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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Sixth form Waiting Lists

39 replies

Orangesandlemons77 · 13/08/2021 12:59

Hi just wondered if anyone had experience of this. DC's sixth form requires a certain number of Bs but he got a mix of As and Cs so they have put him on the waiting list for a place.

They said he is first on the list and as he went to the school is in a good place, meant to be calling us back as well but that hasn't happened yet

He has been offered a place at another school as well so do have that as a backup and also a college place but he is keen to go to his school sixth form.

I guess it will depend on whether others drop out and how oversubscribed it is.

OP posts:
DonGray · 13/08/2021 19:52

I would expect movement middle to end of next week - we had multiple offers and acceptance dates varied
I declined the places we don't want today

Original poster
Orangesandlemons77 · 13/08/2021 21:30

OK. DS was at his summer job today and needed the phone off, when he had a missed call argh. Think it may have been the school. Hopefully he can speak to them next week.

OP posts:
wedgebdy · 13/08/2021 21:31

@Orangesandlemons77, B's in what? Presumably not GCSE's, as they now have numeric grades.

ihearttc · 13/08/2021 21:41

@wedgebdy

Not in Wales they don’t…

Original poster
Orangesandlemons77 · 14/08/2021 09:23

I was meaning grades 7,8 (A) 6 (B) and 5 (C), they got a mix but sixth form requires five "6s' or Bs. I'm not from English system myself but that was my understanding of the grades.

OP posts:
wedgebdy · 14/08/2021 10:45

Oh, so it is in England! State school or private?

Original poster
Orangesandlemons77 · 14/08/2021 11:07

State.

OP posts:
DonGray · 14/08/2021 11:10

So do you plan to release one of your other offered places?
Waitlists won't move if everyone holds on to all their offers

Original poster
Orangesandlemons77 · 14/08/2021 11:21

Probably on Monday after we have clarity about what the situation is.

OP posts:
wedgebdy · 14/08/2021 12:32

@Orangesandlemons77 if your son doesn't meet the minimum academic criteria specified in the sixth form admissions policy (which should be on the school website) then technically the school should not offer a place - if they do, and especially if they do it for your son and not external applicants, then it will technically be in breach of the schools admissions code. The code is very clear that external and internal students should gave the same academic entry criteria applied.

On the other hand, if your son has met the minimum entry criteria then he should not be on a waiting list - he should automatically transfer from year 11 to year 12.

Sixth forms bend and break the admissions rules all the time - often unknowlingly, because they're not up to speed on how it applies to sixth forms.

Original poster
Orangesandlemons77 · 14/08/2021 13:40

OK. Well just read the admissions policy and it says something about limited to 20 external applicants and if oversubscribed places to be given to pupils of the school. But it also says about the minimum entrance requirements too.

I guess it will be best to just speak to them this week. Thanks anyway for the replies.

OP posts:
Original poster
Orangesandlemons77 · 16/08/2021 11:13

School have advised it will be an appeal considered by governors, head of sixth...and to hold on to other offer/s until it has been considered.

OP posts:
clary · 16/08/2021 11:28

How many 7s and 8s did he get and how many 5s? It's ok to use the numbers btw, they have been in place for a few years now and conversion is not exact anyway.

Original poster
Orangesandlemons77 · 16/08/2021 12:27

He got a 7, an 8, two 6s and rest 5s.

OP posts:
Original poster
Orangesandlemons77 · 16/08/2021 12:29

"Appeals for school sixth forms

If the school sixth form did not offer your child a place, both you and your child have the right to appeal. If they did not offer your child a place because there were others that more closely met the school’s admissions criteria, then the appeals process is the same as all other school admission appeals.

If your child was refused admission because they did not meet the entry requirements specified by the school (for example 5 GCSEs grade 4 or above), the panel will only uphold the appeal if it considers that the admission authority’s decision was unreasonable based on the information available. For example, if there are specific reasons or special circumstances that meant your child was not able to get the required GCSEs at the relevant grades."

From www.gov.uk/government/publications/admission-appeals-for-school-places/advice-for-parents-and-guardians-on-school-admission-appeals

So, guess this is how they will look at an appeal.

OP posts:
Original poster
Orangesandlemons77 · 16/08/2021 12:33

We do have some particular circumstances this year which the school are already aware of so just have to wait now I think. Fingers crossed it doesn't take too long.

OP posts:
clary · 16/08/2021 14:57

wow that's harsh so he was missing one grade of 6 or above! I think the stipulation of five 6s is high and unusual IME but maybe it's to weed out those who may not stay the course. I assume his 8, 7, and one 6 are his A level choices? My DCs' school just says 4 in maths and English and 6 in A level choices. I guess they must have some stipulation for new subjects like 6 in Eng or history if raking gov/pol for example.

Still I guess they have to stick to the rules if they are oversubscribed.

wedgebdy · 16/08/2021 18:00

@Orangesandlemons77 hopefully they will do the appeal quickly. It's a bit unfair to expect you to hold off registering elsewhere in the meantime - you don't want to miss out on a next-best offer because of that. Other sixth forms won't necessarily hold a place open for your son if he misses the registration slot they give him, and even if they do allow him to register late then his preferred courses may be full. However, if he does register elsewhere, and his records are transferred before the appeal hearing, he may lose his status as a transferring student at the current school. So if you think you have a strong chance at appeal it may be worth holding on.

Original poster
Orangesandlemons77 · 25/08/2021 20:50

We won the appeal, have told the other sixth forms so they are free to accept others. Thankfully it didn't take too long, they knew how important it was to get on with it with the new term starting shortly. So that is a relief!

OP posts:
Original poster
Orangesandlemons77 · 25/08/2021 20:51

Yes the choices are linked to the 7,8 and 6.

OP posts:
Willowkins · 28/08/2021 09:29

Thanks for starting this thread. We've had radio silence from DD's first choice 6th form since they suggested she go somewhere else. She actually did better than expected so I don't know how they can renege on their conditional offer.

Original poster
Orangesandlemons77 · 29/08/2021 18:12

@Willowkins

Thanks for starting this thread. We've had radio silence from DD's first choice 6th form since they suggested she go somewhere else. She actually did better than expected so I don't know how they can renege on their conditional offer.
That's poor. As I understand it if they have made the entrance requirements stated they should have a place?
OP posts:
Willowkins · 29/08/2021 19:16

I'm going to ring up on Tuesday to find out what's going on but not sure I want her to go there now they've shown their true colours. Meanwhile, she is working her socks off to meet the entry requirements of her 3rd choice so she can get a place there. I think it's all just crazy at the moment.

wedgebdy · 29/08/2021 20:55

Well done for winning your appeal Orangesandlemons77!

@Willowkins, why did the school suggest your daughter go somewhere else? Was it because her predicted grades dodn't meet their criteria? If she had a conditional offer, did she accept it? If so, she should have been invited to enrol after she got her results. But if not, then they will have assumed she didn't want it. Did she apply using her own email address or one that you have visibility of? Have you checked the spam folder?

Also, what are the entry requirements for the third choice? I find it hard to imagine what she could be working hard at if she already has her GCSE results.

wedgebdy · 29/08/2021 21:08

As I understand it if they have made the entrance requirements stated they should have a place?

Not exactly. If they have met the entrance requirements they should be invited to enrol in the order specified in the school's oversubscription criteria (which will be on the school's website). Once all the places are filled, enrolment will stop, so not everyone may be able to enrol. Also, those that enrol relatively late may find that the specific courses they want to do are full, so they may have to choose a different subject or go elsewhere.