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Secondary education

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

Original poster

Waiting list....

115 replies

Tiasmummy · 25/03/2015 11:14

I was just wondering how often I can phone / email to check on a school waiting list ...without seeming neurotic...which I am about schools as every parent is! lol! But I don't want to appear that way obviously :-)

My daughter is 9th place on a waiting list which I last checked a week ago...is too much to check again now? How often do you think is acceptable?

Thanks in advance :-)

OP posts:
HSMMaCM · 27/03/2015 14:42

I contacted admissions weekly when DD didn't get any of her chosen schools. They were lovely. Often with something helpful to add about another school which had places. At the end of year 7 I got an email to say, you are still 5th on the waiting list ... Do you want to stay on it?

Each time I sent a one line email and they sent an apologetic one line reply.

Original poster
Tiasmummy · 27/03/2015 15:03

LittleFluffyMoo that online system to check your place sounds great! Number 5 ain't a bad position to be in at all! Good luck :-)

OP posts:
Original poster
Tiasmummy · 27/03/2015 15:06

HSMMaCM another co-signer for weekly contact! Hooray! Lol! Glad you have had a good experience. Did you choose to stay on the waiting list?

OP posts:
LittleFluffyMoo · 27/03/2015 15:57

Good luck to you too Tiasmummy and everyone else waiting! Nerve wracking, isn't it?

HSMMaCM · 27/03/2015 16:45

We came off the waiting list, as after a year, DD had settled into the other school miles away.

sparklingsky · 27/03/2015 23:14

Nicely put Tiggytape! FlowersStar

cece · 27/03/2015 23:35

DS1 is on the waiting list for our first preference school. As of last week he was no. 19. Admissions lady told me that she didn't find out about 2nd round offers by the local council till today. I sat on my hands and did not phone (again). Our local authority sends letters out for the second round offers apparently so I am anxiously waiting for the post tomorrow and next week.

Original poster
Tiasmummy · 28/03/2015 15:19

Cece good luck! Fingers crossed :-)

OP posts:
kla73 · 30/03/2015 15:22

Good news for us. I received an email from the school on Friday stating that my son will receive an offer letter from the LA this week. Still feeling nervous until I have the letter but also delighted. Hope there is some good news for others very soon.

tiggytape · 30/03/2015 15:52

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becks5109 · 30/03/2015 16:37

we are on 3 waiting lists - 19th on one, 13th on the other and in a lottery of 103 other kids for our zone and band so none of them looking very likely :( Admissions lady told me today that there has been hardly any movement this year - we are in Hackney

cece · 30/03/2015 19:42

no letter or email hereSad Sad

kla73 · 30/03/2015 21:43

Thanks Tiggytape. Good luck to others. I know what a stressful time it is.

tiggytape · 30/03/2015 22:20

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cece · 30/03/2015 22:39

I was thinking I might phone on Thursday if there is no letter by then = but the school is closed. Will the local authority know positions on the list as well?

tiggytape · 30/03/2015 23:05

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cece · 30/03/2015 23:11

Yes it is an academy.

I have not been informed by the school. They told me I would get a letter if he was to be given a place before end of March. Then it goes to phone calls direct from the school.

smellylittleorange · 31/03/2015 13:48

I'm sitting on my hands here too - after being told that the Secondary school was opening up its PAN with an extra 40 places and all First Preferences promised a place if they want it - we still have not got a place. Just wanted to say that local authority have been brilliant - giving advice - even when not asked for - saying it is perfectly fine for us to phone weekly if we need to. etc etc

A bit worried as Easter coming up so no-one will be around - but this County still in school until Thurs.

DD has moved from 65 on Waiting List to 14th which is encouraging and the next County's Waiting Lists opened up today - hoping that will free up more spaces if needed !

But it is sooo frustrating - I might need to go to appeal and the school have said they will support that (don't know how but they are their own Admissions Authority - I think it is the space thing)

Good Luck All !!

kla73 · 31/03/2015 14:56

Sounds like you have made good progress on the waiting list so far Orange. Long may it continue.

I am a bit sceptical about the schools promises though. They are not allowed to give preference to those stating 1st preference. Indeed it is my understanding that they would not know what preference they are for each child. Bit of a dangerous promise imo. I'm not sure how they can keep it.

I'm not quite sure how they could 'support' an appeal other than to not put up too much of a case to admit more pupils. As they have already created 40 extra places this seems odd. If it was agreed by the panel (independent of the school) that more could be admitted it would be up to them not the school who those places go to. I'm not sure the school could specifically support your individual case iyswim. I'm no expert though so I'm sure one of admissions experts will be able to advise.

Good luck and hope you get a place before an appeal is necessary.

tiggytape · 31/03/2015 15:06

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tiggytape · 31/03/2015 15:06

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smellylittleorange · 31/03/2015 15:52

kla73 I know I am sceptical too. The School has said they will “find space” for anyone who put the school down as first preference. They also talk a lot about going through Local Authority Bureaucracy. They are their own Admissions Authority hence why they can raise their PAN I guess but yes I am worried in case we have to go to appeal as I am very aware that it is an independent panel. I think the school are trying to be helpful but are really not IYSWIM. I have started preparing for the appeal anyway – the school have had a varying intake over the past three years so I have got the population figures etc for that . They have made reference on their website saying they will find space for children and have had more space built since they have had their PAN calculated. They also send 50 students off site in years 9/10/11 to study NVQs etc at local colleges and have made reference to the fact as an academy if they have space higher up the school ( which they have) they can take more lower down the school – does that make sense ? Lol I’m sure it will all be fine in the end and we will get a place through the waiting list. Meanwhile I am firmly sitting on my hands! :-D.

I am grateful to MN for all the advice – some of it I read and thought “oh that won’t matter to me” BUT it did and all that advice is there in the back of my mind so thank you Mners!

smellylittleorange · 31/03/2015 16:04

Thanks Tiggytape I realise that now but at the time the school were a bit – I have made screen shots of all their announcemnets and messages etc where they say that and I will be speaking to one of the Governors who happens to work where I do about transparency in communications etc etc.

kla73 · 31/03/2015 16:09

I do think that the school needs to be taken to task over this. It is not acceptable!

tiggytape · 31/03/2015 16:41

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