Disastrous primary admissions

[kafka]

Ds has not got into any of his four preferences and we are a bit up and down about it all.

Anyone else been through this who is able to offer some words of reassurance.

Kafka

We're in south west London, in one of the worst-hit boroughs. The school is big at the moment and there's just about enough space for it not to feel crowded. Adding an extra class would be disastrous. It could well ruin the school over the years.

Becks, any news on waiting lists? CEA@islington (or whatever they're called) have now drawn up the waiting lists, so you can find out your odds.

We are 15th on the list for our first, so that is probably not going to happen -- apparently cutoff was 500and something metres (for a 2-form entry school!) and we are 700 and something metres. But some schools have much more movement than Y.

2000 4 year olds with no place!

Hi Frogs - we are currently number six on the list (30 places as one form entry) - last time I spoke to them they still hadn't had about six replies but if people don't reply by the cut off date they don't take their place away but they do chase them so hopefully some of them will drop out! We have also decided that we will appeal even though we know we probably won't win! The cut of for this primary school was 330metres and we are about 605m away - amazing really as a year ago the school wasn't over subscribed - it got a great ofsted so word has spread fast! Fingers crossed for you too!

Becks -- no. 6 is good, I reckon, for that area. There'll be plenty of parents who are too crap to reply, or move away and don't bother to tell the school. Hopefully you'll get in before September, but I'd put good money on you getting a place before Christmas even if you have to start at another school first.

Our chances are pretty low, as there's very little movement on our first choice school waiting list -- much more stable and expensive area, and loads of people move (or rent) into the area specifically for that school. But we're happy with our 2nd choice, so I'm not really that fussed.

Good luck with it -- keep us updated!

My DCs school in inner london is very over-subscribed, but there is lots of movement in the waiting list over the summer and in the first few weeks of term. At some point the lists are handed to the school to manage and it seems to work if you keep going in and checking where you are on the list and showing how keen you are. When a place does come up they want to offer it to someone who is definitely going to turn up.

Just to update you all, ds has been offered a place at a school near to us that we would be pleased to send him to, it was not on our list but I am hugely relieved that he is going to somewhere that will give him opportunities. We will stay on the waiting list for our community school but ditch the appeal which I felt was doomed anyway.

I do hope all others on here are coping and thanks for the wonderful mumsnet support.

Kafka

Kafka, that's great news. Primary admissions in London are a nightmare.

excellent news Kafka. We are now awaiting our appeal date!