Waiting lists

[whyarentiskinnyet]

Hi
I am on the waiting list for secondary school to start Year 7 in September. Can anyone tell me how long the waiting lists stay open, have heard conflicting information ie to re apply at end of this month for an in year place vs being on the list for first academic year. It would seem strange to come off the list before the term even starts in September and to have to start again but can anyone tell me the answer please.

Thanks!

I think schools operate their own waiting list rules - have a look at the admissions policy or give the school a ring. Some also take pupils off the waiting list after a certain amount of time too.

Assuming this is a state school, it is a legal requirement under the admissions code to keep a waiting list until Dec 31 for year 7.

After that you would need to check with the LA/school admissions authority as to the procedure.

Thanks, It's very unclear on the council website - well, it says July and the lady on the phone in Barnet also said July but that just doesn't make sense that I'd get all the way to July and then lose my place on the waiting list and have to start again. Other times I have called the council and been told first term of year 7 which makes more sense. The schools just tell me the council will let me know!

For some schools, the answer will be 'the end of Juy', because the waiting list is maintained all the way through the academic year, rather than just to the legal requirement of December 31st. So the lists being dissolved in a couple of weeks' time are for those schools for the current year 7, not the incoming year 7.

It depends on school / local authority. But the last school I taught at and the school my children attend (both academies who manage their own lists), they kept them into the autumn term and there was movement in the first term (until end Oct).