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Secondary education

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

Original poster

Its 2018....countdown to 1st March secondary school allocations!

632 replies

Hersetta427 · 02/01/2018 12:10

Well two months down and two to go to 1st March. I have been fairly chilled since applications were submitted however now that 2018 is here it is creeping into my thoughts more frequently.

We are truly lucky to live in a town with very good secondary schools but I know DD would be heartbroken if she didn't get her first choice (a top 10 non selective girls school).

Realistically we should be virtually sure of a place as if we don't qualify on distance within our feeder school group then she should get a sports aptitude place (she score 10 percentage points higher than the required score for the last 3 years). However a part of me is still nervous as I imagine what if all 200 girls taking the aptitude test got amazing scores too. Logically I know this isn't the case as other girls at her school score 20-25 marks lower than DD but there are only 9 places available so the margin of error is small.

Anyone else beginning to get jittery? Please tell me I'm not alone.

OP posts:
ineedamoreadultieradult · 01/03/2018 00:08

Woohoo DS got his first choice, can't wait to tell him in the morning! Good luck everyone.

CotswoldStrife · 01/03/2018 00:10

Second choice here - I'm quite Sad We can go on the waiting list for the first one, the second one is a good school too so I'm surprised at how I feel.

HolyShet · 01/03/2018 00:11

Got third pref (of three) most local, feeder primary so it was v likely.

Feel sad for dd as she wanted choice 1, and I'd have been happier with 2.

It's certainly not a disaster but I have reservations. Had half a thought that she'd not get that either so a little relieved. Need to try to muster enthusiasm for the morning.

GrockleBocs · 01/03/2018 00:12

Giles after last night I dread to think what my subconscious is planning for tonight!

zoo I'm sure there will be an appeals thread and I will almost cettainly be on it :(

Everyone who's getting midnight results they wanted, congratulations!

AwkwardAnnie · 01/03/2018 00:14

Joining late as I'm going to need advice on appealing.
Just found out we got our 3rd choice, which wasn't really a choice, it was the last resort one. On our estate, but with DREADFUL results (among the worst in the country) and neither DD or I liked the atmosphere.

CremeBrulee · 01/03/2018 00:16

Can't log in to the bloody portal argh! Anyone else in Essex managed to get in yet?

Zoflorabore · 01/03/2018 00:23

Hi all, I remember this night 4 years ago! I sat up all bloody night... the email came at 8.35 am as ds was getting ready for school.

It was also his 11th birthday and he didn't get his ( and my ) first choice.
He was so brave but really devestated.

We did appeal and lost ( he has AS ) but you know what? It's turned out amazingly for him.
He's in the school that I actually dreaded and I wouldn't change a thing now.

Please don't despair if you don't get the news you want. Hoping for lots of good results for everyone but honestly, kids are great at adapting and if a child is supported and wants to learn, they will do well.

4 years? It goes so fast Smile

HolyShet · 01/03/2018 00:30

@AwkwardAnnie that sucks

Any chance of waiting list luck?

I'm a bit gutted. ds1 is at an amazing school, a blip locally as it's only grammar in 5 boroughs. Dd refused to contemplate even sitting the test... it wouldn't have suited her but the school she's got is just a bit too small and not very aspirational....

Need to get some kip

Ugh

HolyShet · 01/03/2018 00:32

God I sound like a tit. Aspirational isn't really the quality I mean.

AwkwardAnnie · 01/03/2018 00:34

I'll go on the waiting list and appeal and keep everything crossed. But having never done this, and they've changed the criteria for schools this year to feeder schools the distance instead of just distance, so I haven't a clue what our chances are. :(

bellabelly · 01/03/2018 00:36

HolyShet - you don't sound like a tit at all. You sound like a concerned parent.

CremeBrulee · 01/03/2018 00:36

Finally managed to log in - most anxious 30 mins ever!

DS got his first choice, much relief here!

PipnJo · 01/03/2018 00:38

We got 1st choice. Very relieved! A school well suited for DS and has a good link with current school which is what we need.

PipnJo · 01/03/2018 00:38

Good luck to everyone

bellabelly · 01/03/2018 00:40

Well done to everyone getting their first choice schools!

GrockleBocs · 01/03/2018 00:45

Oh Zoflora I wish I could be so pragmatic. The school we will get today has actually said to me that they can't cope with dd.

itsazoohere · 01/03/2018 00:54

Grockle-you were right.
No email yet.
I'm sorry to hear that you are also predicting the worst-see you on an appeals thread?
Thanks (it would be Wine, but I drank it all waiting up for an email I really knew wouldn't arrive.)

GrockleBocs · 01/03/2018 01:08

zoo s'allright DH bought me Wine tonight :) I am about ready to collapse. Our situation is complicated and we live in a peculiar area for schools. Based on last year, we have a 0.03% chance of success :(
My MP will be getting an email no mstter what happens.

itsazoohere · 01/03/2018 01:11

It's shit, right?
Hoping you get some sleep.

Fourmagpies · 01/03/2018 01:13

We've got our first choice, such a relief. Good luck to those still waiting. And to those that didn't get the school they wanted, I hope it all works out in the end.

netflixandpill · 01/03/2018 01:23

we got our third choice Sad i'm gutted. i only put it down as last choice because the one nearest to us is even worse so she would've had a place there for sure.

Waspnest · 01/03/2018 01:34

Well completely gutted. Didn't get any of our three. Completely confused as well about what the table means. Presumably the distance figures don't apply to within the catchment. Confused Oh well appeal here we come.....

TheWoollybacksWife · 01/03/2018 01:56

None of our preferences Sad. No grounds for appeal unless a mistake was made and I'm assuming that this will only apply at one school as the other two use a lottery system to allocate places. I'll hit the phone in the morning and find out where we stand.

The school we have been allocated is ok but we are moving soon to a neighbouring town so I am assuming that it would be prudent to try to find a school there that has places.

I feel numb and totally overwhelmed by the process ahead.

sandrapanda · 01/03/2018 02:08

None of our preferences either, dreading telling ds in the morning 😔

Waspnest · 01/03/2018 02:16

Woolly, I feel exactly the same (except that the allocated school requires improvement). At the open evening of the school we want the headteacher said they were supportive of appeals by parents who really supported the school and their kids but she thought we'd probably get in ok anyway. I think there has just been a massive influx of people into the area recently and the local authority are completely unprepared. The three I put down were the nearest three so don't know what else I could have done really.

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