Page 2 | State waiting list...

Mimca · 2020-05-26T22:44:30+00:00

Any thoughts on whether there will be much movement on state secondary waiting lists between now and September? Or am I being very optimistic? Thanks

averythinline · 06/07/2020 09:39

We had movement up until October half term..... and that was in a usual year... athough the peak was done by the end of the first couple of weeks of term...as kids just didnt turn up...and that takes a litle while to filter through as they have to check that they have gone somewhere else rather than just nt knowing date/ill whatever...(w.london massively oversubscribed school)
Potentially this year there will be less movement as has been harder to 'move'
I think its hard depending on your second choice to go past Mid August... for your child if nothing else as they need to be in a good mindset to start Senior school with especially at the moment so maybe give yourselves a mental deadline and then if you do get a plce later then decide depending on how things go at 2nd choice....

Meredusoleil · 06/07/2020 10:06

Yes that's my issue at the moment! We've got her booked in for a uniform fitting on the 29th, as it needs to be ordered by 1st August. Think that may have to be my deadline, but who knows if other parents think the same and suddenly the WL starts to move again 🧐

PatriciaHolm · 06/07/2020 10:49

@Meredusoleil

Does anyone know when the LEA disband the current waiting lists for Sep 2020?

Waiting lists must, by law, be held until the end of the first term. After that, you will need to check with the admissions authority - some will just carry on, some will ring you to check you want to stay, some will stop lists.

Meredusoleil · 06/07/2020 11:16

End of the first term? So December 2020? That's much later than I thought 😯

PatriciaHolm · 06/07/2020 11:24

@Meredusoleil

End of the first term? So December 2020? That's much later than I thought 😯

Yes, and that's the minimum. Though by law, you can apply for a place at any time anyway.

Appeals are only just being heard where I am (I sit on panels) so there will definitely be some movement around here over the next few weeks as successful appeals shake things up.

Meredusoleil · 06/07/2020 21:56

Oh that's good to know. Can I ask which area you are in please? I'd assumed all appeals would have already been heard and decided by now tbh!

PatriciaHolm · 06/07/2020 22:23

Surrey. Appeals are still very much ongoing, delayed this year by sorting out how they were going to be done remotely.

Schulte · 07/07/2020 12:53

I have been wondering how oversubscribed schools handle appeals - do they keep some places unfilled to allow for successful appeals? Or do they simply increase the class size if they have a successful appeal?

PatriciaHolm · 07/07/2020 12:58

@Schulte

I have been wondering how oversubscribed schools handle appeals - do they keep some places unfilled to allow for successful appeals? Or do they simply increase the class size if they have a successful appeal?

No, schools are not allowed to keep places back for appeals.

If a full school has an appeal allowed, then yes, they have to increase class sizes. If it is an ICS appeal, then that child becomes "an excepted child" and does not count for the purposes of class size - as in, the class can go over 30 because of this child and could be 31.

It would mean than no-else would be admitted from the waiting list into the class until 2 left and it went back down to 29 though.

Schulte · 07/07/2020 13:12

Ah thanks! DD is on a waiting list that usually moves very fast, but this year there's been little movement. Our local comp's waiting list, on the other hand, has moved more than usual.

Perhaps parents are still holding on to both state and indie options and planning to make a last minute decision. Or perhaps it's true that those who would normally have gone private are not doing it this year because of finances, although I've seen people saying the opposite.

Either way, it's very stressful for those of us who want to know for sure where their child is going in September!

Catsruletheworld · 07/07/2020 23:34

We are one of the families that would have gone indie in any other year but accepted our sought after state offer in March and turned indie down before 1st day of the summer term before fees became liable.

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 08/07/2020 09:46

Something I read on another thread seemed to suggest that there was significant movement from the state sector to private (prep?) schools at primary level but that the trend is the reverse at secondary school (Yr 7) stage.

Catsruletheworld · 08/07/2020 11:49

Yes, newmodelarmy. We did 'the maths' and couldn't see the £19k, and rising, value of the top indie over the sought after state school. The differences were smaller class sizes, extra staff for pastoral, sports etc and facilities. However, if another year when we were feeling more comfortable financially , we would probably have gone the other way.

Also, feel there may be more advantages coming from a state school moving forward.

Meredusoleil · 12/07/2020 18:46

We just got a WL offer from my favourite choice school. It's rather late in the day, but at least it's still doable! Very happy 😁

Catsruletheworld · 12/07/2020 19:04

Congratulations Meredusoleil

Which area are you in?

Catsruletheworld · 12/07/2020 19:04

Congratulations Meredusoleil

Which area are you in?

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 12/07/2020 19:06

@Meredusoleil well done. Is your DC pleased?

Meredusoleil · 12/07/2020 19:18

@Catsruletheworld

Congratulations Meredusoleil

Which area are you in?

We are in a London Borough (would rather not say which one on a public forum).

Meredusoleil · 12/07/2020 19:19

[quote NewModelArmyMayhem18]@Meredusoleil well done. Is your DC pleased?[/quote]
DC was happy with the other school we had accepted, but equally sees that this school will work out better all round 👍

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 12/07/2020 19:59

@MereduSoleil that's a result! How exciting!

Schulte · 14/07/2020 13:38

Congrats Meredusoleil!

Do people think there may be ANY more movement now before school starts in September? Surely those who were holding on to both state and private places must have made a decision by now and with schools closing for the summer holidays, I expect everything will just stop?

We're still anxiously waiting to see if DD gets her first choice - she should be next or second on the waiting list by now but it feels like she has missed the boat

Meredusoleil · 14/07/2020 14:11

@Schulte

Congrats Meredusoleil!

Do people think there may be ANY more movement now before school starts in September? Surely those who were holding on to both state and private places must have made a decision by now and with schools closing for the summer holidays, I expect everything will just stop?

We're still anxiously waiting to see if DD gets her first choice - she should be next or second on the waiting list by now but it feels like she has missed the boat

Tbh I didn't think there was going to be any further movement, until lo and behold, we got our offer on Friday! I think some parents will decide to take their child's name off the waiting lists soon and that might create some movement.

Our journey is hopefully now over. We have gone from being offered our 6th choice school (declined), to 5th choice (accepted), to 3rd choice (declined), to 4th choice (accepted). 1st and 2nd choices seem totally unrealistic, so I have put them out of my head!

Homelandisending · 14/07/2020 14:47

schulte what type of school are you waiting for? Grammar or comp ?

Schulte · 14/07/2020 14:56

Grammar...

Meredusoleil · 14/07/2020 15:00

Our 2nd and 3rd choices were grammar schools. 3rd choice had movement from early on after National Offers Day. We got the offer in April. The 2nd choice has had hardly any movement. So much so that I've stopped emailing the school for updates since May!

What area are you in Schulte?