How can I find out how long the wait list is??

[scrappydappydoo]

DD1 (pfb before you ask) is due to start reception in September, we're moving in June. Neither the admissions people or the school will tell me if the local infant school is oversubscribed or how long the wait list is. All they will say is that I have to wait until I have an address - so can fill in an out of rounds admission form and then they will tell me where she is on the list. I realise that wait lists are fluid things that change all the time but surely they have an idea if my daughter stands a chance of getting in or if its a hopeless case?
(yes I am stressing but that is what I'm like )

I do not think they will be able to tell you as your address will give you your number in the queue for each school you apply for iykwim.

Have a look to see if the council has an admission brochure on line - that might give you some information

Ah well I'll just have to be on the ball the with out of rounds admission form and wait it out (don't think I'll have any fingernails left). Its not made easier by the fact all dd's preschool friends have just started doing visits to their new schools and dd is feeling a bit left out..

I'm VERY surprised they won't tell you if the school is oversubscribed. You are entitled to that information and they must know it. If there is a place available at the school you have a legal right to apply for it now (even though you haven't moved yet) and they have to give you the place. However, there is a good chance that the local school will be full. I'm afraid at this stage it is quite likely that you will end up at the nearest unpopular school.

Hormonalmum is right. The waiting list is sorted using the same criteria as those used for admissions so they won't know where you are on the waiting list until you can tell them your address.

I was in the same situation as you a couple of years ago. We weren't able to get our youngest into the local school. Thankfully we eventually managed to get him in despite the LA saying it was an infant class size case but it took two appeals and two referrals to the Local Government Ombudsman to prove that they were wrong. Hope it is a bit easier for you!

Bloke I spoke to said that they did not have that information - might try ringing back. Should I speak to school or admissions office. There is only one infant school in the village - the next nearest are 3 or 4 miles away so even though they are good schools I would rather walk round the corner. I feel I'm on one of those nerve test things . On the criteria we are very near the school so maybe...
If you don't mind me asking why were the LA wrong about infant class size?

That's ridiculous. Of course the LA have that information. The school should have it as well if it is a faith school.

If nothing else, being near the school will get you high up on the waiting list.

In my case the LA were wrong about ICS because they based it on a decision which had not yet been taken. They argued that the school would need to reduce the number of classes for budget reasons and that this would make it an ICS case. However, the LA can't base an ICS case on something that might happen. As it turned out the school has not reduced the number of classes, so the LA were completely wrong.

I just phoned Surrey and they gave me the latest numbers for total preferences, 1st preferences, number of siblings, number related to distance, how far the last few were away, number on waiting list and distance from school of the first few on the waiting list. Basically everything.

They do know and it is not their information to keep secret.

We are in a similar situation - DD starts recpetino in September and we are moving probably around June. I have phoned the local authority and they have been able to tell me if there are any places and schools have also been helpful.

I am assuming that the places have been allocated where you are moving to - where we are now the places haven't yet been allocated or at least the parents haven't been told yet. If that is the case then they couldn't really let you know yet as it would be unfair on the parents living there now.

There is no way I could have managed if I didn't have a vague idea of spaces - I also have DS in Year 1 at the moment and trying to find a place to live where two children can go to the same school would be impossible without an idea of available spaces. If places have been allocated I am surprised at schools not letting you know - all the schools I have visited have been happy to tell me whether or not they have space.

I was just wondering if you a) got an inarticulate bloke, and b) they haen't got back all the replies or processed them all yet, so aren't sure. I'd try phoning again and trying to speak to someone else.
Good luck!

In our LA, parents have until the end of the week to accept or decline places, so it's entirely possible that they can't tell you the exact position yet.

However, our authority have published two documents which show the numbers allocated to each school compared to the number they are able to admit, and the oversubscription criteria which were used - for example they may have admitted all siblings and catchment but not all out of catchment.

You can see our LA's documents right at the bottom of this page, which will give you an idea of the kind of information they give -try searching your own council's website for a similar document.

mummytime, I think you're right I got the wrong bloke.
I'll try ringing later and see how far I get.

Just to update those who are on the edge of their seats worrying about my childs education ;)
I spoke to LA who again said they didn't know anything BUT I did manage to speak to lovely lady at the school who told me all the info I needed. She's no. 11 on the list at the moment and will jump up when we move so I'm feeling a lot more hopeful.

If the LA says they do not then they are telling you porkies. It is an A-B=C level of maths and they will have either a computer log or an Excel spreadsheet type thing which will be constantly updated.

Apparently the people who answer the phones don't have access to the computer system and if I wanted he could call the school and ask them for me..
I sent the form in 3 weeks ago but have had no acknowledgement back but they've clearly processed it as her name is on the waiting list - I suppose I could ring round the other schools to see if she has actually been allocated a place so much for a centralised process

In your situation the LA probably won't allocate you a place until they've got proof of your new address.

No they don't allocate til we actaully move but I do expect them to know if she's in the system and on a wait list.

They are telling you a load of rubbish. The person answering the phone should be on the computer system and able to tell you where your application is up to. There is no way that the LA is going to ring the school to ask them what the situation is - the LA is the admission authority and is responsible for the admissions process not the school!

The fact that the school can give you information shows that the application has been processed. You might well be further down any waiting list because of the address at the moment but I would actually email the LA and ask for confirmation of when they will accept you are moving, because the way they are operating at the moment they probably will do nothing until you have moved in, when it will probably be when you can prove that you have been allocated the address.

Thanks!