State waiting list...

[Mimca]

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

Same area as you I think!

Homelandisending do you think it makes a difference - i.e. do waiting lists tend to move more/for longer in grammar vs comprehensive schools or vice versa? Our local comp is hopelessly oversubscribed and in a normal year would actually see a lot less movement than the grammar.

schulte if an over subscribed school, not really. Either it won't move at all (with more indie parents this year deciding to go state due to Covid) or move massively with more parents holding their state place until the last minute this year for the same reason , if that even makes sense?? I know for our local grammar there are always a few places with children not turning up on the first day as parents can' bring themselves to turn it down, just forget or simply don't care about other people

Yes that has happened in this school too. People do get offers in late August or early September but again that's in a 'normal' year and this year nothing is normal!

Hi You can stay on the waiting list until 2021 you just have to let the school know. We are 11th on the list now for an Epsom school, it hasn't budged much in the last month, we did start at 30 so at least we have moved down the list. Trying to hold out e mailing again until August!

We got a place! Received the phone call a couple of days into the summer holidays.

Yay! Congratulations. Which number ranking school was this?

Our first choice school. I can’t remember we what ranking we started at, 6 maybe? Then was 2nd for months. It’s a banded school so only 30 in a band.
Our second choice was amazing and I have some reservations about giving it up.

I know what you mean about having some reservations about giving up the school you had for all this time. I felt similar to you, as the offer was made so late (but still before the end of term).

Ultimately, back in October when you completed the CAF, you put the schools in order if preference. If a higher ranking school has now come up, I would go with that as there were reasons for you placing it higher up on your application in the first place.

It is hard though, when you think its all done and dusted and (you think) your child is going to a particular school, to have that all turned on its head so to speak 😯

Meredusoleil, yes exactly. We went back to October and all the years of research that had gone on prior to October but we were attached to the second choice and DD felt like it was hers. Whatever will be, I suppose the rest depends on thIs years cohort and that’s not something I can control.