Year 7 waiting lists

[Thischarmlessgirl]

Hi all

I’m on the waiting list for my three preferred schools, number one school we are at number 10, number two we are at number 4 and number three we are at 32.

We are also appealing as we have been given a school 12 miles away which is unsuitable for my son’s SEN (no EHCP) I feel we have a reasonable case with written support from his Ed Psych and Psychotherapist etc

I’m just wondering what other people’s experience is with waiting list movement, this was in the second round of allocations. There’s obviously a few months to go. The appeals are not until June.

The first school has a PAN on 240 and the second 180, third is 180 but hugely oversubscribed.

Thanks!

It really depends on your area. If you're in an area where lots of children go to private schools, you may find that waiting lists change between now and the start of summer term, as parents holding both private and state offers have to make up their minds or pay a term's fees. If you're in an area with lots of mobility, you may find people moving out of area over the summer. As time goes on and especially as settling into secondary school days start (if they are happening this year) you'll find more people will stick with the school they've got and won't move - so your actual waiting list place may be higher than the number iyswim.

@UserTwice we are in bucks (but the schools we are waiting on aren’t grammar) assuming some may win their grammar appeal and drop off the list but equally new people could move in and trump us! School two isn’t based on catchment (faith school)

How have you seen the second round of allocations, as the council have taken them down and said they won't be putting them up until Wednesday 7th?

Which area of Bucks are you in? The faith school in Aylesbury is St Michael's and I know lots of my friends are appealing for that, ditto Waddesdon (maybe even more difficult for that one).

My friend is appealing for St Michael's so I've been checking the Bucks allocation which is when I saw the message (luckily we got a grammar so don't have the headache you have).

Best of luck with it.

Sorry reading that back it sounded a bit snippy!

Our DC's school year seems to be pretty big, I had the same issue when DD started primary and lots of her friends have been disappointed with their allocations (which is why I keep checking BCC site so I can help them).

I'm guessing you are appealing too?

Without knowing the schools you've applied for, it's hard to say how the waiting list movements have been in previous years (it's easy to check on the BCC site), but even then it is pretty pointless as last year far more children got into St Michael's than this year (I emailed and asked them for how they allocated places for current Y7s as it was our 1st choice if she didn't get through the 11+. Last year she would have got a place, this year even some Catholics failed).

@feelingmean21 I received an email on Thursday last week with the waiting list places for the three schools. We are 10 for Waddesdon and we are number 4 on the list for St Michael’s. Where are you looking which shows Wednesday 7th? It’s not on any dates I’ve seen on the correspondence I’ve had.
Yes big birth year, we had a headache with primary too but he got in to our local faith school thankfully. We are appealing for both schools but not until June so was hoping there may be some movement before then.
Glad your daughter got her grammar place

@feelingmean21 I just checked the council website and saw the new date for publishing the admission statistics. Thanks for that.

It varies by area and by school. In my school the waitlist barely moves at all. So far I’ve offered 1 place from it and I’d be pleasantly surprised if I get to offer more.

@Thischarmlessgirl number 4 for St Michael's sounds really promising! Waddesdon sounds hopeful too!

Fingers crossed for you.

@feelingmean21 thanks, I’m not optimistic about Waddesdon but I’d like to think we may have a chance with SM at number 4. Need four people to move or decline 🤞🤞

Presumably once appeals are dealt with, if any of those are successful you'll need more than four people to move... If any of those with places appeal successfully for other schools, that will help, though.

@lanthanum I’m appealing for both schools, just hoping we might avoid it!

@Thischarmlessgirl I know a few who are appealing for St Michael's, I don't know what criteria you have, but personally I think their appeals will fail as they have pretty feeble appeal reasons. Are you on Aylesbury Mums FB page? There was a thread there about St M's a few weeks ago.

Remember that you are appealing 'for' a school, not against the one allocated (but you seem pretty clued up so I guess you know that).

Does the school they've allocated begin with A or is it is PR?

I really think you have a strong chance, and hope that others will get into other schools, leaving the path free for your DC. I think a lot will pull out and just accept the school allocated too, meaning you may jump up the WL.

@feelingmean21 We were allocated PR....12 miles away from us and unsuitable. I think our case is quite strong, we have professional supporting letters from my DS’s Ed psych, Psychotherapist, Current Sendco, Current Head, Current Class Teacher and GP but apparently panels can be unpredictable so I can’t let myself get too optimistic. He is on the SEN register and has a IEP but no EHCP. We aren’t Catholic but have baptism plus regularly attend church.
I have two younger children so this would also be such a relief incase they don’t get through the grammar. So stressful.
I’ll look at the fbook page, thanks and for your support

@feelingmean21 just read the fbook post, makes me feel better about being number 4, I didn’t realise the list was so long. Interesting that transport seems to come up as from what I understand from the experts here it’s not really valid, if its within a few miles. I have younger children at a school locally so will have a massive issue if my DS is given PR but ultimately that won’t sway the appeal board so I’m not including it in our appeal. The appeal experts here have been super helpful and given me so much advice