Channing wait list

[freyamou]

My DD has been offered a place on the Channing wait list, does anyone know if there is usually a lot of movement on this list or do they over offer? I know they said there would be fewer places this year. TIA.

A good friend of mine has also been offered a WL position at Channing. I’m not really sure how they can run a proper wait list. Offers were received this morning and apparently first come first served, paying half of a terms fees up front. As soon as they receive the right number of deposits, they are full, well before their official deadline and probably within the next few days. So how will a wait list place come up? The only way would be for a family to give up that huge deposit, which I’m not sure would be many?

I know that offers exploded by the Thursday of half term last year so no one was offered a wait list place and some who'd been offered a normal place found that they no longer had one.

But they might have offered more conservatively this year?

Both ways seem really bad, imagine being offered a place and then having it withdrawn or equally having to suddenly find nearly £4,000 to secure your place and that's if you manage to do it on time.I think I'll put it out of my head and my daughter seems happy enough to have done well enough to go on the waiting list anyway.

Believe it or not, some people will pay the deposit for the security of having a place but not take up the place if they get into eg. Henrietta Barnett or DAO on state offer day. Another reason why exploding offers before the state school announcements are so abominable, but that's when the waiting list will kick in.

Also, the way the email was phrased sounded like the wait list was also running on a first come first served basis.

I agree Lononista1, however I think many parents have been a bit more savvy this year. Most girls sit for multiple schools and having heard of what happened last year and how parents were caught out, have made sure their Independent offer would not be Channing alone, all the other Independent schools (apart from CLSG) let parents wait until the state allocations are out. Many friends that sat this year, made sure their back up Independent was one that would wait until after state allocation, avoiding a hefty loss of the Channing deposit. This might mean Channing might well go to their waiting list fairly soon.

Oh my god, it is so confusing and also so unfair regarding the state selectives. Unfortunately our wait list is also bursary dependant so I don't think we should hold out much hope, also not sure how it works as my dd has luckily been offered a place at a small independent school but how do you hold on to the place whilst waiting to hear from the others? Or should I just forget the waiting list and pay the deposit for the other schools and be thankful!!! Thank you I'm now driving myself a bit mad!!!

It depends on the deadline for the Independent offer? How long are they prepared to wait before you lose it? Just make sure you don’t end up with neither! I’m going to be very honest, being on the waitlist with a bursary consideration, could affect your chances. There is only a limited amount of bursary funds and so you might be waiting for a bursary offer to be released? Though I’m no expert on that!

Does anyone know, approximately, how many girls actually get offers from the waiting list?
Do you think phoning up the school or e mailing them makes any difference?!

We had an offer from Queen's which we know has hugely gone up in the world since the 1980s. Does anyone know anyone there right now?

-lso, the way the email was phrased sounded like the wait list was also running on a first come first served basis.

I wonder how that would work? If Freyamou turns up to camp outside the school all night to be the first parent there on Monday with the money and the paperwork would that guarantee her child the first waiting list place that came up? If it’s likely that at leat one waiting list place will become available this might be the sensible option?!

No, I think Channing will have their own preferred order on the waiting list, that aren’t allowed to disclose it though, as per their consortium rules. Again, rather unfair, parents would have no idea if they have any chance at all.

Has anyone got a spot from an independent school waiting list? Loosing hope

Most of the Independent waiting lists will start to move next week, as their acceptance deadlines are next Mon or Tues. state offers are released today (I’m only referring to London), which should start the chain reaction of waiting list offers early next week.

Many thanks Tissunnyupnorth. Fingers crossed.

I know it’s stressful, but hang in there and hit the phones next Mon/Tues. I was just thinking about the DC’s that sat for Independents in DD’s class. Half are holding multiple offers for all the N London private’s. Come Mon/Tue they will become available. The two families waiting desperately for a WL place have been told there will be a lot of movement early next week. Fingers crossed for you! I really hope that anybody getting a state place today, when they know they won’t be using it, gets released quickly.

Thank you. We only have WL now so are very worried. My daughter did not do so well in the rest of the independent school exams despite having worked hard for a whole year. Poor girl is so sad despite me trying to cheer her up. Thanks for your encouraging words.

Stressedmum18, please PM me.

@stressedmom18

Sorry to hear that. There are quite a few threads (including from previous years) that have given advice to people in this situation - browse and use advanced search (not available on the phone app). Don't lose hope! State offers are just out. Do you have more than one WL?

A few ideas:

• late applications to less selective consortium schools, e.g. St James (they can access the test your DD has already done)

- late application for state (as backup / insurance / sleep better at night) - Northbridge House x 2 - St Margaret's? (IDK it) - prep to 13 - call and tell the registrar at the WL school(s) that you would definitely accept inmediately if offered - start your own MN thread and/or provide more info here about where you live and what you are hoping for

If you pursue several of these then, with patience, it will work out in the end!

Great ideas. Thank you so very much. I am new to Mumsnet so the tips on searching are very useful as well.

I’ve asked my friend whose daughter has a waiting list place at Channing. Their place WL was numbered. They’re expecting to hear on Monday as people give up their Channing place after receiving their state offers.

I did not realise the places were numbered. Have no idea where my DS stands. The phone lines to the school have gone straight to voicemail all week. One way or the other agony will end Monday/Tuesday.

Friend told us the waiting list placement number for the Channing waiting list. Maybe other schools do it differently?

Channing are not allowed to give waiting list numbers. The families I know on the WL have been told this. All consortium schools have to abide by the code of practice. If a school steps outside the code of practice, they will be putting themselves at great risk.

Thank you. tissunnyupnorth

I’m beginning to work out why friend told her DD ( and everyone!) that DD was x place on waiting list but actually they prefer another (non-selective) school.

School admissions is a strange old world in N London!