Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

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

Original poster

Waiting lists for Independents - who got a place?

59 replies

Mandzi34 · 25/02/2016 16:49

I have a couple of friends on waiting lists for different Independent schools and was wondering who has gotten a waiting list place? So many schools over offer so is the waiting list just never used?

OP posts:
AnotherNewt · 27/02/2016 09:48

Because you just can't predict with that level of certainty.

The list might not be strictly ranked anyhow (which is why appropriate intervention by school and parents is useful).

And if they took 6 from the waiting list in three of the last five years, then being in the top 5 is a good place. But if in the other two they took only 1 or 2, then it doesn't sound so good.

Most schools do exactly what you describe, btw. It's not that often that the numbers go really pear-shaped.

But the sheer number of potential pupils is up (because the number of children in London is up) and so I'm getting a general impression that the trend for numbers getting offers from waiting lists is well down. But that is trend, not prediction for an individual school.

cakeisalaystheanswer · 27/02/2016 09:53

You also have to factor in that if a school has over offered by a largeish number e.g.14, that is more than an be absorbed in the current classes but not enough to make up a class on it's own. So that year may see a lot of WL movement as they make lots of offers to try and make the extra numbers for an extra class.
The other thing to factor in is prep schools, some years will see a lot of movement from them. Pupils there only have to give one terms notice so the school may not be aware there is a space until the first day of the summer term.

Original poster
Mandzi34 · 27/02/2016 10:12

It's definitely more complicated than I realised. I can understand them covering their backs but being honest with parents should be important too.

OP posts:
AnotherNewt · 27/02/2016 10:22

Think they're as open as they can be.

At the moment, all they could say is "We still have families yet to respond. Only when they respond, or fail to do so by deadline, will we know if we have unfilled places we can re-offer"

Or maybe "We have had enough responses that we have been able to offer N places from the waiting list, but cannot predict further movement until those families (both first offer and WL) who have not yet responded do so"

Deadline day is the likeliest time to see movement. I understand the wish to have a crystal ball, but neither you nor the school have one and it's completely dependent on speed of other parents' responses.

Chitty4444 · 27/02/2016 10:25

I agree mandzi it's all very confusing. Although psychologically a wait list is much better in the DC mind than a no! My DD sees her 2 waitlists as a positive but she does have 2 offers as well. It's the juggling of decisions that is so difficult- I'm for example loath to accept and pay deposit for our second choice which we have offer for in case our first offer wait list comes through...and presume everyone else is doing the same so there must be quite a few people who do loose their deposits... How have others in the same position approached the whole dilemma?!

Original poster
Mandzi34 · 27/02/2016 10:31

I do agree AnotherNewt but they must have some idea based on previous years. For instance if a child is at the bottom or middle of a waiting list of say 30, they could say 'we'll have to see but they are some way down the list'. If a child were at the top I'd expect to hear 'they're in a very good position'. I think it would be better to be frank as there will be people who just stand a chance and need to move on.

Chitty4444 - yes it is better than a rejection which is how my DS approached it!

OP posts:
AnotherNewt · 27/02/2016 10:38

"I do agree AnotherNewt but they must have some idea based on previous years."

Sorry, I thought I'd said that in an earlier post. They most certainly do, and this informs the number of offers they make.

But they have to deal with the actual responses they are getting this year. And often say if there is no/little chance of the waiting list moving - for example Alleyns send out 'no chance' letters as their picture emerges.

The reason they cannot tell you more is because schools do not know themselves yet.

Especially if in areas with reachable grammar schools or a highly desirable comprehensive.

keepcalmandthengiveup · 27/02/2016 10:45

I can imagine the wait is hard, and definitely do sympathies but the school does have a responsibility to not to give you false hope either. Imagine if they had gave you some stats from previous years, and led you to believe you were in a better position than reality, it could have led to make an uninformed decision, and I suspect that they do not want to have a backlash from parents on that basis.

I wonder those that are lucky enough to have more than one offer - albeit obviously not your first choice, could you consider returning the lesser favoured offer of the pack, so that could get things moving that way, because if everyone is holding onto their full cards until the deadline date, it will become a gridlock, and the wait process longer.

sunshine1975 · 27/02/2016 19:27

Di totally agree with you keepcalmanthengiveup. But what I cannot understand is if any one get their fist choice why they don't drop off the rest of school to keep the waiting list move for other children. Am so depress and just waiting.

Messedup2016 · 27/02/2016 19:51

Sunshine I've read your LEH waiting list thread and you're in a good position as you have an offer from NHEHS which is a fantastic school. My dd has no offers and two wait list places. I wish I was in your shoes!

Original poster
Mandzi34 · 27/02/2016 22:48

I know of someone in exactly the same position Messedup2016. It's very hard on the children.

OP posts:
Graceandfavour · 27/02/2016 23:28

We got a KGS place after a couple of weeks waiting. We were told that DC wasn't in the first tranche (guessing first five?) but in the next group. We were asked to demonstrate our interest if offered a place, which we did and we did also contact the school by phone to confirm how much DC wanted to go there! Also one child didn't turn up on the first day (presumably after already paying a deposit) so someone got a v. last minute place. There is hope..

orangeplum · 28/02/2016 19:42

Graceandfavour

Out of interest what year is your DC in now?

Amazing kid didn't turn up on day 1 as that would mean deposit and a terms fees!

sunshine1975 · 28/02/2016 20:18

I am very happy with NHES but it is little bit far a way like 45 by bus and it will be all by her self. But if she get LEHS she will be with some of children attending sme school and some nearby.

Graceandfavour · 29/02/2016 22:07

Sorry Orange got caught up in other-thread-about-burgeoning-romance. Makes nice change from GCSE-type issues with DC1. In answer to your question, DC is in year 7 so the stress of it all hasn't entirely faded!

Are you sorted or still waiting for movement?

Piece0fCake · 01/03/2016 21:13

Anyone know anything about Channing and likelihood to go to WL (or not) as seen in previous years? Fortunately DD has 2 other offers but Channing is the firm favourite.

orangeplum · 01/03/2016 21:45

Graceandfavour. Burgeoning romance sounds like so much more fun!

We had one last year and one next year so lurking and gaining Intel for next year! Good luck with the GCSEs.

London20164 · 03/03/2016 09:13

Has anyone been offered a place off a waitlist. We have been on 2 wait lists - one for our most favourite and one for our least favourite. We have been offered from wait list for our last choice so still holding out for 1 at choice!!! Anyone else getting good news?

Peppergrinder2016 · 03/03/2016 09:24

London20164 - can you say which school has offered from the waitlist?

sunshine1975 · 03/03/2016 09:38

Did any one get a place from waiting list for LEH this year? Time is running.

TeddTess · 03/03/2016 09:43

yes look at the LEH or GHS thread running.

atthegates · 03/03/2016 12:10

have anybody heard from GHS waiting list

London20164 · 03/03/2016 12:14

Francis holland SW1?

Piece0fCake · 03/03/2016 13:27

Channing have gone to waiting list :-)

Ididthattoo · 03/03/2016 14:03

Pieceofcake, did you get an offer from Channing? In that case, congratulations!

Swipe left for the next trending thread