Secondary school waiting lists

[cookiesandtea]

Regular poster here but like to change usernames to keep my anonymity

So I know this question is a little "how long is a piece of string" but I would appreciate your experiences

My daughter is starting secondary school in just under 2 weeks. She is currently #3 on two waiting lists and #5 on another. We live in a very very popular area with good schools

She has got a school place already, but we would love one of our preferences as current school is 3+ miles away.

Is there realistically any chance now?

Thank you

Often new students don't turn up and then waiting list places are offered in the first few weeks.

I'm really really hoping

Anyone else?

No one seems to answer my threads and I wonder if it's because I keep changing name?

My DS is third on the list too for his secondary. I asked and she said it was likely he would get a place this year but she obviously couldn't guarantee it.

@toughdaay

My DS is third on the list too for his secondary. I asked and she said it was likely he would get a place this year but she obviously couldn't guarantee it.

Ahhhh has your DS got a place to start at all?

It's horrible because I don't want my DD to go to school thinking im going to leave but then nor do I want to give up a place at preferred school if she gets an offer say a week in 😩 (it's for at least 5 years!!!!) so stressful

We are on two waiting lists. 5th on one and 12th on another. We have our appeal for one of them on 6th September on the first week of term so sailing very close to the wind. Hopefully a place will come up on that first week 🙏

No. He's been home educated for the last four years but he's asked to go back to school. His brother is at the school which is why he's quite high up the list. Fingers crossed!

There was movement in my ds's school after the first couple of days. His friend started her school on the first Thursday of term, was offered a place off a waiting list on the Friday afternoon, and started on the Monday morning.

@Iknowtheanswer

There was movement in my ds's school after the first couple of days. His friend started her school on the first Thursday of term, was offered a place off a waiting list on the Friday afternoon, and started on the Monday morning.

I have heard so many stories like these - I don't know if I'm actually looking for them as wishful thinking 🤔😖

I work in admissions and just had an email yesterday saying a child was giving back his place. I’m expecting maybe one or two that won’t show up in the first week too. However due to a few successful appeals we are still over PAN so I won’t be offering any places out unless a few more give up their places too. It truly is impossible to guess I’m afraid.

In both my children's years there was movement in the first couple of weeks and new children started.
One friend at a different school got a place for her child in February half term of year 7. They then found the decision harder as she had friends etc but in the end decided that they'd stayed on the waiting list for a reason. Now year 12 and they say it was a really good decision to move.

I think no shows happen (moved away/gone private and not informed school) I’d call day 2 and check. At dds school a child started and then emigrated literally 2 weeks later which I thought was very unkind, they must have known they were going and it meant another child starting late missing induction and having to buy 2 uniforms. Good luck.

Worth checking on for first few months especially if it’s a school people travel a way to. What seems doable on paper may not be in reality so kids leave.

Thank you.

I think it depends how up to date the lists are. I have accepted a place at our 5th preference however put in a late application for another school as we originally didn't get any of our preferences. The school keep emailing me despite me notifying that we dont want the place and so it looks like when school starts they may finally get the message that she's not coming. We also had the same with the school she was allocated in march who only recently just stopped contacting me despite me informing them direct and the local admission team.

I think once the term starts there will def be a little movement but hard to say what your chances are

As someone else has said, there are often people who don’t take up a place when term starts, but if there have been successful appeals you won’t necessarily see that movement filter down to the waiting lists.

Fingers crossed for you though.

Obviously no one can tell you for sure but most schools definitely still have movement between now and the 2nd week of term. How big is the school? If its a 300 or 400 intake there's more chance of places becoming available than if it's only 60 or 90 intake.

We lived one child feom one secondary to another during the first lockdown so it took a long time. One thing I would say is ask your local authority how their waiting list works-
For e.g. you local authority dissolves the list at Christmas post the September intake so you have to reapply. They don’t notify you though. So worth asking if you are still on the list at half term or end of term. Good luck.

Thanks guys. I know it's all a bit how long is a piece of string question but it's good to hear experiences.