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Secondary education

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

Original poster

Secondary offers day 2020

221 replies

UselessTrees · 28/02/2020 11:58

Anybody else anxiously awaiting offers day for England secondaries on Monday? Obviously nothing I can do about our choices at this point, and yes it will probably all turn out fine, but I'm suddenly doubting everything and driving myself mad worrying about it!

OP posts:
KingsHeathen · 02/03/2020 10:43

Our LA helpfully included the following wording in the offer emails:

Unfortunately we were unable to offer a place in any of the schools requested however we are able to offer a place in the following school.

The Authority was unable to offer a place for any of the schools requested and has offered the place below. Not Provided

Leading to an initial panic at 5:30am, as not sure my child had a place anywhere!

They have sent an email correcting the wording.

Better than a few years ago, when the email didn't arrive until 3:55, and all DD1's friends knew their schools hours before she did!

Longwhiskers14 · 02/03/2020 10:46

lanthanum That makes sense. The kids were all besides themselves at drop-off this morning, as there is one particular school that some have applied for which has a very tight catchment and some pupils are likely to miss out on a place. Telling them this morning would've been a nightmare for their teachers!

SoCrimeaRiver · 02/03/2020 10:48

DS got his preferred school. As they had spare capacity last year, we were hopeful he'd get it but it's not our catchment school (which is in special measures and a really poor fit for DS) so we were thrilled to get this. Its SEN provision and facilities will be a great fit for him.

Extra points for being walking distance from younger sibling's nursery so he can hop in the car 3 days a week and get driven almost to the door in time for breakfast at school.

listsandbudgets · 02/03/2020 10:55

Kingsheathen have you got a place now? I am guessing from your user name your dont live far from us

KingsHeathen · 02/03/2020 11:04

Smile well, we possibly used to @listsandbudgets!
Am in same authority still, first preference offered, sibling priority.

SoCrimeaRiver · 02/03/2020 11:04

@BabyDubsEverywhere, if it doesn't mention having to accept the place, they're presuming you accept it unless you submit an appeal. Our county have the same system - I was scouring the email yesterday (ours came out early on Sunday morning) for where to accept our place. Breathe easy, you have the place.

corpsebrid3 · 02/03/2020 11:32

Can anyone tell me whether I can go on 6 waiting lists and whether I can find out our current position on these waiting lists?

I guess option wise if things don't get sorted we can remortgage to go into independent sector or see if we can move a mile or two closer?

Has anyone else been in my position before?

Bluebirdhill · 02/03/2020 11:42

@corpsebrid3 From what's been posted on here before by knowledgeable people, you can go on any number of waiting lists, there's no limit. Hope you get something.

confusedofengland · 02/03/2020 11:53

I just rang our first choice school, for which we were rejected - I hate making phone calls blush & it was really no help at all! Admissions lady was very kind & nice, but basically said that until waiting lists come out they don't have any more idea than we do. Warned that as well as potentially moving up on the waiting list he could move down, if other people decide to reject their first choice & this school is next on their list & they have more points. This year they had high demand. But she didn't want to give an opinion either way in case it was wrong & she gave false hope. So is just a wait & see game. Doesn't sound positive or negative. Bloody hate this waiting!

SoCrimeaRiver · 02/03/2020 11:53

@corpsebrid3 it's unlikely you'll find out where you are on waiting lists for a few weeks, as the LA will be waiting for parents to decline places where they're opting for independent schools etc. Give it a couple of weeks before asking, to give time for the churn to settle.

LoonyLunaLoo · 02/03/2020 12:19

DS already knew where he was going as he has a Grammar School place but I was still really nervous waiting for the email!

ChicCroissant · 02/03/2020 12:21

For those on waiting lists - you won't know until after the acceptance deadline what the lists look like, because they are waiting to see who has accepted a place.

BabyDubsEverywhere · 02/03/2020 12:24

@SoCrimeaRiver thanks for that, I can relax now!

DeanImpala67 · 02/03/2020 12:27

Got our first choice, phew! However a Y6 classmate who is 0.03 of a mile further away from the school didn't get in. We must have been right on the edge of the catchment for this year. We're only 0.65 miles away from the school too. Madness. It was a very anxious wait and we were rewarded with the biggest smile when DC was told this morning. Thankfully that's all over with now. Till the siblings turn in a couple of years time!

prh47bridge · 02/03/2020 12:59

From what's been posted on here before by knowledgeable people, you can go on any number of waiting lists, there's no limit

Unfortunately that has changed. The Office of the Schools Adjudicator has said that LAs can limit the number of waiting lists you are on. Personally I think the OSA got that wrong but, unless someone takes it to judicial review, that is how things stand. Some LAs allow you to be on as many waiting lists as you want, others have a limit - usually the same as the number of schools you could apply to.

BluebirdHill · 02/03/2020 13:15

Thanks for that update @prh47bridge. I'm definitely not an expert and wouldn't want to mislead.

HappyMumLdn · 02/03/2020 13:16

Anybody from London heard anything yet? I'm driving myself mad clicking refresh, I know I'm making time go slower by doing so. I know they have said by 5pm but is there any chance it will be at least a bit sooner?
I'm worried DS won't get any on our list, and will be offered the local school which I purposefully left out Confused

QuarterMileAtATime · 02/03/2020 13:20

Pretty sure it's from 5pm in London - it is in our borough. Log in to eadmissions at 5pm or wait for the email to come through the evening. Good luck!

WhenDoISleep · 02/03/2020 13:20

HappyMumLdn - London + Surrey don't release results til 5pm - you won't hear before then.

Leostar · 02/03/2020 13:22

This has been the the longest day ever. Roll on 4pm. Congrats to everyone who got their preference!

Oblomov20 · 02/03/2020 13:32

Surrey here. 5pm you say? Angry

You guys are lucky to have Prh47!!

Crabonastick · 02/03/2020 13:38

It’s driving me absolutely mad! I’m so distracted by results even though I know it won’t happen until 5pm!

WhenDoISleep · 02/03/2020 13:51

Yep, time is dragging here too (Surrey as well). I'm pretty resigned as to the outcome not being what we wanted, but I just want to know so we are no longer in limbo. DC will be home in about 2 hours, so that last little bit of waiting will go quite quick. I am going to try and channel my nervous energy into sorting out the living room until school run time.

Zodlebud · 02/03/2020 14:10

Still waiting in Hertfordshire. Although we had applied for out of catchment places at a couple of Bucks grammars - we are right on the border and traditionally children have got into them from our area.

Bucks have released their last admitted distances though and we know we don’t have our first choice school based on that. We might get our 3rd choice. So frustrating to have indicative information but nothing firm!!!

Crabonastick · 02/03/2020 14:18

I wanted to apply my son for a grammar but we appear to be in an awkward post code that is not within the catchment for any Herts or bucks grammar schools and none in our area

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