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Secondary education

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

Original poster

Waiting list movement September onwards

34 replies

frowner · 02/09/2019 17:10

My daughter is currently on the waiting list for her first choice school which is a grammar school. Does anyone have any experience of waiting lists moving after term starts, she’s currently 6th.

OP posts:
Legomadx2 · 02/09/2019 17:29

Yep there will be loads of movement over the first term. Hold tight and hold your nerve!

(and keep ringing the registrar and reiterating how desperately keen you are).

Original poster
frowner · 02/09/2019 17:38

Thank you, that’s promising to hear. There has been very little movement of the summer so we are losing hope of her getting a place.

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HandsOffMyRights · 02/09/2019 17:53

There will be movement in some grammars especially in these first weeks. In others there may be less (may also be woth popping on the 11 plus forum and posting there, including name of the school).

Some keep the waiting list open to the end of the year.

Make sure to big up her current school and be positive though just in case.

Original poster
frowner · 02/09/2019 18:30

Thank you for the advice. We have definitely been positive about her allocated school, it isn’t a bad school by any means just not the one she had hoped to go to.

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PatriciaHolm · 02/09/2019 22:25

Depends on the school tbh, and the size of the intake. 240 vs 120 for example makes a big difference.

And ringing the school repeatedly will have no effect. School cannot influence the waiting list, you are where you are. Being seen to be keen is irrelevant.

PatriciaHolm · 02/09/2019 22:27

...oh and check on how long they keep the list for, if you would move her later in the year. They only have to keep it until the end of the first term, though many will keep it for the first year.

Iusedtobecarmen · 02/09/2019 22:54

In my experience I disagree. Eldest was number 6 on waiting list for grammar(if I remember rightly). I got very excited but he only moved up 2 places by the Christmas
By then he was settled in the comprehensive. It's Birmingham though and the grammar system is mental

Original poster
frowner · 03/09/2019 11:07

Thank you for all the responses. It’s an intake of 150 so one of the smaller schools. Warwickshire council have said that they hold the waiting list until December and then the school manages it thereafter. We will just have to sit tight and see what happens.

OP posts:
user1493494961 · 03/09/2019 13:27

I don't think there will be much movement for a grammar school to be honest, especially in Warwickshire.

Mumski45 · 03/09/2019 13:36

DS started at a grammar school 2 years ago. After the first Xmas hols there were 4 new starters in his class from the waiting list as places had arisen from boys leaving and not turning up including 1 child whose parents decided they didn't like the mobile phone policy being applied to their DS.

Original poster
frowner · 03/09/2019 14:27

Hmm not looking overly optimistic then.

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Original poster
frowner · 11/09/2019 12:15

So she is now 2nd on the waiting list, for I guess this may have been the initial start of term no shows maybe? So close now...

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Petroleum1 · 11/09/2019 15:51

My dd has been offered a place at a much better school for year 7 which was higher on our list. As we didn't hold out much hope over the summer she got used to the idea of the school she was given. She is now refusing to the take the place. It's a much better school so do I make her. Can a 11 year old make the right decision or should I take it out of her hands?

malmontar · 11/09/2019 15:57

@Petroleum1 I wouldn't give the choice to the child personally but I'm sure there's lots on here who would. Lots of kids move in the first couple of weeks and to be honest there's so many new faces they probably wont even realise shes new. Some of the schools haven't even been open a week!

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 11/09/2019 17:27

@frowner sorry that you are so near and yet so far. Could be 'no shows' or people who've decided to take their DC's names off the waiting list. I suspect you may have a long wait for a place now, unless someone has started, really doesn't like it and decides to leave imminently.

FWIW I was always under the impression that once a grammar school place became available well into a school year, all those who have remained on the waiting list (assuming there's more than one child) have to sit an exam, with the top scorer getting in?

Original poster
frowner · 11/09/2019 22:19

That’s interesting I’ve not heard that, I shall have to enquire as I had thought it still went on 11+ score.

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PettsWoodParadise · 11/09/2019 23:24

At DD’s Grammar one place (160 intake) has come up in three years (for her year). There were a few no shows at the induction day which they followed up with and so a few places came available in July but not much movement once school started.

From Y8 the admissions becomes a pool and not a list, all those who want a place get notified when a place comes up and they are invited to sit a test with the highest scoring getting the place. This can include those who moved to the area, found they can’t afford private school fees and a host of other reasons so competition is often even fiercer then the 11+ test. Check the admissions for the school you are after.

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 12/09/2019 06:19

@frowner, the problem is that once the school year has started, there's always potential for people (potentially even with twins or triplets - DS's grammar at a set who started in Year 9 when one place became available...) to move into the area and put their DC's name(s) down on the school waiting list too. And some, particularly those coming from abroad, may target an area specifically because of its grammars.

In DS's year group (120) I believe three places came up in Yrs 7-11 but four got in because of the twins.

Is the grammar a super-selective or in an area (such as Kent or Bucks) where there are lots of them? That will impact on supply and demand I would have thought too.

Toomanycats99 · 12/09/2019 06:56

@Petroleum1

My dd was offered a place the day before term started. We had an equal say. She had been to inductions, liked the school (even not being first choice and was a waiting list place from May)

However she just decided that having to go out buy a uniform in 1 day which was what they insisted and get her head round a different school entirely was too much.

We decided to stick with what we had been offered originally.

That said they were equal academically. Her original offer I did not like at all and during its ofsted last year was rated inadequate. Has we still been given that one and not one of our other wait list places I would have encouraged her to take the new one even at short notice.

Original poster
frowner · 12/09/2019 11:40

Thank you all for sharing your experiences and helpful information. The school is in Warwickshire, it is one of three in the local area. @Petroleum1 did you come to a decision?

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LolaSmiles · 12/09/2019 11:43

There's not much movement at any high performing school I've worked in.
Usually there's appeals going on up until half term too.

I'd be surprised if you get a place before Christmas to be honest, by which point they'll be settled in their current school

PenguinsRabbits · 13/09/2019 11:06

DD went to a London grammar, some movement first week of September, at least two places then 2 in rest of the year one was middle of year, the other was last day of year 7.

Acorncat1 · 13/09/2019 12:48

sorry to hijack this, but am I right in thinking that in year 7 you can start in one school and move to another if a place becomes available? Also, can I ask how do they sort out the waiting list after the special needs, postcode criteria has been sorted out? ie - once all those places have been filled how do they determine who goes next? (sorry, in Ireland and looking to relocate to Leeds!)

Zinnia · 13/09/2019 13:05

Yes people can and do move kids in Y7. Most waiting lists (for comprehensives that is, don't know about grammars) should operate as they did before the start of term, ie usually by distance. You will need to check with the school you have in mind, or if you don't have one yet then with the local authority in Leeds. Good luck with the move.

Acorncat1 · 13/09/2019 13:31

Thanks! Is that not very disruptive for the kids though?! Argh, this is fraught!