, or just waiting for offer day and then contacting then again and hoping someone responds to me this time? I have no experience with this. Thank you

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Littlebluebird123 · 12/04/2023 07:59

In our area you are sent the offer with information about how to accept. It will also give information about how to appeal if you haven't got the school you want.

RNBrie · 12/04/2023 08:06

I don't think I'd submit a late application now, it might override your original application leaving you on a waiting list for every school. You can check that with your local authority though.

I would wait for national offer day and accept the place you have been offered. Then contact your local authority and ask to be placed on the waiting list for your preferred school. As you have a sibling you'll be high on the waiting list. Then keep your fingers crossed that you get offered a place before Sept.

Original poster
Ella978 · 12/04/2023 08:07

Thank you. It’s the same here. This is what I don’t quite understand, as it won’t really be an appeal of that makes sense. As no doubt I will get the place I put down for my first choice 😥I just don’t want that one now so more of a change. I have asked these questions they just haven’t responded at the moment.

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Original poster
Ella978 · 12/04/2023 08:10

RNBrie · 12/04/2023 08:06

I don't think I'd submit a late application now, it might override your original application leaving you on a waiting list for every school. You can check that with your local authority though.

I would wait for national offer day and accept the place you have been offered. Then contact your local authority and ask to be placed on the waiting list for your preferred school. As you have a sibling you'll be high on the waiting list. Then keep your fingers crossed that you get offered a place before Sept.

Ok thank you, that does make sense. I have all ready asked these questions, they just have responded currently. I’ll be straight on the phone to them Monday morning as I seek to get no where via email with them.

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Soproudoflionesses · 12/04/2023 08:16

Can't you just contact the school you want and ask to go on their waiting list?

Drywhitefruitycidergin · 12/04/2023 08:17

I think i would do the same as @RNBrie - but are you sure it's not a case of last minute jitters/fear of the unknown? Following a sibling is the natural choice so you must have had concrete & strong reasons to actively choose the other school 3 months ago.

Soproudoflionesses · 12/04/2023 08:17

And they probs won't be checking the emails during the holidays

DrHousecuredme · 12/04/2023 08:19

Ok thank you, that does make sense. I have all ready asked these questions, they just have responded currently. I’ll be straight on the phone to them Monday morning as I seek to get no where via email with

Ok firstly, don't the offers come out on Monday 17th April? So those poor people, please stop hassling with them as they'll be absolutely snowed under and it isn't actually their fault that you've changed your mind.
I think the process is that you get offered and accept your school place (always accept so you have it there as a back up) then apply to go on your preferred school's waiting list. You will get information about how to do this in with your offer because your request will be handled in exactly the same way as people who have been given their second and third choices etc and aren't happy.
There isn't a separate category for people who got their first choice and changed their mind.
The good news is that you should be high on the waiting list due to sibling priority (as long as that's in their admission criteria)

Original poster
Ella978 · 12/04/2023 08:21

Soproudoflionesses · 12/04/2023 08:16

Can't you just contact the school you want and ask to go on their waiting list?

I have contacted the school. They have said they currently have 29 first place choice on their list but the best thing to do was contact admissions.

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TeenDivided · 12/04/2023 08:23

Wait for offers day.
Accept the offered place.
Ask to go on the waiting list for preferred school.
Hold on, as a sibling link you may be high up any waiting list.
Probably not worth appealing if it would be an Infant Class Size appeal.

MrsRickAstley · 12/04/2023 08:24

You won't win an ICS appeal and definitely not on the grounds you've cited.

Waiting list is way to go.

TeenDivided · 12/04/2023 08:24

First place choices don't mean anything. A load of people may have put them second choice and not get into their first choice so get that school.

Original poster
Ella978 · 12/04/2023 08:24

Drywhitefruitycidergin · 12/04/2023 08:17

I think i would do the same as @RNBrie - but are you sure it's not a case of last minute jitters/fear of the unknown? Following a sibling is the natural choice so you must have had concrete & strong reasons to actively choose the other school 3 months ago.

Hes all ready in the preschool of the school I applied for as it is closer. However after certain recent events I have witnessed at the school, it just doesn’t seem as good of a school as his siblings go to (one’s leaving this year for secondary) so I just want her to have the same. I will wait until offer day. Thank you

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prh47bridge · 12/04/2023 08:25

Whether the school was your first choice or not has no bearing on your position on the waiting list.

You can't do anything immediately. The initial allocations are coming out in a few days. If they allow you to change your preferences at this stage (which is unlikely), you will definitely be treated as a late applicant. That would be a disaster. You would be left with no school at all or a place at an unpopular school that could be some distance from home.

The admissions team gave you good advice. Wait until offers are out then contact them about going on the waiting list for the school you want.

