Nervous about Secondary School allocations out this week!

[PinotLover]

Just another to thing to stress about but it's for my PFB so never been through it before. We find out on the 1st March, am being a silly stress head on here rather than in real life. Any one else? We are in the same postcode as the school we prefer, so it's a big deal if it goes wrong!

@YellowOranges You would need to contact the school, but Tiffin general ask parents not to do so and will have more information in a few weeks. They should give you information on scores tomorrow which will give you an idea.

Thank you! We didn’t have high hopes as DS came out (cheerfully!) proclaiming he’d missed out loads of the questions but it’ll be nice to know how he did

Probably a silly question, but can anyone explain how offers for grammar school places may result in places at other schools being freed up for those on the waiting list? I assumed that those who applied to grammar schools would have those as their first choices, so those who are successful in getting a grammar school place would not also be offered places at other schools that they would then decline. I’m sure I’m missing something obvious!

@Cariocbirello - indeed, you can only hold one state place (excepting the rare occurrence of the the establishment of a new free school) so movement on lists is usually caused by people taking private places instead, or moving, or getting places from the wait list on other schools as a result of the first two!

In the case of grammar, what might happen is that applicants who have a grammar place who give it up in favour of a private place then free up a place for someone on the grammar waiting list; who would be expected to accept, and give up their place at a non-grammar. So in effect another state school place is freed up by this process as the child at the top has gone private.

@Cariocbirello
Little Johnny has a place at St Cakes Indie. He also applied for Grammar and Leafy Comp.

This morning he hears that he has missed Grammar and got Leafy Comp. He turns down Leafy Comp and goes to St Cakes.

Hey Presto, Leafy Comp waiting list moves.

I’m curious to know if there are any early indications of more children applying for, and accepting, state school places this year as some of the economic effects of the pandemic are beginning to be felt?

None of our choices but my borough got back to me very quickly with waiting list positions. We have no chance except for one school for which we are in single digits. So that's a relief. However i know positions can change due to late applications. Im going to call the school first thing in the morning

Brilliant explanations, thanks Patricia & kingscote

@YellowOranges

Thank you! We didn’t have high hopes as DS came out (cheerfully!) proclaiming he’d missed out loads of the questions but it’ll be nice to know how he did

You will get a letter with DSs score and what the cut off was. We were told in the letter that we would definitely be offered a place by Easter- in reality it was the end of March. He missed the original cut off by 1 point ( although there may have been lots of boys with the same score!).

yelloworanges. The Tiffin wait lists do move quite a bit, so you never know. A good number of pupils offered will stick with their independent school.

Fingers crossed for you. My DS is there. It's a great school!

@JohnMiddleNameRedactedSwanson

I’m curious to know if there are any early indications of more children applying for, and accepting, state school places this year as some of the economic effects of the pandemic are beginning to be felt?

I’ve actually got the impression it’s the opposite (particularly in relation to grammars) - I think in places where grammar tests were delayed, many more explored private school options in case 6 months of schooling put their children at a disadvantage so that there is a ready and waiting back-up option.

Also, I think many have seen how well many indies have done home schooling, and this has persuaded some to go down that route too.

We applied to our local school, having been told by all the schools that our primary was a feeder etc. Everyone from our area goes to this school. But surprise surprise, she didn't get in! I was shocked to begin with, and worried that DD would freak. She had severe anxiety early in primary school that led to school refusal and we eventually home edded for a few years as she couldn't cope. Going to the high school that she expected, with her peers was massively important.

However she's been fine about it! Massively underestimated her. We will be appealing as the local school is more successful academically, it is closer and easier logistically and her best best friend is going. I've approached the GP and home ed contact at the council for evidence of her previous anxiety, and head teacher will testify to it. But I feel much happier to see her excited about another school anyway. She's currently watching the other school's online open evening video.

I work in a Prep school and we have been inundated with parents wanting to have a better education. They have seen what their school has offered is inadequate homeschooling and lessons online, some have offered very little, so we have had people calling enquiring.
The school is fairly full but some children naturally leave at Year 6 for state. No bigger numbers, but the the usual number that we have very year.
One private school that I had as a 'back up' for my dds is closing and two children were going there. They're just discussing if they are staying on or finding elsewhere.

@IndecentFeminist

We applied to our local school, having been told by all the schools that our primary was a feeder etc. Everyone from our area goes to this school. But surprise surprise, she didn't get in! I was shocked to begin with, and worried that DD would freak. She had severe anxiety early in primary school that led to school refusal and we eventually home edded for a few years as she couldn't cope. Going to the high school that she expected, with her peers was massively important.

However she's been fine about it! Massively underestimated her. We will be appealing as the local school is more successful academically, it is closer and easier logistically and her best best friend is going. I've approached the GP and home ed contact at the council for evidence of her previous anxiety, and head teacher will testify to it. But I feel much happier to see her excited about another school anyway. She's currently watching the other school's online open evening video.

Is the primary school a feeder school on the written admissions criteria for the secondary school?

Also, make sure you are on the waiting list-it's possible you'll get a place through this before the appeal. Best of luck

Tiffin and Tiffin Girls has brilliant online learning, so no problem there

@JohnMiddleNameRedactedSwanson @louisejxxx anecdotally I have the impression that more people are applying for private. Similar reasons including more stability and better teaching during lockdown. But I'm in London and that may well be it's own microcosm. I also think the people who apply or are borderline for independents tend to be professionals who haven't been that affected financially by the pandemic.

Just got text message at 8.16pm to say email has been sent, no sign of it in my inbox though! This area is rubbish. I managed to get online at about 6.30pm though after the site crashing in this area the whole afternoon/early evening and ds has his first choice. He took performing arts exams last year as their admissions criteria offers 10% of places on that basis to children who wouldn't get a place on distance (out of borough) 🎉

@ProfessorPootle

Just got text message at 8.16pm to say email has been sent, no sign of it in my inbox though! This area is rubbish. I managed to get online at about 6.30pm though after the site crashing in this area the whole afternoon/early evening and ds has his first choice. He took performing arts exams last year as their admissions criteria offers 10% of places on that basis to children who wouldn't get a place on distance (out of borough) 🎉

That is the same as the school my dd1 got a place at last year. I wonder if it's the exact same school? Can you say where it is if you don't want to say the name?

Also heard that more people have applied for private this year, we applied but had always planned to move to independent for secondary. All the schools we applied to said they had unprecedented numbers of applications this year, definitely some of that is down to people applying to more schools, so applying to 7-10 schools when in the past 4-5 was considered a lot! Also the new ISEB exam meant you sit one exam for multiple schools. From the letters we received from schools numbers were massively up though so definitely also lots applying that wouldn't normally have.

@Meredusoleil

It's a school in Surrey, is it the same do you think?

How interesting. Thank you.

[quote ProfessorPootle]@Meredusoleil

It's a school in Surrey, is it the same do you think?[/quote]
Glenthorne?

[quote ProfessorPootle]@Meredusoleil

It's a school in Surrey, is it the same do you think?[/quote]
Have sent you a PM. But its not Glenthorne as that comes under the London Borough of Sutton I believe.

@Enoughisenough2021@SunnySpringDay

Thank you! DS is super keen on KGS and we were wibbling about single sexed schools, but obviously the money aspect and academic rigour of Tiffin appeals. He's pretty easy going though so at least there isn't that pressure to contend with!

Tricky- we ended up sticking with our private option but that was partly due to location. Narrowing down on location with KGS v Tiffin doesn’t really work!