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Original poster

As the Tiffin results day looms, a second 2019 SW London grammars and indies thread

559 replies

FlumePlume · 13/02/2019 20:14

A new thread to avoid the doomsday scenario of running out of posts as envelopes are opened on Friday, waiting lists move (or don’t) and e-mails are opened on 1 March.

OP posts:
Geogra · 03/03/2019 10:26

We released offers for 2 schools already and are holding an offer for Wimbledon with a deadline of 12 on Monday. Nail biting.

JuliaAndJulia · 03/03/2019 10:34

We were waiting for PHS last year but sadly the WL never moved. We waited all the way until September but nothing! We knew another 4 parents waiting but they were told the same. Hope it moves this year tho, it was our top choice. Good luck to those waiting...

Geogra · 03/03/2019 10:35

I think that last year Putney didn't go to waiting list at all.

We are in the middle of the list rather than close to the top and I doubt we will be offered.

Geogra · 03/03/2019 10:37

Thanks for the info on Putney Toomuchpressure.

There a quite a few on the Putney list at our school and I had the impression it was quite a long list so that's interesting.

Toomuchpressure169 · 03/03/2019 10:39

I would keep emailing/calling Putney and don’t worry about how many times - it’s important they know it’s your top choice!

One big nail biting chain indeed Confused

Toomuchpressure169 · 03/03/2019 10:45

Registrar definitely said they didn’t have many on the list. There were a few at offers holders afternoon that are holding out for G&L like me so you never know..

Geogra · 03/03/2019 10:46

I have called and emailed several times and they know it's our first choice school. I don't actually think I am going to make any more calls now. Feeling deflated about the whole process.

Geogra · 03/03/2019 10:48

Toomuchpressure - do you really think we should continue calling? Genuinely interested because as I mentioned up thread, the only waiting list offers I have seen come through last week were to friends who hadn't contacted the schools at all.

I wonder if the registrars keep the 'very interested' parents on the back burner because they know they will fill the last few spots if needed. Whereas if they don't know whether a family is still wanting a place they are not a sure thing, so they would want to capture those ones first to remove variables as the days go by.

Geogra · 03/03/2019 10:49

Unless friends are not being truthful about not having contacted the school!

sw19007 · 03/03/2019 10:54

Geogra- last year we were on the WL for WHS as was a good friend's daughter. She was in constant contact with them and they knew she was very keen. They told her she was in the right 'zone' etc. I just let them know that we wanted to be on the WL but did have other offers. Wasn't particularly effusive (primarily because DD wasn't too bothered).
Anyway, we both got offers from the WL within about 20 minutes of each other so it didn't seem to make a difference however we played it!

Geogra · 03/03/2019 10:58

Who did they call first SW?!

sw19007 · 03/03/2019 11:01

Genuinely not sure! It was a frantic 20 minutes with calls all over the place! Coupled with lots of snow and forms filled in for other schools etc!

1ndig0 · 03/03/2019 11:06

Geogra - I don’t know about your friends who got wl places without any action. Maybe they were at the very top of the list; maybe they did call - who knows? I would still think that some action is better than none in this kind of situation. Despite the fact that nobody can tell how seriously school adhere to wl rankings, it’s obvious that this kind of thing can never be an exact science. Also, as deadlines are imminent, schools will be less in a position to pick and choose because people may well have paid deposits elsewhere.
Our head emailed everyone just before the main results day to say that if anyone is put in the wl for their preferred school, they must let the head know ASAP so that the head can push their case. This is not fair obviously, but it happens and is widespread. Many of the heads know each other - for instance, at our school, the heads of LU and PHS have been among those who are invited to give the prizes at prize-givings or judge other competitions, etc. I think the senior schools know that state school heads will not get on the phones and they factor this in, but still, I don’t think calling the school puts you at a disadvantage at this stage, no. Surely schools want families who believe in their ethos and have actively chosen their school.

jkhj · 03/03/2019 11:07

Regarding acceptance of a waiting list offer, please could anyone shed any light on how the child fits (academically and otherwise) in as oppose to those offered straight away. This is a concern of mine dd has KGS and on the waiting list for Leh. Dd is from state school so no real guidance other than you lovely people.

Geogra · 03/03/2019 11:10

That’s really interesting to hear and it seems it really just comes down to ranking on the list.

We have been actively encouraged at school open mornings to get in touch and tell them how much we want the place if we get a waiting list place. I guess this is just so that they can gauge their position rather than have any positive effect on those waiting.

Geogra · 03/03/2019 11:11

Out of interest SW, were offers made in the days after the deadline and once Grammar results had come out? I think this week will be when all the change happens.

sw19007 · 03/03/2019 11:13

As well as DD I know other girls at WHS and lots of DC's at other schools who got in on WL's. All doing absolutely fine. I really wouldn't worry about it- it may have been that they answered one more question wrong on the maths paper than someone who got an offer outright!

1ndig0 · 03/03/2019 11:15

From what I can tell , bring on the wl has no bearing whatsoever on how a child progresses through the school. Children “peak” at different times. I’m seeing it now at LU, some of those who came in on scholarships seem to have crashed out. A few are asking to drop certain GCSE courses or really needing a lot of support. The teen years are precarious and there are so many factors that can affect progress.

Thecazelets · 03/03/2019 11:15

In response to the q about Tiffin music upthread, the newish Head of Music (2017) is extremely able and is continuing the very strong tradition. I would have no concerns there.

Remember there may be indie WL movement later in March - when dd went through this we spent a long time dithering about private/grammar options and I'm afraid did hold on to private places longer than we should have - the deposit cost was worth it to us for thinking time.

jkhj · 03/03/2019 11:15

Thank you. All this is slightly driving me crazy!

sw19007 · 03/03/2019 11:16

Day after the state offers although I think some of the WL moved slightly earlier than that. State offers were Thursday last year so had a bit more time before the Monday acceptance date.
We were at state primary so no help from prep school heads!

Geogra · 03/03/2019 11:20

So tomorrow will be the day. This process is making me slightly nuts too.

Bool · 03/03/2019 11:47

So tomorrow is the day when things will move then. Certainly must be for PHS but also maybe for others too. Yep nuts is the word!!

Thecazelets · 03/03/2019 11:57

If it gives anyone WL hope we withdrew from a deposit-paid place as late as 18 April (just checked my old emails!) so there would have been at least one place released 6 weeks after state offer day that year...bad form on our part but ultimately best for our dd, which I'm afraid is what takes over in these situations.

TeddTess · 03/03/2019 12:02

There's often quite a bit of movement between April and September - with DD1 the pupil/parent list given at the new parents meeting in April had a fair few changes when they actually started in September...