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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:
tiggytape · 01/03/2018 12:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Waspnest · 01/03/2018 12:35

So dd is first on waiting list and local council advise to do nothing for a few days. I don't know how I should feel really. I just feel really tired.

Fourmagpies · 01/03/2018 12:40

We had that with our primary school shattered , a tiny distance out. It is a very popular school, we put DS on the waiting list and he got the next place available within days of allocation. Another 2 places came up but the second one wasn't for a couple of months and the third was just before school started - the child had actually started at the other primary school but changed as wanted this one. Fingers crossed for your DD.

spacecadet48 · 01/03/2018 12:40

Good luck all. I am in an unusual position where we have already accepted an independent school offer for my DS. Which is a relief he got one as I ended up being a late secondary applicant! Did all the registering on the 6th Sept and was only selecting one secondary , however two funerals and illness and I got to November and hadn't clicked submit! We are in London and the local secondary is highly sought after so I knew with my application being treated as late he would be offered a school a long way away and would be at the bottom of any list. So I am sitting back to see what he would have actually been offered.

Original poster
Hersetta427 · 01/03/2018 12:43

Wasp, first on the waiting list is brilliant - I would almost guarantee you'll get that place although may not be until the 2nd allocation day. So hang tight.

OP posts:
thegreylady · 01/03/2018 12:43

Just heard dgs got his first choice school so all very happy here.
Congratulations to all who are happy with allocation and commiserations with those who are disappointed.

Waspnest · 01/03/2018 12:52

Thanks for the reassurance Hersetta. It's so hard isn't it - everyone is being lovely on FB but in a way I feel I'm pissing on their parade because they can't really celebrate and others feel bad because they're devastated with only getting their second place when we didn't get any on our list and got an offer for a place I've barely heard of.

GrockleBocs · 01/03/2018 12:52

That's good news wasp so hopefully you'll get a place soon.

Theworldisfullofidiots · 01/03/2018 13:11

Just wanted to say congratulations to everyone who got their first choice and don't despair to those that didn't.
Last year ds didn't get into his first choice initially even though his sister was in the same school. He was allocated our local school that had been historically struggling.
My advice is find out as much information as possible and be unfailing polite whilst doing it. My ds was wrongly categorised and moved from 26th on the waiting list to 2nd. (I'm not exactly sure what happened - administration error?). We had a difficult month and we're preparing for appeal and got loads of great advice on here, particularly from Prh47bridge (who should get an OBE), tiggytape and admissions.
My ds did get in on the waiting list for a massively oversubscribed school.
However in the meantime our local school has really improved and has gone from requires improvement to good and actually I wouldn't have minded if he had gone there and the upside would be his day would be shorter.
As it happens I didn't need to appeal but used the advice given from Prh47bridge to help my friend successfully appeal.
So good luck and if need be ask for the help very generously and expertly given on here.

Shattered04 · 01/03/2018 13:33

Thanks all. tiggy I guess it's a case of wait and see and hope for the best. The school will be supportive of an appeal anyway (just asked) so that's something.

Still don't know which school she actually has though!!

TheWoollybacksWife · 01/03/2018 13:35

@tiggytape thank you for your help so far. I'm going to start a thread of my own in secondary ed for advice on appealing.

mummyoftvef · 01/03/2018 13:39

My son got his first choice sons over moon as all his cousins go there

Shattered04 · 01/03/2018 14:02

Herts results on portal now.

Dancergirl · 01/03/2018 14:08

shattered I know this won't help your dd at all now, but if it's just an issue of friendship, they change a LOT when they start secondary. Even really close friends can drift apart when they meet new people. Plus she may still get a place at your first choice school, it's very early days.

Good luck to everyone waiting. I'm in a London borough, I'm counting down the hours!

Original poster
Hersetta427 · 01/03/2018 14:11

thanks Shattered - an email just popped into my inbox !

We got our first choice. So relieved. Having a little cry.

OP posts:
Frickles · 01/03/2018 14:14

Was just coming on to say just received Herts email! Got our first choice - phew. Hope those who had less than great news can get sorted one way or another xx

Shattered04 · 01/03/2018 14:22

Dancer - I wish it was just that. She has ASD and big social issues, so the school is a lot more suited to her for that reason as it's very academic, and having her best friend there to ease her in was so important. Friendships will definitely change as time goes on, but those first few weeks are vital.

I was bullied throughout the first three years of secondary because I had no friends in my class from my school, and I made a few social faux pas and I then became a target for the bullies from then on.

Congratulations to Hersetta and Frickles!

Dancergirl · 01/03/2018 14:26

Flowers shattered so sorry to hear that. I really hope you get the news you want in the coming weeks.

Original poster
Hersetta427 · 01/03/2018 14:37

Thank you Shattered. So sorry about your result - what did you get in the end?

OP posts:
bellabelly · 01/03/2018 14:39

My twins both got their first choice. So relieved. Can't believe how much nervous energy I've spent on this process.

Congrats to everyone who's had good news and commiserations for those who didn't get what they wanted. Good luck to all for "big school" - certainly not ready for my babies to start Y7!

Sittinginthesun · 01/03/2018 14:44

Good news for us, but know lots of classmates didn't get what they wanted in SW Herts. Data's going to be interesting reading.

Shattered04 · 01/03/2018 14:53

Well done Sitting - very pleased to hear this!

Well done bellabelly - stress x 2 cannot have been fun!

We got #3. Which is something, at least. #2 has been taken off the waiting list right away! At least she will know people at #3, even if she is much more suited to #1. We could have it worse.. it's just sickening after all the work she put in for her 11+.

Toomanycats99 · 01/03/2018 14:58

Another 2 hours to go for us - it's horrible!

Dancergirl · 01/03/2018 15:00

Are you in London toomany?

Dancergirl · 01/03/2018 15:04

sitting have sent you a PM