Henry Maynard School, Walthamstow - admissions question

[SydneyB]

We've had an offer accepted on a house that is only just within the catchment for Maynard given this years distance figure of 0.39. Apparently there were 60 siblings this year out of a 120 intake. 60 last year as well! Is it right that the distance they give out is before the final places have been allocated rather than the final position once everyone has taken up their place or come off the waiting list? The problem we have is that if we didn't get into Maynard we wouldn't be within the catchment for any other school in the area. Unless we suddenly see the light which I doubt very much. Minded to take that risk but wondered if anyone on here had any thoughts that might help us in this decision.

Hi there,
I live in Waltham Forest and have just been allocated a place at a school which we are 0.5 miles from. It has an intake of 90.
Last year the distance was shown as about 0.3 I think.

I wonder if the intake is shown as the distance for the first 60/90 kids regardless of whether they put it 1st, 2nd or 3rd. So once those who have got a higher ranked school are taken out more are accepted - but this distance is not stated.

I'm not sure tbh, but it would be worth a call to the admissions people. They have always been quite friendly.

Just ask them if you would have been offered a place there in the previous years.

Sorry if this is garbled - am lying in bed not feeling great.

That's really helpful! Yes, I'd wondered that too. Glad you got your choice of school, was it your first? Hope you feel better..

It was my second, but I knew I wouldn't get my first. So I am pleased.

Hope it all works out for you and good luck with the move.

The distance given should be that for the initial 120 offers not including later admissions from the waiting list or through appeals. It gives you some idea of your chances of getting admitted but there are, of course, no guarantees short of buying a house opposite the school gate and hoping there aren't 120 siblings!

Careerminded - It is the distance for the places actually offered. The process is that they figure out the priority order for those applying for this school then remove any who have got places at higher preference schools. The first 90 (in your case) pupils on the list will be offered places, none of whom have places at higher preference schools. The distance is for the pupil who is last on that list of 90 offers.

Thanks prh47bridge - that does make more sense. Whole thing is so fraught. But short of introducing a crazy lottery system I guess there's no other way of allocating places. I suppose at some point you just have to cross your fingers and hope there is no way there could possibly be 60 more siblings next year..
Careerminded - v. pleased for you! How long have you been in WF? It's taken us a while to decide to move up there having been in Hackney for years but the possibility of a garden we can't afford in Hackney has swung it for us!

prh47bridge - thanks for that. It seems odd that the distance quoted seems much less than the distance of people I know were offered a place in the first wave of offers IYSWIM? I don't profess to know how it works, I am just relieved that after all the worry my DC is going to a school I am happy with!

SydneyB - We have been here just over two years. We are in E11 though. We like it, although it was never where I expected to be!

Careerminded - The distance can change fairly dramatically from year to year depending on how many children apply, where they live and so on. The 0.3 miles you quote for your school is the figure from last year. This year it sounds like it will be 0.5 miles or more. Of course, there may be siblings or other children in higher categories according to the admission criteria who live further away than the quoted distance.

My experience (presently living in Hackney) is that the distances have consistently shrunk year on year. Here's hoping it's not the same in Waltham Forest...
One theory is that because the housing market has been so static for the last couple of years people who might have moved out of London for their kids school years have just stayed. Or maybe they just need to build a few more schools in London.