Original poster
Ella978 · 12/04/2023 08:28

TeenDivided · 12/04/2023 08:23

Wait for offers day.
Accept the offered place.
Ask to go on the waiting list for preferred school.
Hold on, as a sibling link you may be high up any waiting list.
Probably not worth appealing if it would be an Infant Class Size appeal.

Thank you. I just wanted to clarify that’s the best way to go about it.

I have contacted admissions a month ago regarding this, asking which was the best way to go about it, then responded once saying it’s too late to change it but when I followed twice only - not hassling them - asking what was the next step, they have not responded, I have left it as this at the moment as I know they’ll be very busy. But obviously as it’s getting so close now, it’s in the forefront of my mind so I thought I’d ask the question here.

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BendingSpoons · 12/04/2023 08:29

You will need to be patient here. Admissions are extremely busy right now. Accept your place and then find out how to get in the waiting list. You are unlikely to get much response on Monday. Once you are on the waiting list, you have a reasonable chance of a place, assuming siblings are prioritised.

Original poster
Ella978 · 12/04/2023 08:31

BendingSpoons · 12/04/2023 08:29

You will need to be patient here. Admissions are extremely busy right now. Accept your place and then find out how to get in the waiting list. You are unlikely to get much response on Monday. Once you are on the waiting list, you have a reasonable chance of a place, assuming siblings are prioritised.

Do you go in the waiting list via admissions or directly with the school? Yes siblings are the top priority for in year admissions it says on the school website.

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Onemoremakesthree · 12/04/2023 08:41

Can you email or call again, with the hope of speaking to someone different?
I changed my priority order a few weeks ago, the council were really understanding, said it happens often. It might that it's so close to offer day that's causing the issue for you, or it could just be your councils policy. I'd keep trying and in the meantime ask the school if they expect to be oversubscribed

BendingSpoons · 12/04/2023 08:45

Ella978 · 12/04/2023 08:31

Do you go in the waiting list via admissions or directly with the school? Yes siblings are the top priority for in year admissions it says on the school website.

Show quote history

It varies by school type. I would expect it is probably the LA at this point in the admissions cycle. Hopefully an expert can answer soon!

Original poster
Ella978 · 12/04/2023 08:45

Thank you! I’ll try again. I just don’t want to pester them too much.
School have said they have 29 so in theory there’s a place, but not necessarily as someone else may not get their first place elsewhere. Thank you for the info. I’ve emailed the head again, letting him know the situation. He’s always been keen for me to send my younger child to their school but I don’t think they have much do to with the process.

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Onemoremakesthree · 12/04/2023 08:46

Sorry, didn't read full thread before posting 🤦🏼‍♀️
I wonder if if possible, after offer day but before September, to apply for a transfer rather than appeal

TeenDivided · 12/04/2023 08:48

It isn't the 'first choices' who get the places, it is those highest up the admissions criteria who don't have a place at a higher up school.
Knowing that 29 people put the school first choice doesn't really tell you much about the likelihood of there being a space after admissions day.

Lougle · 12/04/2023 08:49

I think I can see your logic. The school has 29 top preference applications. You want to make it your top preference and take place 30. But it doesn't work like that.

All applications are treated as if they are top preference for all schools on the form. Then the LA is notified of which children the school can accept. If an applicant could be accepted by more than one school, they get accepted by their highest preference, then their name is removed from the other lists, and the applications for those schools get moved up the list. This continues until all places are allocated. It's like a huge game of allocations and (orderly) shuffles.

You missed the deadline for changes, so you will take a lower priority than someone who placed your preferred school second or third on their list, or even someone who didn't name your preferred school but wasn't accepted at any of their preferences.

Once allocations are made, the scramble of waiting lists and rejection of places will begin, at which point you can join the scrum.

Accept the place at the school you're offered. Join the waiting list for your new preferred school, and also appeal (but know that it's around a 0.4% success rate).

BendingSpoons · 12/04/2023 08:49

Onemoremakesthree · 12/04/2023 08:41

Can you email or call again, with the hope of speaking to someone different?
I changed my priority order a few weeks ago, the council were really understanding, said it happens often. It might that it's so close to offer day that's causing the issue for you, or it could just be your councils policy. I'd keep trying and in the meantime ask the school if they expect to be oversubscribed

This is very rare! Normally changing preferences would mean they would treat it as a late applicant. Some LAs allow changes for good reason until early Feb, but past that is very unlikely.

They won't accept a change now. That would mean a whole shifting around of places e.g. OPs child takes a place at further school, so child no. 30 doesn't have a space, so they need a place at a different school, pushing someone else out and so on. Of course the school may not be full, in which case there will be a place to offer soon

Original poster
Ella978 · 12/04/2023 08:57

I did actually put the school I want her at as my third choice at the time. I’m not sure if that’ll go in my favour or not.
move emailed the head telling him I wasn’t able to change my preferences (he was the one who suggested I tried that) and I will email admissions once more, asking if they’ll clarify how I go about getting him on a waiting list after school places have been offered. Thank you

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