Offers Day 1st March 2012

[gazzalw]

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.....

Sorry to gate-crash your thread but as as someone who went through "the wait" with DS last year the highs and lows are still fairly fresh in my mind.

Two years ago the system crashed (in London) when everyone logged in at 5pm. Last year it took DH about 90 mins to log in (from mobile, as taking DS to club, so not at home). Thereafter, it was easy to log in and see results, progress, status etc.

If I recall, when you submitted your application, if you did it online you will have been given the option to receive text updates - if you did they will let you know when you can log in ... I did not receive our result by email, only the notification that we could now log in.

I wish you all the best of luck. It is a seriously stressful time. We were extremely fortunate and got our first choice and DS is now happily ensconced in a wonderful school. However, one thing I took from it was that sometimes people didn't get their first choice but that sometimes that was the best result .

Hope you dont mind me butting in but reading others messages here is hugely comforting. My stomach is in knots, cant sleep at night and want to be sick every time I try to eat - is this stressful or what?! I have twin DS and applied to 2 private scholools but no offers, Twin DS1 passed a grammar but dont know if he will get that place. If we dont get our first choice in the state system (the other schol options dont bear thinking about). Tell me you can survive this process and come out smiling on the other side. Couldnt go through this ever again!

Is the 5pm standard all over the country, or just in certain LAs?

Another one waiting anxiously. Here in Essex we have no idea how well/bad our DC did in the 11+ until we see which school they are offered on the 1st. Deeply unnerving cos we have no idea, and had to use two out of our four choices for highly selective grammars for which we have no idea if our DC stand a cat in hells chance (around 1000 kids sitting for about 150 places at each school). So we only effectively had two comp choices (not great local options either). Hard times ahead. I don't know whether to log in at midnight and face a night of lost sleep over the results, or wait till morning and get no sleep over thinking the outcomes. So pleased the system here will change for next years intake, so parents will at least know roughly the chances of a grammar school place instead of using up valuable options.

Of course you realize that your primary school knows at least the day before.

And unless you're contemplating appeals, being in the dark (Some purport to rely on snail mail.) is the coolest way to glide through the school gate frenzy, at least until Monday after.

Wine and chocolate are also recommended.

We're waiting too. I'm in Harrow and I've been told 5pm too. They'll be an email sent out at that time. Not sure though if the results will be in that email or if it's just a link - anyone know?

This is what my council website says:

1 March 2012 National Offer Day. We will post letters by first class post to tell you the result of your application. If you applied online you will receive the outcome of your application.

Does this mean that they email you if you applied online? It's really not clear!

Unfortunately having a bad time of it today. Had a very vivid (anxiety) dream last night that, despite putting down six out six preferences including my catchment school, my DS received a letter stating no places available at any school!!!!

I know MNetters, should not even entertain the thought!

cheggers, they will email to tell you that you can now log in and see the outcome of your application (if you applied on-line in the first place). If you applied by post them you will have to wait for the letter.

Our council are very clear - you get an e-mail on the 1st, by 9am. I chatted up the primary school head today and she said they get told by post on the 1st - or the second if the mail is really slow. They never hear before the parents. We are Up North...

School Head here denied that they get 'prior' notice of the pupils' school allocations. She implied that they are likely to find out on the Friday or possibly even as late as the Monday (!) depending on how the mail is fast or slow!

Just dippin in. Reasonably calm but a could be torn come the 1st.

Smart-arse DS1 is sitting on scholarship offer from rather wonderful independent, which will suit him down to the well manicured lawn ground.

But...if we get stonkingly good local state school (that's not however as good or sporty as indy), it has a sibling policy. DS2 is in Yr 5, and could frankly do with a leg up as he's, erm, a little less academic shall we say.

Local state school is v heavily oversubscribed and allocated on lottery so may not have to make that decision. But not sure how DS1 would take the sacrifice of his favourite school by far for his l'il bro. Frankly, think he'd go mental.

In a way, hoping that the Council make decision for me.

Ooh, look - only a week to go!

"School Head here denied that they get 'prior' notice of the pupils' school allocations."

Could be possible, but we certainly know one who upset a child very badly by telling them which they got [and it wasn't their first choice] before the 1st. That was a few years ago so perhaps confidentiality is better these days.

Marking my place.

We are in the catchment for our preferred school but its very over subscribed and so am feeling very nervous about it.

Well the Head slightly contradicted him/herself about when they know - firstly he/she said the "night before" and then when I asked if we could ask for the allocation for our child if the computerised system crashes, the impression given was that he/she wouldn't know until possibly the 4th.....

Well the problem is that even with a dead cert (in theory) as a lay person one can never know about the other variables year on year: siblings, children in care taking priority (which frankly they should always do for the best schools!), the building of even a small housing development virtually in the school's backyard.....

The waiting is almost over though....

The waiting may almost be over...but by God my nerves are at breaking point. The more I talk to people the more my hopes are diminishing. I wish today was 1st March

I actually think that it's the sort of conundrum that leads to more conundrums so for every 'clever' idea/question we think up that no-one has the power to answer, we are actually building another uncertainty into our neuroses.....

I strongly suggest that any Mumsnetters for whom this stress is the shape of things to come next year (and beyond), go forth and enter a Retreat for the last month of the waiting game and preferably one cut off from online deliberation!

five more sleep!

gazza, have you made your shopping list for the Thread Party yet?

As well as sausages on sticks and quavers, I think we need damp flannels (for mopping of fevered brows) , crash mats (for those who have been knocked down wiv a fevver) crash helmets (for those likely to hit the ceilling in fury) and crash barriers (to hold back the mobs heading for the champagne).

Oh yes.....why is there no champagne emoticon?

I wonder Blu whether you are a naturally very optimistic person .

What about loads of tissues too to mop up the tears...hopefully not though....

Kettles crisps, dips and black olives are my party staples!

Yikes Busymummy when you put it like that.....or possibly six depending on whether they've sorted out the Pan-London potential website crashing issue

Well now that the Michaela Community School has been pulled as the safety net from underneath us, it is all to play for......

a nice bottle of Veuve Cliicquot is we get 1st, 2nd or 3rd - vodka and soda if it's anything less than that!

"I strongly suggest that any Mumsnetters for whom this stress is the shape of things to come next year (and beyond), go forth and enter a Retreat for the last month of the waiting game and preferably one cut off from online deliberation!"

gazzalw, I'm booking it now...

Can I come too?

The more the merrier, everyone....

Just hope we are all celebrating with the champers rather than commiserating with the tissues!

Oh flip, that would be a nightmare if the site crashed wouldn't it? I'm hoping they've planned for the massive demand at 5pm! Oh goodness...!