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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Anyone else waiting for offers day - March 2nd here?

523 replies

cece · 22/02/2015 11:12

We have put an out of catchment school as first choice. Second choice is our catchment school. Some years we would get into our first choice, some years we would not. So we are anxiously awaiting the email...

OP posts:
HHH3 · 27/02/2015 22:44

Quietly confident here. Equally happy with 1st and 2nd choices. 1st choice is a boys school and done on a lottery system. 2nd choice, unless something really weird has happened, DS is well within catchment for. But still nervous until it's all confirmed.

Due to house moves we're no longer living in the area DS is at primary in. So secondary will be in new area and none of his class will be going to his new school. I'm really pleased - there have been problems with friendships for a while which have got much worse this year and DS is pretty unhappy. So I think this will be a good natural break and a chance to start afresh with new friendships.

cagsd · 28/02/2015 08:09

Less than 48 hours to go now!!
Although in all honesty I know that DS has a reasonable chance of getting in to any of our 3 preferences, I just keep worrying that reasonable is not enough! Certainly nothing is guaranteed - we didn't have this worry with DS1 as he had passed the entrance test for the grammar school back in the October so we already knew he would get a place there, waiting for the letter was just a formality. This time, nothing is set in stone, it's all ifs and buts. I keep envisaging myself opening the email and seeing the failing academy a few miles away, listed as his allocation - just praying that doesn't actually happen!!!!

Flossiechops · 28/02/2015 08:15

casgd I'm the same - I had another sleepless night. I think I may be physically sick opening that email on Monday. Last 3 yrs we would have got in (only by 0.2 miles though) but like you I keep envisaging all manner of reasons why we won't this year. I literally can't wait to get this over with the waiting is torture!

smellylittleorange · 28/02/2015 10:35

And even though I asked for email I got offer letter in post this morning! For second preference but as above will just be waiting for school admissions authority to meet and give us a place

So check your post people !!!

letch · 28/02/2015 11:23

Was half hoping we'd get something in the post this morning, unfortunately not!

Have been quite chilled about it, until this week. The school we've applied to said if we wanted DD to go there we should put them down as our only choice - so we did. Now, I'm getting very a bit nervous about that decision! In recent years all students who have put it down as their first choice have got in, but we're in quite a transient area (army etc) so numbers fluctuate. I've tried looking up how far away people have got in on recent years, but as the school is boarding its miles away so no clues there either. I've just got to sit and wait it out.

That said, if DD doesn't get in, we should get our catchment school (rural area, so really quite likely) and I'm happy with that. Just DD has got her heart set on going to this one particular school.

Oh well, I guess I'll find out tomorrow night Smile.

cagsd · 28/02/2015 11:23

Aaaargh I can't believe some people have their offers already! So much for "National" offer day! The wait is killing me!!!

vindscreenviper · 28/02/2015 11:26

Postie has just delivered DS1's offer letter!

Got our 1st choice Grin

Anybody else waiting in Co. Durham?

TeenAndTween · 28/02/2015 11:50

Letch The school we've applied to said if we wanted DD to go there we should put them down as our only choice - so we did

Shock Shock Shock

That goes against all the advice of the admissions experts on here. What were the school thinking! Hope it works out for you.

Miele72 · 28/02/2015 11:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

minifingers · 28/02/2015 12:00

Was awake at 5am today thinking about bleddy schools.

Knackered now.

Quite pleased I'm working tomorrow as it will make the day go faster.

letch · 28/02/2015 12:14

Teen and Tween - it was advise on the admissions rule of that particular county. They did explain why, and it was a silly rule that made sense in our particular situation. The rule is not used in the county that I live in or the county that I teach in.

I did look it up / ask others, before putting it down and they were telling the truth, and you'd only do it in specific circumstances I think, but even so, I'm nervous now!!

letch · 28/02/2015 12:14

Or advice even!

CheekyBanana · 28/02/2015 13:12

Great news for all with offer letters and happy with allocations. Wine, cigs and cake for all still waiting and anyone else who'd like some.

Yet another sleepless night here. I honestly can't cope - my nerves are constantly on edge. Flossie, hope you are doing ok, deep breaths. I'm telling (and kidding myself) that one day I'll look back on this time and laugh. Pah!!

Flossiechops · 28/02/2015 13:25

Cheekybanana yes another sleepless night I got up at 4.30am in the end. It's a shame they couldn't have let us know Friday especially as they already know. Seems unfair that other areas already know. I guess in the grand scheme of things 48hrs is nothing but I need to know NOW!!! Speaking to other parents last night at a school disco & they are all relaxed so it's nice to vent my nerves here Wink

mirjon66 · 28/02/2015 13:58

Hi everyone! So glad I found this thread and know I'm not the only one stressing.

My daughter really wants to go to the girls school which is exactly a mile away, they do a banding system, she is in band 4 and there are 31 places available in that band (band 5 - 36 places, 4 and 6 31 places, 3 and 7 22 places, 2 and 8 12 places and bands 1 and 9 have 7 places). Out of all DD's friends we are the closest but they are all in different bands. I'm nervous as I don't want DD to get second choice and all her friends get into 1st choice as she has been disappointed twice before when the classes have been mixed up and she is in a different class to her friends.

Starting to get a bad stomach keep thinking about it. We can check online from 5pm on Monday, although will probably check about 2.30pm just in case it's there early.

I also like second choice which is just down the road, this one is mixed, but DD has her heart set on 1st choice.

DD2 is in Year 5 and wants to go to the girls school too so am hoping DD1 gets in so she will have a better chance with sibling criteria.

Good luck to everyone when they find out. DD is my eldest so not been through this since awaiting Primary school allocation.

mankyscotslass · 28/02/2015 15:14

Stockport got their letters today.

Tameside are still waiting. Sad

No nails left!

LocalEditorEssex · 28/02/2015 15:21

I have done this three times previously and not been as nervous as I am now but I knew the first two were in catchment and ds3 has a statement so I got to choose his school.

Pleased some have had their offers :)

Roll in Monday..I have a funeral in the morning as could do with knowing before I go to that.

var123 · 28/02/2015 18:27

is it right that they don't release the offers until the admissions office has closed for the day? Why is that?

TheySaidThat · 28/02/2015 18:32

I can't wait for monday and at the same time I'm dreading it. I only had a choice of 2 schools, one a grammar 7 miles away and second choice the local comp. We were told yes or no to whether their 11+ score was 'likely to gain admission' rather than be given a score so I've no idea where we stand. I'm thinking 50/50. This is hell!

tiggytape · 28/02/2015 18:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheFirstOfHerName · 28/02/2015 18:39

In Hertfordshire they don't start sending the emails until after the school day has ended. I always assumed this was to prevent schools being overwhelmed by phone calls from eager parents wanting to tell little Johnny the news as soon as the post/email arrived.

alwaysonmymind · 28/02/2015 18:47

Waiting here in Manchester but a friend called the LEA admissions office yesterday. They told her the computer system is automated to send the offers after midnight tonight! It's hard as we are on the border with Stockport and some of DD's friends got a letter todayConfused

LittleFluffyMoo · 28/02/2015 20:38

I don't know why I'm so nervous - we're pretty much expecting not to get the first choice on Monday anyway! But hopeful for the waiting lists later.

LittleFluffyMoo · 28/02/2015 21:14

(But in my most hopeful moments I hope that I open that envelope and our first choice is there)

TheySaidThat · 01/03/2015 00:31

It's March!!!!!!! One more day. No other parents at the school seem to be fretting, unless there's lots of poker faces going on...