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Secondary education

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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:
AjasLipstick · 01/03/2018 07:34

Tracy it sounds like an email error not a system error....and I bet you won't be the only one it's happened to so be prepared to start calling at 1 minute before 8.

TracyBeakerSoYeah · 01/03/2018 07:54

Lipstick I'm counting down the minutes & will ring at 7.59am.
I hope it is just a system error.
I'll post back when I know.
And thank you for slightly calming 'the kittens.'

Shattered04 · 01/03/2018 07:56

So sorry to hear all the crappy news here Flowers Massive sympathy.

Well done to those who got what they wanted, that's brilliant!

I had an awful night's sleep, very clearly dreaming that DD got our #3 school, the fairly decent local comprehensive. This is not actually the end of the world, but I felt like it was in the dream. And DD would be devastated (goes without saying I'll be putting a positive spin on it for her) The dream felt so realistic it must be true!

Six hours to go. I can't believe it's snowing AND we have to deal with World Fecking Book Day today too. I'm in no state!

CotswoldStrife · 01/03/2018 08:08

Well after me being sad last night because we only got our second choice, DD was actually quite pleased! I had been bigging up both our first and second choices because I knew it would be hard to get into the first one.

I offered to put her on the waiting list but she's going to see where everyone else is going first.

Email arrived overnight but I got our results because you can log in to the system at midnight.

Good luck to all those waiting to hear today Flowers Cake Wine

IntheMotherhood · 01/03/2018 08:11

Lambeth don't give need until 5pm+
I don't know why they can't get the information out earlier in the day - do other London boroughs manage to do this?

TracyBeakerSoYeah · 01/03/2018 08:20

All is good Smile
Just phoned LEA & DD has her place. It was the way the confirmation was worded. I wasn't the only parent to query this.
Anyway I told the lady on the phone that I loved her. Apparently I'm also not the only one. Grin
So I'm now going to sit quietly with my cuppa. DD is still asleep as her school is closed again today.

HastingsLikeTheBattle · 01/03/2018 08:25

Well done those who are happy, commiserations to those who aren’t, and Flowers to those still waiting!

DD got her 1st preference, which I’ve accepted online but I haven’t had any kind of response to show that I’ve accepged - I thought I’d get an automatic reply?

We’ve also clicked to join the waiting list due her 2nd choice - but I’ve just realised I have no clue if we can actually do that? If so, and she gets offered a place, does that automatically negate her 1st choice offer? Would we have to them accept the 2nd choice?

mamaslatts · 01/03/2018 08:33

Hastings are you in Hastings?? If so, how do you know??

Still no email or word on website. Waiting to see if DCs school is open.

mamaslatts · 01/03/2018 08:35

Hastings also Congratulations! Why do you want to be on waiting list for 2nd choice?

Aquamam · 01/03/2018 08:43

I only put 2 choices down & luckily got my 1st choice 😰 🍷

BeesAndChiscuits · 01/03/2018 08:43

Hastings, if a place for the 2nd choice comes up you will lose your 1st choice: the system is designed not to allow people to hold onto more than one place.

tiggytape · 01/03/2018 08:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PersonAtHome · 01/03/2018 08:49

Bad news here this morning, DS2 has been allocated our third choice, a school that is very low down in all the league tables and historically has a bad reputation, though apparently the school is better in recent years and there are lots of parents who are happy with it. It's just that I'm not one of them!

I'll be phoning up about waiting lists at 9am when the admissions office opens.

Congrats to all those who got the places they wanted!

julz35 · 01/03/2018 08:54

Both got first choice! So happy. Hope you all get the result you want.

mamaslatts · 01/03/2018 08:56

Congratulations Aquamam

Sorry to hear that person, its early days though, do you have much movement on lists where you are? There's usually a fair bit.

Waspnest · 01/03/2018 08:57

The school we wanted is closed due to snow. Do you think anyone will be there to answer the phone about lists?

itsazoohere · 01/03/2018 08:58

We got 2nd choice!!
It means a train and then a bus, but it's a school that my dd liked, and it's NOT Athe one that I really wanted to avoid!
Can't quite believe it, we are so far out of the catchment area....I keep having to re-read it.

HermiioneSnape02 · 01/03/2018 08:58

Well emails come through finally!

We got 1st choice.

So chuffed as it was touch and go I thought but all’s we’ll that ends well.

I’m sorry to all that haven’t had their choice and also for everyone still waiting including my best friend and her son who still haven’t had an email. It seems so hit and miss.

HastingsLikeTheBattle · 01/03/2018 09:01

mamaslatts not Hastings Smile And 2nd choice is actually a marginally better school in terms of progress and ethos, a lot has changed in this year!

GrockleBocs · 01/03/2018 09:01

Bad news here as expected. Dd has the school that she doesn't want and that doesn't want her :(

Appeal will be going in. Just so pissed off with everything around autism being such a struggle.

kyrenialady · 01/03/2018 09:03

DD2 got her first choice very relived about that.

I'm not sure whether we have to accept the place or not it doesn't say so.

Anyone else in North Staffs?

tiggytape · 01/03/2018 09:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

user1475317873 · 01/03/2018 09:21

Can't believe we have to wait until 5pm too. We are in London

mamaslatts · 01/03/2018 09:21

We got first choice!! So happy.
grocklebocs that's awful, agree with tiggy though, there will be movement and I think you would have good grounds for appeal. Good luck xx

TF4646 · 01/03/2018 09:38

Still waiting in Hertfordshire, I'm told it's around 4pm - so a whole day to go.

Well done to those who've got what they wanted. And stay strong for those that are disappointed at the moment.

@tiggytape - great advice / words - hopefully I won't need them later, but thank you :-)