In year application waiting list chances

[MayaRas]

Hello mums. I applied to an outstanding rated primary school for my DD following our flat move in April 26. My initial position on the waiting list was number 23. I called the council in June and position in the waiting list moved up to 13. I called again this week and position in the waiting list is now number 3. I'm obviously very pleased with being number 3 on the waiting list! Called the school and class size is still at 30 kids. My DD will be going to Y2 in September.

Wanted advice for in year application chances in central London for potential places in September? Am I right to be optimistic about being number 3 on the waiting list? Also want to mention the school is in a densely populated area and there are 3 primary schools within a mile radius however this is the only school with an Outstanding Ofsted Report. Thanks mums

You never know some families move last minute or send their DC to private school. Also nothing wrong with checking up on the status in case emails or letters get mislaid etc. Good luck. If your DC doesn’t get their place in time for Sept a place could open up during the school year. The Primary school they’re allocated to for now probably isn’t as bad as Ofsted or rumours make out. Don’t forget if your DC has great teachers, support and a class of great DC to make friends with then that’s win whatever school. Your DC could go to the best school ever yet the DC in their class are just not friend material. All the teachers will be excellent at whichever school tbh so you won’t have to worry so much about getting a worse education.

If it's an area of high movement you have a chance, but I would push it to the back of your mind now and focus all your efforts over the summer on preparing your child to start at their allocated school as that's a far more likely reality. You could move up the list, but you could also be bumped down by people moving into the area who meet the admissions criteria at a higher point than you. What is it that you particularly like about this school, compared to your allocated one? I wouldn't base your choice on Ofsted's opinion only, as they look for very different things to what parents, children and staff want out of a school (especially at primary age). Apologies if your reasons for wanting this school are more profound than that, but from your post I'm only getting "we want this school because it's currently graded outstanding" vibes. There's far more to a school that it's current Ofsted grading. I'm sure your child will be perfectly happy at their allocated school, if a place in the other school does not come up.

Needing 3 out of 30 to move is 10% of the class. Unless you're in an area where there is a lot of movement, I wouldn't put your chance very high. Sorry.

Thanks mum's for your advice. I chose this school in particular because the Ofsted Report highlighted the teachers focused approach to every child. In my current school, class size is also 30 and my child is a bit shy and the louder kids get the teachers attention more unfortunately. Many times I've spoken to the teacher and feel like she's struggling to control the class and also there's no teaching assistant for support. I'm hopeful something may come up in the new school after September but realize nothing is guaranteed

Check whether you have to rrapply for the Waiting List in September. Some schools do clear their lists after a length of time.

Some boroughs need you to reapply every August and so waiting lists can be lower initially and build up over the year. It sounds like a place or two appeared end of term and they offered it out, then multiple families decided they were happy and settled where they were and turned it down.

There is huge movement in london, and rolls are falling, but you only need one person to move in closer than you for you to be slid right down the list again. One of my children waited for years and never got into their siblings school. I wouldn't count on it. But it may happen. If your child is unhappy maybe visit some other schools with spaces to see if they feel a better fit. You'll get more from that then an ofsted report.

I don't think a place became available in the school because the applications are still managed by Westminster Council. My position moved up the waiting list as parents on the waiting list from Sept 2025 were contacted in June 2026 to check if they still wish to remain on the waiting list and the majority of them said No. This is the information I was given by the council as to why my position has moved up the waiting list.
I've been to the nearby schools and unfortunately I didn't feel like they were a good for my daughter this is why I kept her in the old school and only have 1 active primary school application.