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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:
gettingoutofdebt · 04/03/2017 18:26

We didn't get into our ("outstanding") catchment school on distance and the info says 63 within catchment didn't get in. The two other nearest schools are in special measures and are not currently improving so lots of upset parents.

The same thing happened with ds1 2 years ago and he got to 1st on the waiting list but then the appeals were heard which put him back to 13th.

Luckily I teach in a good school that although two buses for ds1 to get home from, he absolutely loves now. Ds2 has a place there too which is a big relief although ds2 is upset he's going without knowing anyone.

Wimbles101 · 05/03/2017 21:09

Can I ask a quick question: we've been offered our local comp which was fairly down our list - DS passed the exam for certain other selective schools but has not been offered them. How do I join their waiting lists? A friend mentioned that we have to accept the offer we've got in order to do so - does that rule apply to selective schools as well?
TIA

Jotti · 05/03/2017 21:36

Wimbles - it may depend on your LA, but in ours you would automatically be added to the waiting lists of all your higher preference schools. Best to call your LA to check tho, and maybe the schools, too : )

Jotti · 05/03/2017 21:37

And the advice always seems to be to accept the offer you've got, in the meantime.

SoulAccount · 05/03/2017 22:10

Yes, accept the offer you have. It in no way prejudices your chances of getting any other offer on waiting list or appeal. If you turn it down, they will offer it to someone else and you could be left with worse or none!

It is highly unlikely that a selective school had the LA as admissions authority so I would contact the selective school direct and make sure you are on the waiting list. Tell the LA as well that you wish to remain on the lists for all your higher preferences.

Wimbles101 · 06/03/2017 00:35

Thanks all for the advice - will check the situation with LA tomorrow - think I do need to check with individual school as well.

Loconuts · 06/03/2017 07:48

I would check with the individual schools too - better to be safe than sorry

tiggytape · 06/03/2017 12:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
teddygirlonce · 07/03/2017 08:34

Wimbles101 wondering if you're in SW London... (the clue may be in the name???)

Some years ago DS was allocated his third choice school. The two selective school choices above on his CAF contacted us just a day or two after Offers Day (with no intervention from us to prompt the letters). The one he now attends basically told us he'd missed out on a place due to distance (lots of boys had the same initial cut-off mark, including DS but we lived further away than they obviously did) and that he would most likely be offered a place within a month (which was indeed the case). The other wrote to confirm that he was on the waiting list but there was no sense of the "if you wait he'll get a place" that we'd had from the other one.

It might be a bit different now though. With a two week deadline (we're already a week into it!) to accept/decline places, I would imagine none of the schools will issue email/letter info about where DC sit on waiting lists
until after that date (maybe a week???).

Good luck for your DS

OP posts:
Wimbles101 · 07/03/2017 12:38

Thanks - yes I am in SW London - I've just checked with the relevant school and apparently waiting lists are released after the second round of offers - does anyone know when this is?

DS Mark was well above their pass mark so am taking we lost our due to distance 😟

tiggytape · 07/03/2017 13:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Lucy7400 · 07/03/2017 15:10

I think its March 15th wimbles

daisyfly · 16/03/2017 19:44

I found out that my son is 3rd on the waiting list for first choice preference school. Im wondering if many do actually turn down school place during first round of school offers? Do I stand a good chance being 3rd on the list?

PatriciaHolm · 16/03/2017 19:53

Daisy - realistically, how long is a piece of string? Here, you would probably be fine - large schools (240 per year) with a decent % who end up going private but request a state place too just in case. Other places, maybe not.

SoulAccount · 17/03/2017 08:04

Daisy: yes, if you are third on the list for a state secondary, you stand a very good chance. Places come up all the way through the summer, as people move house, get places for schools they put higher etc.

Round here 15th on the list is still a hopeful position at this stage!

daisyfly · 03/04/2017 19:56

Hi all wanted to give an update, DS was offered first choice school today. Thanks for all your advice and words of encouragement. I'm over the moon !!

wangxiaosara · 03/04/2017 20:22

Great news "daisyfly". Congratulations to your DS.

Trb17 · 03/04/2017 20:26

Fab news daisyfly you must be so relieved Grin

MrGrumpy01 · 04/04/2017 22:27

Great news daisyfly you must be very relieved.

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