Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

How soon after national offer day was your child offered a waiting list place?

71 replies

Morecan · 15/03/2019 07:10

We’re on a number of south east London state secondary waiting lists, typically in the mid teens for our band. The positions haven’t changed in the two weeks since offer day.
Today is the acceptance deadline for state school places, and I was wondering how soon after this date waiting list places have typically been offered in previous years? I know offers can be made well into the year after secondary transfer - but how soon do they start to be made?

OP posts:
Original poster
Morecan · 15/03/2019 20:14

SchoolSchool1 if you can bear to put yourself, ask on here - there’s so much knowledge!

OP posts:
Original poster
Morecan · 15/03/2019 20:14

Out, not put!

OP posts:
Original poster
Morecan · 15/03/2019 20:31

Out not put!

OP posts:
PettsWoodParadise · 17/03/2019 15:47

Good luck all. Another point for movement is after the orientation day (end of June, early July), the school follows up any no shows or those who change their mind. In DD’s school there were a handful who had decided to go private but the school hadn’t found out until the girls allocated places hadn’t turned up. It was such a shame for those who missed out on the orientation but if that happens to your DC do not despair it didn’t seem to make much difference in DD’s class where there was one girl who missed out on orientation and this was a Grammar where any late entrant will be close to a cut off and thus possible stand out, but the girl in DD’s class who was allocated after orientation is doing really well.

cablydably · 17/03/2019 15:54

I've heard our borough (Richmond) has over-offered for many of its schools this year. I expect it is so that the numbers of families without places doesn't look so scary on National Offer Day (it's a big bulge year). The downside is that the waiting lists will move more slowly as a result.

1Lainey · 17/03/2019 16:51

My daughter who lives with me is due to go into S1 this August. She has one non denominational school and One Catholic High School she is in Catchment for. The non-denominational school is within walking distance from our new home and gives her opertunity to meet local kids. I thought Dad and I were on the same page with this, we are divorced, but seems not. I have drama every morning of school term as she doesn't do mornings well!! Please advise on who's decision this should be?

MollyButton · 17/03/2019 17:25

@1Lainey I strongly suggest you start your own thread. Especially as you seem to be in Scotland and most posters on this thread are in England!

Original poster
Morecan · 17/03/2019 19:26

Cablydably, that’s interesting. Presumably if they over offered and everyone showed up the schools would be in trouble! PettsWoodParadise thank you - and good point about the orientation day. JuliaandJulia - October! That’s stamina. I hope it’s all working out well for your DC.

OP posts:
1Lainey · 17/03/2019 23:36

Sorry, I am new here, still finding my feet. My apologies.

SarfE4sticated · 18/03/2019 00:52

Placemarking - just posted about this on the 'offer letter thread'. We confirmed our place on 15th to Lewisham, and I don't know when to call the council to find out where we are on the waiting list for our 1st choice. Don't want to hold for hours in stairwell at work, but would really like to get an idea!

Original poster
Morecan · 18/03/2019 06:30

Hello SarfE4sticated - I was told by one of the schools to get in touch ‘after the 20th’ - by then they will have had acceptances etc back etc. Not Lewisham, but maybe it’s a similar story?

OP posts:
MollyButton · 18/03/2019 10:39

@1Lainey - no problem! The school application system is very different in England, much simpler for you in Scotland.

Zinnia · 18/03/2019 10:42

@SarfE4sticated I would wait till later in the week after 2nd round offers have gone out, if you can bear it...

Pinkprincess1978 · 18/03/2019 17:10

This is useful info. We haven't accepted our offered placed and currently doing the appeals paperwork but also on the waiting list. I'm not sure if a place will open up on a waiting list or not. I think we have a better chance at appeal.

Pinkprincess1978 · 18/03/2019 17:10

This is useful info. We haven't accepted our offered placed and currently doing the appeals paperwork but also on the waiting list. I'm not sure if a place will open up on a waiting list or not. I think we have a better chance at appeal.

cablydably · 18/03/2019 17:30

@Pinkprincess1978 you should definitely accept your offered place. Otherwise your LA may assume you're going private and is then under no obligation to offer you another one.

KingscoteStaff · 18/03/2019 17:42

One of my last year’s Year Sixes was actually on their way to their introduction day on September 2nd when the phone went with an offer from their first choice! Turned car round, headed to uniform supplier, changed clothes, were in by 9.20am!

hoxtonbabe · 18/03/2019 20:17

Same hall with my ex partners son.. a few days before starting at his 6th preference school, the first preference one called and offered him a place..

hoxtonbabe · 18/03/2019 20:18

Not hall! I mean Happened.

JuliaAndJulia · 18/03/2019 21:38

@Morecan it worked out ok except we also needed to move home as it was an out-of-catchment place offered. Crazy 5 months later we are all set! I'd say don't give up hope until Christmas. Grin

Original poster
Morecan · 19/03/2019 20:54

Congratulations on the move, too @JuliaAndJulia !

OP posts:
Ivegotthree · 20/03/2019 09:19

We were offered a waiting list at our preferred state secondary in mid-May. We are also London and it was a very sought-after school.

SarfE4sticated · 20/03/2019 18:18

I have to wait until after 1st April apparently. Patience is not my strong suit!

Original poster
Morecan · 20/03/2019 21:57

@SarfE4sticated commiserations. I have found Lewisham to be the least helpful of all the councils I’ve dealt with!

OP posts:
Notenoughsleepmumof3 · 21/03/2019 10:17

We are SW London and I only had this with my first child (now year 10). She was initially offered her 3rd choice, We were 14th on the waiting list for her band for her 2nd choice school (which had become her 1st choice in her mind). She was offered exactly 2 weeks after National offer day. We were then offered her 1st choice in June. Strangely in July we were asked if she wanted her 5th choice. But, it does move and I've know friends who have had an offer after the 1 st day of the school year or even later.