No secondary school place?

[Innatenvi]

We applied on time, got email confirmation, put catchment school first, then another 2 sensible choices. Our LA only let you put 3 options.

We did not receive an email, we had to log into the council portal to find out our DC is on the waiting list for all three schools with no other offer of a place.

I am on hold to the council but I don't even have a reference number to check where we are on the list because it was on the email - which we didn't get.

What can I do?

Don’t panic. The LA are obliged to offer a place. Speak to them when you can.

It may be that they are in the process of arranging a bulge class, or are confident in there being movement, rather than offering a school far, far away. A bit crap, but possible (though obviously speak to them and make sure it’s not a mistake!).

Get on additional waiting lists if you can, if there are other schools you’d accept. If it is correct that he does not currently have a place, you can start to think about appealing (though would expect the LA to pull their finger out and offer something before it gets too far down that route).

Ultimately, they have to offer him a place somewhere, though that probably doesn’t help your nerves this morning!

Yes, you need to get to the bottom of whether this is an error on the system (ie they do have a place somewhere) or whether the LEA aren’t in a position to offer a place. In that case, you need to press for confirmation of what the LEA plans to do, whether that’s a bulge class somewhere or anything else.

I've managed to at least get a reference to check the waiting list - she's 15th, 16th and 21st on each. I don't know if this is good or not? I need to speak to an admissions officer to check if there are any other spaces but i've been on hold since 8:30am.

Those waiting list positions aren’t too bad (assuming they’re large schools and there’ll be some churn before September) but there’s no guarantee there. You need a firm offer of a place now, so that your child has somewhere to go in September (even if you’re hoping to get something else via the waiting list).

Hopefully the council will answer soon, it would be helpful to have some kind of an answer!

Think that you need to keep trying to get through to the LA admission team but also be realistic that you and many others are all trying to get to speak to someone. You should have been made an offer because that is what the LA is legally required to do but there are all sorts of reasons why at this moment in time they are unable to offer. From your perspective the LA agreeing with the school an extra class of 30 would be ideal, given where you are on the waiting lists but you need to let them sort out what school you can be offered.

@Innatenvi

Hopefully the council will answer soon, it would be helpful to have some kind of an answer!

I would imagine they are dealing with 1000s of queries this morning with minimal staff. It might be better to call later in the week when it’s calmed down. Good luck.

Thanks but I don't feel I leave this - my child needs a place somewhere! If I leave it til later in the week there is even less chance.

@Innatenvi It maybe they have to go out of area and the council foot they travel cost. I know someone that happened too

Obviously only until they can find a closer one at the others on your list of course

OP, are you in Richmond upon Thames by any chance? If so, there are always people without places on March 1st. The letter you get in the post tomorrow will explain why you needn't worry. They won't open phone lines until tomorrow.

This has happened the last few years in Stockton and Middlesbrough too, children have ended up being offered places 2 boroughs over and they've laid on a bus for the 40 or so kids doing the hours journey each way to their allocated school. Complete shambles. I really hope you get sorted with a place

In our London borough (I know you aren't in London since you said you get 3 preferences), if you don't get any of your choices on offer day they don't give you an offer and just tell you to wait, as has happened to you. They've been doing this for about 6 years I think (prior to that they used to offer the closest school with places, even if it wasn't on your list).
The idea is that they know there will be waiting list movement and most people will eventually be offered one of their choices, and in the meantime you can also add yourself to other waiting lists for schools you didn't originally apply for. I guess if they haven't been able to offer you anything from your list by the summer, they then offer you the closest school with places (no experience as people I know who have been in this situation have been offered something from their preferences by end of the school year).
Good luck. It may be helpful to try and find out how much waiting lists typically move for the schools in question by September.
Also, don't panic about calling tomorrow (unless you think there's been an allocation error). The next round of offers is weeks away, so there won't be less chance of your DC getting a place if you don't call for a few days, it shouldn't make any difference.

I do live in Richmond (mentioned above) we have been offered our second choice. I will be appealing because our first choice school seem not to have followed their published admissions policy as my daughter falls in category 3a(3) with a sibling preference. I know 2 children in 3c with places with siblings and one 3c without a sibling so I don’t understand why DD has been given second choice.

I know there will be churn (especially in Richmond) but I don’t understand why they haven’t placed her but lower bands have places,

I'm not in Richmond, I'm in the Midlands. Basically we have been told that we are on our own and have to stay on the waiting lists and appeal for places. There are 2 schools within 10 miles with places and one looks promising, so we will be going to look at that. It's a bit galling when we were very sensible with our choices and then we don't get anything at all!

AuditAngel, I think I can guess the school you mean. It's a complicated policy and I expect someone puts everyone in order manually using a spreadsheet, so it wouldn't surprise me if mistakes are made from time to time. Good luck with your appeal.

The offers have only been made today. Usually families get 10 days to confirm if they're accepting or not. Some don't accept, as they'll be going private or whatever. So there's likely to be some movement in in the lists over the next couple of weeks.
Our LA won't even give you a waiting list number until all the acceptances are in - so you have to sit tight for two weeks and wait and see where you are then.

You don't have to formally accept where we are - they assume you accept and then you have to decline / appeal.

In our area 5-10% go private. But the private offers were also landing today so there'll be loads of movement. Manchester

@hashbrownie thank you for your reply. It is a really complicated series of categories. It would be quite easy for an error to find its way in if it is a manual process. (For example we live in a prioritised parish, but our reference is from a parish not prioritised, but it is home parish stated in published policy)

Just to update - apparently there was an admin error and she had a place all along at our second choice, which she is at the feeder primary for. Whether that's all made up I don't know, but at least she has a place where the majority of her class seem to be going!

Glad it has been sorted for you. It must have been a stressful week!

Oh that’s great news!