waiting list question please.....

[imAbeardedLady]

Hello DD got second choice school, I know we have to accept but how does the waiting list work??
do we have to contact school? E admissions?.....
Is it 1st come 1st serve?
we are in a London Borough but border our first choice borough....
thanks in advance!

thank you tiggy. I will call the school and admissions today x

We found that our first choice was really happy to talk to us on the phone about waiting list movement. I called a couple of times through the process and they were lovely and told us where we were on the list.

London does move a lot!

The email should tell you whether you are automatically on the waiting list or if you have to contact the schools. Also the admissions section on your local council website will also tell you what happens with the waiting lists. This really isn't secret information.

In London you are automatically on the waiting list for higher ranked schools, but you have to apply to be on the waiting lists for lower ranked schools (this is for people who've changed their minds).

It certainly isn't "first come, first served". It's about how you fulfil the admissions criteria.

thanks!
the application was made by dh so he has all the emails etc but he can't make calls etc at the moment as he is away!