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Secondary education

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Original poster

Offers Day 1st March 2012

776 replies

gazzalw · 06/01/2012 18:44

Anyone else feeling like we do about the impending Offers Day?

Not at all a foregone conclusion that DS will get into any of first five choices (all selective, two 11+ passes, one 11+ result due this coming week) so rather up in the air.... Sixth choice is okayish but DS has talked it down to the point that he is now desperately hoping it's not his one and only choice! Otherwise DS is being quite mature about considering that he could end up at any of the schools and is already thinking about which friends from primary school he is likely to stay in touch with etc.....

It all feels a bit as if life is on hold till 1st March.....

OP posts:
Popoozle · 01/03/2012 07:57

Not Birmingham missnevermind, but had my Lichfield e-mail through at 4.11am.

DS2 got his first choice school which, obviously, we're happy about. So sorry you didn't get what you wanted Viva, I had my fingers crossed for your DD Sad.

JenaiMarrHePlaysGuitar · 01/03/2012 08:04

We got our first choice (which I wasn't too worried about tbh). Email arrived at 00:40 this morning!

VivaLeBeaver · 01/03/2012 08:06

I know I should be happy with second choice when its a 65% gcse rate and an outstanding ofsted with a good, local reputation. I think it is a good school, its just not in the top 100 schools in the country (inc public schools) like the first choice is.

I think my main concern is that all the kids at primary school who mess about and walk out the classroom, refuse to work, etc will be at the same secondary school. I was hoping that dd would leave them behind. I'm worried that there might me more disruptive classes, etc but hopefully will be proved wrong.

missnevermind · 01/03/2012 08:09

Came as I was posting on here.
Got our 1st choice. Should have been guaranteed as older brother there, But I was a lot more worried that I thought I would be.

Northernlurker · 01/03/2012 08:09

Viva - a 65% pass rate is excellent and your dd will doubtless do very well at a school like that. You can ring up this morning and find out where you are on the waiting list. I did that with dd1 and found we were in first place! 1 WEEK later we were in.
Slightly nervous here as I only put one school down. Dd1 is already there though and the catchment population is under the intake number AND we live nice and close (though not in catchment - our catchment school is 2 mles away Hmm) so we should be ok.

ChickensHaveNoLips · 01/03/2012 08:11

No email here and can't check allocation until 9am

LittenTree · 01/03/2012 08:15

DS2 is in.

I had no real worries but we do live on the very edge of catchment. He was worried his friends who live a tiny bit closer would get in and he wouldn't but I assured him he was higher up the list as he has a sibling in!

There is no common 'second choice' here. DCs who fail to get in are a bit scattered to the winds as no one will send their DC to the 'other school' if they can help it!

Good luck to everyone else.

saltcod · 01/03/2012 08:15

Wow, we're thrilled to have got our 1st choice school. Really wasn't expecting it as we are out of catchment and it is very popular. Grin

CustardCake · 01/03/2012 08:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

VivaLeBeaver · 01/03/2012 08:18

I've emailed the admissions and asked to be put on a waiting list. But there are figures available showing that i nthe last eight years or so only 2 children have ever turned a place down - it really is that good a school. So I'm not hopeful.

Dunlurking · 01/03/2012 08:19

Dd has got into her brother's grammar school :) Email 10 minutes ago. Good luck all those still waiting.

LittenTree · 01/03/2012 08:20

I was going to say the same thing to Beaver. You don't get results like that with disruptive DC.

It will be fine, it just doesn't feel like it right now and you have a right to a contained 'grieving' period.

65% is bloody amazing, really!

VivaLeBeaver · 01/03/2012 08:29

Thanks guys for cheering me up a bit, I know you're right. It is a good school, even if its never going to be an as good school. I just feel so sad for dd, she worked so hard as was desperate to pass. She did practice papers for 30mins a day through the holidays (her choice) and its all for nothing.

I know both schools are good, I actually let her choose between them which she put down for her first choice as I didn't want to be a pushy mum saying she had to go to the Grammar when none of her friends are going there.

So yes, other benefit is that she stays with her friends.

coolascucumber · 01/03/2012 08:52

Hi Viva, sorry you didn't get your first choice. We were in that situation for DS1 (now 15) and spent alot of time and energy on an unsuccessful appeal, very stressful. You need to balance the likelihood of the appeal being successful against the uncertainty for your child of where they will be going in September.

I wish we hadn't bothered now and concentrated on preparing DS1 for his allocated school. At the time it was at 35% A-C and is now at 55%. Added to the stress was that we had been sent an email offering a place at the appeal school (his third choice) and then it was withdrawn after they found it had been sent following an admin. error.

DS1 making good progress at his 4th choice school. It is at least as much about the support you offer as a parent and the expectations you have for your child as it is the school.

mooze14 · 01/03/2012 08:57

so we sure this evening counts as after 5pm???..

Fioangel74 · 01/03/2012 08:58

hi there! yet another anxious mum who has been awake half the night. What am i like? anyone in east sussex about who knows when we'll find out or how? i applied online and having an iphone is driving me nuts as i'm constantly waiting for "that" email!

serendipity16 · 01/03/2012 09:01

Im in London & mine says the evening too..... wish they'd hurry up.... i am so nervous.

JenaiMarrHePlaysGuitar · 01/03/2012 09:02

Can you log on to the admissions page, Fio? I'm not in E Sussex so it could be different where we are, but our offers were sent on an email AND published on the website. Might be worth checking. Also check your junk folder!

CustardCake · 01/03/2012 09:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mooze14 · 01/03/2012 09:05

have just been told that our priamry schools know????? is this true do they find out before us .....

Cat2405 · 01/03/2012 09:07

Yes, evening is from 5pm - but up until when? When does 'evening' finish? 8pm? 9pm? Midnight?

mooze14 · 01/03/2012 09:08

CAT2405.... This is true I hadnt thought of that sometime between 5pm and midnight surely as after that would be the 2nd lol, 8 hours count down i feel the dread pure dread,,,,,,

madhairday · 01/03/2012 09:09

Sorry you didn't get the first choice, Viva, but as others have said, it is so true that it is the support from home that makes all the difference, and you obviously give so much of that, so your dd I'm sure will do very well. It is gutting though when they have worked so hard.

Still waiting here - 6pm apparently - how am I supposed to get through this day? WBD is welcome distraction for dd I think - did they plan it this way? Grin

CustardCake · 01/03/2012 09:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

JugglingWithTangentialOranges · 01/03/2012 09:17

Maybe talking with your dd about how she will be with more of her friends, and how important friends are, may soften the disappointment for you both today Viva I'm sorry though, we all had our fingers crossed for you

Hope dd is OK this morning ? Sounds like you do have a good school for her (just maybe not an amazing one)