Secondary school Waiting lists

[MrsMessi]

.The advice is accept the school offered and apply to be on waiting list of one you actually want. But if everyone accepts then how can schools work out places that might become available and how can waiting lists move?

It only takes one to move and then there's a knock on effect.

Someone will move to an undersubscribed school, or to a private school, or out of the area completely, and start of chain reaction of moves.

Also successful appeal for another school.

Schools don’t deal in places that “might become” available - they only offer places that are definitely available because they’ve been declined.

The point about accepting the offered place is to be sure your child has somewhere to go in September. If you refuse the offered place, the LEA will not make you an alternative offer so, unless something turns up from a waiting list or appeal, your child may have no place at all. Of course that’s not a problem if you can homeschool or join the independent sector.