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Secondary education

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

Original poster

Is it too soon to start a 1st March (secondary school allocation day) support thread?

569 replies

teddygirlonce · 03/02/2017 14:37

DD has six good options on her CAF - we will be happy if she gets any of those six but there are no other local schools we would be happy for her to be allocated/offered Shock - and private schooling is not an option.

So just a bit nervous and already counting down the days until we find out which school she's been allocated (if at all).

OP posts:
TeenAndTween · 03/02/2017 16:03

Whatever you do, try to be positive about the allocated school, even if you are then working hard in the background to find an alternate.

Hope you get top choice though!

MirandaWest · 03/02/2017 16:05

We're waiting for that day too. We are in catchement, DS is in year 8 there and so there should be no reason why DD won't get in but will still be good to actually know

golfbuggy · 03/02/2017 16:21

DD is also a cert for our local secondary, but still be nice to see it in writing! Two of her closest friends who've applied for the same school are however, rather more dubious, so she's very much focussed on seeing if they will get in.

wangxiaosara · 03/02/2017 20:33

In the same boat here, DS passed a grammar school entrance exam but we are out of catchment. We are also waiting for the result of an independent school and hoping to get a place with some bursary. Finger crossed.

Edna1969 · 04/02/2017 20:55

Certainly not too early. I was wondering if I was the only one going quietly mad waiting.

We are very fortunate that we have good schools near us. But I'd be massively disappointed if we don't get our first choice for DD1 as we all feel it is the best fit for her.

Counting down the days...

Thistly · 04/02/2017 23:32

Yes, I want to get the email. Dd has an older sibling in the school, but that does not guarantee her a place... It is a very oversubscribed school, and the current year 6 is a much larger cohort in my region than the previous 5 or 6 years.

Not long to wait now though...

Original poster
teddygirlonce · 05/02/2017 11:10

I'm not sure we will get DD's first choice (which she really wants), as we live a fair distance away. She passed the 'arts test' (which allocates 24 places in the year group irrespective of distance/banding), but have been given to believe (by another parent) that she won't stand a chance with the mark she got Sad, although I'm taking the 'advice' with a healthy pinch of salt.

DD's old sibling goes to a single-sex selective school so that wasn't even an option on her form.

I think being realistic, she'll get choice 2 or 3...

Well it's only 24 days to wait now so time is zooming by - only just over three weeks.

Agree that for some, 1st March is only really the beginning of the journey not the end but not sure we want months of uncertainty.

OP posts:
tovelitime · 05/02/2017 11:51

Mine is a sibling so should get a sibling place, she better had as we have only put that school down but I do want to see it in writing!

dancemom · 05/02/2017 14:12

We don't find out until 30 April here Sad

2014newme · 05/02/2017 14:14

No

crazycrofter · 05/02/2017 20:34

Yes, it's been such a long wait! Ds got a score in the 11plus which we hope will be good enough but it's borderline and the scores round here (Birmingham) go up every year. We don't really have a plan B either! Roll on March 1st!

justgivemethepinot · 05/02/2017 22:22

Not too soon at all, we're catchment for second choice school but close enough to 1st choice to be in with a very good chance. Could go either way so......roll on 1 March!!Smile

user1484655514 · 06/02/2017 12:12

I am so nervous my daughter picked a faith school ( we aren't that faith) and she has her heart set on her first choice. I have been told last year the emails went out just after midnight I may stay up all night !!!

Imnotaslimjim · 06/02/2017 12:19

Another one waiting nervously here. DS has applied for 3 and we're pretty certain of his top choice but if he doesn't get it we have to choose between a half hour bus ride and the worst performing school in the town that is 20 mins walk away. (not a bad walk in the grand scheme of things but I don't really want him in that school)

Girlwhowearsglasses · 06/02/2017 12:26

Yes I'm counting the days. OP DC did similar art test (maybe same one?) but that school was not our top choice (to far- nice school). I had a detailed chat with the deputy about likelihood of getting in on his placing (60ish out on a list that thirty get guaranteed entry) and she said he'd be likely to get in eventually because lots of kids in the first thirty may go elsewhere (London so lots and lots of alternative schools)- so you may find she gets a place actually.

Okite · 06/02/2017 12:32

Shock we only have one school locally so it's that or nothing, I didn't even bother putting any other choices down. Mind boggles at the thought of having to go through 6!

justgivemethepinot · 06/02/2017 12:36

I didn't put 6 down, the fifth choice was a nightmare distance so I'm not sure why I even bothered, it's unrealistic to expect people to fill up all 6 choices in a lot of cases.

Original poster
teddygirlonce · 06/02/2017 13:33

Girlwhowearsglasses - that is reassuring. TBQH that's what I thought about DD's score vs 'perfect 100% scores' - the school wouldn't have passed so many unless they expect a high % to be prioritising (an)other schools over theirs. Several girls DD talked to on the day of the arts tests indicated that it's their 3/4/5/6th place fall-back option (if they don't get into more academically selective schools).

OP posts:
Original poster
teddygirlonce · 06/02/2017 13:34

dancemom that's a long wait - are you not in the UK?

OP posts:
MrGrumpy01 · 06/02/2017 22:52

We only get 3, I am really hoping we get 1 or 2, both undersubscribed last year. School 2 has a larger PAN as it covers such a large geographical area and is the only school but we are out of authority. School 1 we are out of catchment area.

I have had birthdays for my youngest 2 to focus my mind on instead but they are gone so all I have is the 3 week wait now.

If it all goes wrong and we get school 3 I will most likely cry. I am having a 'should I put school 2 first?' moment but what is done is done.

justgivemethepinot · 06/02/2017 22:57

mrgrumpy you can request to be placed on the waiting list for 2nd choice if needs be.

MrGrumpy01 · 06/02/2017 22:57

It is a bit worrying though as I was having a casual conversation with the mum of a classmate and it suddenly dawned on me that she thought they would receive offers from up to the 3 schools and then they would pick from them. I'm not sure if other parents think the same, despite the primary school place being allocated in the same way as secondary. (Unless of course she just put the one school down)

MrGrumpy01 · 06/02/2017 22:59

Thanks. I thinks I may consider that. I'll see how I feel in 3 weeks.

justgivemethepinot · 06/02/2017 23:00

I don't know where you are but round here it's unlikely you get a choice of three unless you are offered one then offered a place from being on the waiting list of others.

wangxiaosara · 07/02/2017 07:19

On the 1st of March, you will only receive one offer from a state school (possibly one from your preferred list). If you did not get the one you wanted, then you can request to be put on the waiting list.