Anyone else stuck in waiting list limbo?

[AmeliaEarhart]

… And haven’t gone the appeals process? We were offered our third choice school back in March 1st. DH and I are happy enough; it’s not perfect but has enough going for it that we’d be okay with DS going there (walking distance, good facilities, great SEN support) but DS is completely against the idea. He has ASD and can be extremely rigid so we’ll be in for a tough time changing his mind. It doesn’t help that only one other child from his class at primary is going there.

So he’s on the waiting list for choices 1 and 2. Number 19 for school 1 and 9 for school 2. Neither is straight forward as both schools have multiple waiting lists (1st choice because it’s an academy and faith school with different admissions paths, and second choice because it has a banded intake). Everyone keeps assuring us that, being in central London, they’ll be lots of movement before September and DS might still be offered a place at either school. We didn’t consider appealing as our reasons for preferring schools 1 and 2 (other than DS’s insistence that he’s not setting foot in school 3) are that they have better results, which doesn’t seem like a strong argument!

Is anyone else in a similar situation? How are you feeling about it? Are you prepared to hang on in there until September, hoping until the bitter end for a place at your first choice, or preparing your child (and yourself) to settle for what you’ve got?

DC's school also has "no shows" in September i.e people who haven't bothered to say they've moved/found a place elsewhere. I guess it depends whether you want to have to effectively settle your child into one school only to move them not long after.

@waiting2022 I can imagine it being both a blessing and a curse being 1st. It’s hard to fully embrace your DD’s allocated school when you’re being told there’s a high chance of last minute movement. Would you move her is you got a call the first week of term? Or do you think that would be too unsettling?

@redskyatnight it’s shocking that parents do this isn’t it?! Unbelievably rude to not inform the school and terribly unfair on the kids and their families who are waiting for a place.

@waiting2022 and @mumobsessedwithdamp assuming the silence on this thread means you guys are still waiting. Wonder whether this week sees any movement. As far as I know our WL has not budged all summer! My DS starts his new school on Friday, when do your DC start?

My DD starts next Friday. Unless someone doesn’t turn up on their first day of term, I can’t imagine that a space will become available now.

In our area there is movement in Sept as people don't turn up

Don't give up @waiting2022 I'm a teacher and there are always children that don't show up in September.

@waiting2022 any news? Are you still waiting? If so I hope your DD has had a good start in her allocated school. My DS has had a great first few days, after all the worry and waiting I think things have worked out for the best. Hope you’re feeling the same.

No, I didn’t hear anything, so assuming everyone showed up at school.

It must have been an unsettling summer@waiting2022 I know I found the last 6 months painful as I got so wrapped up in WL movement! I hope your DD’s week is going well and she’s enjoying her new school.

We got an email in March saying a space had come up. Bearing in mind we were around #15 ok the list, that's a lot to leave in the first year.

We declined obviously

We got offered a place today from the waiting list.

Oh wow, that’s quite far in to be offered. Are you going to accept it? I know someone who accepted a place beginning of last week and is very happy they did.

15 kids wouldn’t need to leave for that to happen. People are less inclined to move once school starts. You just need one kid to leave and then the 14 people ahead of you on the list to turn it down as you did.

Not sure, it’s really difficult to make a move now.

This was meant to be quoting @Harridan1981.

@waiting2022 You're barely a month in. If it's the school you really wanted, I'd move. Before half term the kids don't even know everyone in their year.

Yes I can imagine, things must be feeling quite settled? You have to start balancing the initial disruption versus whether long term it would still be better. Are you and your DC feeling happy with the current school?

@Meadowbreeze has a point about the kids not knowing each other yet. At ours the clubs are only just starting up and it all still feels very new. I think anyone joining now would slot in fine. There are five years ahead for all our DC, versus the 3 weeks done so far.

@waiting2022 so frustrating that you didn’t get this call 4 weeks ago! I think it all depends on your DD. Is she the sort of child that adjusts easily to change, if she is I’d say go for it. If she struggles then it could be unsettling to move her.

@ColdHappyBap same in our school. Clubs starting Monday. Honestly don't think the year 7s would even notice if someone new started. Half of them don't know each others names.

As I said before, in our area (city) loads don't turn up in Sept. There's quite a bit of shuffling. I know a lot who put school A were actually impressed by School B once started, to the point they turned down School A when offered. People at no35+ turn get offered places.
In Yr7 friends are so fluid the kids won't not

Notice. We also have kids moving forms etc No issue

Wow! A big decision for you.l, especially if your child has settled well into the allocated school, good luck. Let us know what you decide x

My child hasn’t settled in their current school, but is an anxious child, so not sure if a move now would cause us even more issues. Plus the move would be to a grammar school, so a more pressurised environment. 😩

@waiting2022 what are the reasons they're not settling? Is there something they hate about it? And really, few year 7s are settled at this point in the year, I really wouldn't worry about that.
Is the current school oversubscribed? If worst come to the worst could they go to the Grammar and if its a total flop come back?