Grammar wait list - weird situation

[KentMum7]

Wondering if anyone can shed some light on a less than usual (I think) situation. Child just missed out on an 11+pass for all sorts of complicated reasons. On appeal, a grammar school deemed him grammar suitable and offered him a place on their waiting list as they are oversubscribed. We've since found out another close-ish grammar still has spaces for year 7 entry at this late stage and have made an in-year application directly to the school as they weren't on our original SCAF form. The new school have been told about his waiting list status at the other school and we have sent evidence of this. My question is this: As he failed the 11+ will they have to reject him and make us appeal for a place, or can they use his wait list place as evidence that he's sort of "already got a grammar school place" (as he would be starting there in Sept. if they'd had space or if 10 or so boys move away) and allow admission without the need for further appeals or testing. The waiting list is unlikely to move much, hence why we are considering other options. Anyone?

Who did you appeal to? A normal admissions appeal would have got him a place, not a place on the waiting list, so I am assuming you appealed against his non-qualification to the school/test body in something like review request, as Medway do?

I would imagine if the new school use the same test as the old school, any review will stand. If you are moving from one grammar test area to another, it doesn't transfer.

Thanks - We appealed to the school who organise their own independent panel, so not like Medway. They first assessed if he was grammar ability (Yes) and second if they had space (No). So he met the first criteria but the school was oversubscribed, so instead of a place they offered the waiting list, so he could theoretically end up at the school if there’s enough movement (Which is possible but unlikely). Old school and new school both use the same test. Let’s hope you’re right that an upheld appeal at the first school is treated like an 11+ pass at the new school or else we face another appeal......

Ah - ok, - then it sounds as if you had a normal admissions appeal, in which you would have been appealing against both non-qualification (because he failed) and then over-subscription (because the school is full).

It sounds like the panel agreed he was of passing ability, but the detriment to him of not attending was not greater than the detriment to the school of taking another pupil, so you didn't win the appeal, but the school have decided to take that decision as enough to put him on the waiting list.

That's a bit different to a general review, and is specific to this school. The other school might accept it, but I wouldn't be surprised if they don't.

Is the pass mark for both schools the same?

The score is the same - In fact the first school give preference to higher scorers. In any case, we've been told we have to appeal to the new school........boo!

@KentMum7
I don’t know where you are in Kent... but If it’s East Kent and SL is the school in question, you may well find other schools have places, and the chance of a non-qual appeal being successful seems to be rather higher where schools are undersubscribed.

I certainly know some of the grammars very much encourage non-qual appeals... the high schools, understandably, get a little annoyed by this.

Bingo! and This is what I'm hoping! Hopefully having already been granted a wait list place at a (sort of) super-selective like SL and including evidence of that, will mean a non-qualifying appeal to a school with space is straightforward. Its just so late in the day and he'll miss all the orientation stuff.

I don’t want to be too positive... but I’d think your DS’s chances are v. good. Can I be nosy, and ask what school the appeal is for? BC or one of the Thanet schools.

An update, in case it helps others: the appeal was upheld! Son is very pleased as school is a better fit for him. So was definitely worth making a late application - especially as orientation/ taster days etc have been cancelled everywhere, so he’s in exactly this same position as everyone else - equally clueless about his new school - as if he’d found out his place in March!

Coming back to update in case it helps anyone with appeals this year and wondering whether or not to bother. Trust your instincts! My son is absolutely thriving. Top of the class for some subjects and doing really well in all others. It’s become very clear he was 100% wrongly classified by the Kent test, but possibly this was due to his SEN not being supported by his primary or even considered during the test. Be realistic but if you think a faster-paced academic environment is right for your child, then do keep fighting!