Waiting Lists - less movement this year?

[KateBlush]

What are your experiences of waiting list movement so far this year? We're on a WL for a grammar - most years you'd expect to see the list move by 10 places in round one - it's only moved 5 this year.

My feeling is there's a lot of people hedging bets and willing to lose private school deposits while they weigh up their final decision - or am I clutching at straws?

I think it depends where you are.

London E Admissions has had issues - not sure if it was just my borough or not - I was chased by the school today to see if we were accepting or not having already replied via E Admissions - info hasn't transferred across apparently
So that's one school won't have gone to their waitlist yet as they haven't confirmed the first round offers

I have no idea on previous years but DD has gone from 71 to 40 for her 1st choice. I think some people will have had the school on the list even if they've applied for selective or private schools.

Most WL movement in our area (Surrey) happens later in the spring/summer- schools in our area run a 2 layer approach to accept places- 1st you have to accept the offer on the eadmissions site and then respond to a letter from the school asking to confirm if you would like to accept the place. In our case we were asked to post the acceptance letter to the school and the deadline to respond wasn't until end of last week, so many schools are still processing their 1st round offers.

im in london and on offer day we were number 1 on WL for a school. Thought we would have heard something by now but nothing. My LA is saying they wont be giving any updates until after this Thursday. In past years ive heard movement occur from mid march so looks like theres a delay

We are south london and it doesn’t seem to move, certainly a lot less than expected. Think due to the current climate a lot of people are hanging on to both states and privates places, possibly more than one private even.

Yes @lamsodone, perhaps there'll be a flurry of movement over the summer, maybe it won't even come until early Sept - painful!

@Iamsodone

We are south london and it doesn’t seem to move, certainly a lot less than expected. Think due to the current climate a lot of people are hanging on to both states and privates places, possibly more than one private even.

Agreed. I spoke to a parent this morning who is undecided and doing just that (holding a state and private place).

The deadline for being required to pay the first term fees will be the start of the summer term for most schools. You may find that a few more places become available towards the end of April as a result.

However, some parents have deep enough pockets to be prepared to lose £7k to buy them the extra time if need be.

It’s also a high birth rate year. Our town consistently has children going to Bucks grammars as out of county applicants (we are just on the border and so closer to one school than some children who are actually in Bucks).

This year they only got places if they had a sibling there so the local comprehensive has had to add an extra class to accommodate the extra children who normally would have got grammar places.

Why waiting though? Why waste £7k - what are they hoping will change over the summer term that makes this worth it?

We have had more withdrawals than we usually do, all but one have gone with independent schools instead (the other was to Grammar). Usually we have one or two, again to independent or grammar, but we've had 8 so far.

I think parents are keen that full time learning happens if there are more school closures...but I know for a fact that our online learning has been better than that of the two independents and the grammar, because my children and their closest friends attend those schools. One school in particular has had quite a poor response to home learning, but you can't tell these things from outside the schools.

Hmmmm not sure that would be the thing to pin the next 5-7 years on for me.

I teach in a state comprehensive. I delivered every single lesson as a live lesson between January 4 and March 8. My dc are in a state primary. They had several online sessions every day. It’s definitely not just private schools who have had the response right this lockdown, and not something which I personally think will still be affecting us beyond the end of the current year 6 being in year 7, if that long. Once we are vaccinated they won’t be closing schools again in a hurry.

@ImpatientAnn
hoping to visit a school I would have thought or personal circumstances changing uncertainty etc ...

It’s a difficult year as schools haven’t allowed in person visits here (only privates did in autumn term, state schools nothing). Peoples’ finances are precarious and I honestly don’t think anyone really knows what is going to happen in the next few months with the economy. It’s a high birth year. It’s a really difficult year for changing schools, a lot of uncertainty

Our school is a good school and the online learning was well below standard. The buildings can’t cope with the restrictions, the school can’t run properly. Do you choose based on the current situation or a hope that it will all return to normal soon? I can understand the indecision!

I understand indecision and waiting until the last minute. I don’t understand potentially losing £7000 on the hope you’ll get to see inside the school before the end of the summer term. I think that’s unlikely (for the state school, perhaps not for the private school).

It's not just about live lessons though - another lockdown means no access to all the sports/ cocurricular offerings

But not for the full 5 years of compulsory education. You’re (they’re) making a decision for the long term not just the next year which maybe affected by a pandemic. It is unlikely (from the timeline of previous pandemics where there wasn’t even a vaccine) that it will go on beyond the next year.

@ImpatientAnn

I understand indecision and waiting until the last minute. I don’t understand potentially losing £7000 on the hope you’ll get to see inside the school before the end of the summer term. I think that’s unlikely (for the state school, perhaps not for the private school).

Personally I think it’s more to do with places being thin on the ground and the uncertain financial position. So people need an insurance in case things change. Or they’re waiting on lists for other schools. If you appeal or go to second round you still are advised to accept the first offer otherwise you may get an even less preferred choice. Some of the grammars had trouble with doing all their usual tests as well which has made things complicated. Unfortunately all there are multiple difficulties this year

has anyone see much movement in London ? thanks

We're London and my DD moved from 71 to 40 on her 1st choice. Not a grammar/selective. I've heard if a few people being offered higher preference places (although not their 1st choices)

Im in london and havent had any success yet. LA said lists will be updated by today so i emailed this morning ..awaiting reply

Not heard yet in London
!!
apparently, nearby neighbours have just heard they have been given a place at their 1st choice.
I’ve emailed our 1st choice school and the council admission team but nothing yet 😬😬

We have moved from 19 to 11 for St Marylebone and from 11 to 2 for GCH so the lists are definitely moving