St Mary Magdalene Academy waiting list

[Blueskyyy]

This school was my first choice, and I'm gutted to have narrowly missed out on a place for my child. Also shocked that a large secondary (210/year) has a 0.31 mile catchment for open places!

Does anyone know what the movement is like on the waiting list for open places or governors places? I'm in the 20s and the 50s respectively, and unsure if a place will come up soon or if it is worth appealing.

I'm hoping, given its London, there will be a fair bit of movement.

I know that in previous years governors places have gone to over 100 (around 120 a couple of years ago as I recall) but I'm not an expert. Hopefully someone who knows more will be along soon

You have to remember that the over 100 reference is referring to ranking on the test not the new waiting list. So it’s basically one in one out for each waiting list separately. So there are 21 gov places so being in the 50s for that I imagine stands less of a chance than being in 20s for an open place. How many open places are there?

Yes this is very true. There are about 132 open places from my working out, but only 21 governors places. Ranking on the governors places was around 140, so clearly a lot of movement on that list prior to offers (as many must have expressed a preference for another school)

It's very tough - by far the most oversubscribed secondary school in Islington. As you say, some high scorers on the Governors' test will have placed other preferences above SMMA (e.g. DAO and Latymer Grammar are often attempted by the same candidates). Others will have been offered places at SMMA in categories higher up the list than Governors' places (LAC, siblings, children of SMMA teaching staff).

I hope things work out for your DC. Have you got an OK offer from another school in the meantime?

Yes, we have an offer from Highbury fields, so this isn't the end of the world. I'm hoping there will be enough waiting list movement however.

We have too! We’re 45 on waiting list gov places and 113 open! But we’re hoping most for Camden or parli on waiting list 🤞🏻

My DD is in yr8 at Highbury Fields, it was our 5th choice & I was very unhappy about it, but it’s been great so far. The SEN & mental health provision have been outstanding & it’s very obvious that the staff care about the children.

This is really good to hear. Has your dd made friends easily and have you found the rules very strict?

DD is autistic & often struggles socially but she has a group of friends that she talks about & the SENCO is very good at keeping us updated.
The rules are strict particularly uniform, I don’t agree with any uniformed schools policies & find them irritating, controlling & ridiculous which was party of my reasoning behind wanting a non uniform school. My friends children are dotted around Islington & Camden & all of the non uniform ones are a lot less stressed about clothes/labels in general & it’s nice going to school not worrying about wearing the wrong socks!! Luckily the HF uniform is minimal. They are wanky about shoes, eg no ankle boots but kickers are fine & have no rules about bags so you see loads of knock off michael kors totes being hauled about! They also insist on black or blue coats. Rant over, I’m very happy DD is there. I’ve friends who teach in various secondaries around Islington & Camden & Pari, HF & SMMA are the schools they all recommended due to having worked at them or knowing staff.

I would have thought you had a chance of an open place if you are number 20 now. In other years there has been a lot of movement but you might be waiting until August to get confirmation. Good luck!

@Blueskyyy just wanted to let you know we have just declined a sibling place at SMMA, so I hope the wait list continues to move in your favour. Our eldest is there doing well (teachers at the online parents evening last night all very lovely), but our youngest got a place at an independent that is a better fit for them. Good luck.

Thank you major I'm also really glad to hear you are happy with the school.

Hi! Any insights on the main differences between SMMA and Highbury Fields for a bright but not particularly committed girl, with huge gap between attainment (not high) and potential (very high)? She did not like HF when we visited but I wonder whether a school smaller than SMMA would focus her mind…. Any advice welcome! 🙏🏻

Well, Highbury Fields has kept it's outstanding rating unlike lots of popular with the middle classes schools.
My DD started at HF but then moved following an offer from her 1st choice (not SMMA). There was nothing wrong with the school and I felt slightly guilty moving her! I quite liked it but never really warmed to the head.
In the short time she was there, I found they were very encouraging with lots of positive feedback. They did seem hot on bad behaviour too. Perhaps a bit strict on some other things but not as bad as the COLA schools.
It is quite a cramped site and DD is happier where she is now (she says it's less strict)but I do wonder if DD would have been more likely to achieve her full academic potential at HF.

Thanks Camandls! Are you under the impression
that HF is academically stronger then? How do
they compare socially? Which one is more creative/intellectually stimulating?

Oh wait just realised she is not at SMMA. I found HF not very inspiring but it might have been a superficial impression - I keep
hearing great things….

I know this is an old thread, but just in case, can anyone explain how this sorts? We're in the top 100 (not much chance of a place) in the governors' test.

If we put SMMA as one of our application choices by 31st October, do we then go up the list if others drop out? If we don't put it as a choice, I assume we're off the list? And we don't live close by, so we'd probably not be on the school's other waiting list?

Then, after 1st March do we get a new ranking on the governors' place waiting list, if others chose other schools, and so on until the new school year?

I’d have thought you do have a decent chance of a place from the top 100. Top 80 has historically been thought of as reasonably safe, though admittedly that was for lower-birthrate years. Bear in mind that the Governors’ Test is sat not only by candidates who genuinely want SMMA but also as a backup for state grammars and an early-season warmup for those sitting independent entrance exams later in the term.

Put schools on the CAF in your genuine order of preference. Those who don’t include SMMA at all will be eliminated from contention. Your eligibility for an immediate offer from each of the schools on your list will be determined according to the published admissions arrangements, so for SMMA that will mean that you’ll be hoping the governors’ ranking list moves enough in your favour as you’re not nearby. But if you qualify for more than one school you’ll be offered the one that’s your highest preference among them. (E.g. if you qualified for both HF and SMMA but had listed HF higher than SMMA then you’d be offered HF, and vice versa).

Then in March there’ll be offers and a shakeout as people turn down places - including those who get offers from the independent sector which they choose over SMMA. So the new waiting lists drawn up at that point will keep moving.

I have been told my child is 2nd on the waiting list for SMMA… do you think this a high possibility of him being able to attend the school?

Very high! I’d be amazed if there wasn’t enough movement through people going private, moving away etc to bump him up 2 places.

Just to say that we will be declining the offer of a Governor's place this week. I hope it helps someone on the waiting list here.

Second place - you will almost certainly get a place. There is a lot of movement.

Last year mine was 82 in the Governors list and eventually got a place but in Mid September

Which waiting list is it?

Hi 👋🏽 whose heard back from school admissions regarding their waiting list choice, has anyone been offered there first choice from their waiting list…. This secondary school journey has been a stressful one to date!🙄