Help! Offered place on waiting list.. now what?!

[PopcornFiend]

I’ve just been thrown a total curveball this afternoon as my DD has been offered a place at an outstanding high school that we didn’t previously apply for as thought she had no chance of getting in due to distance (even though we’re technically at a feeder primary).

We’re actually in the process of moving house and our new house will be close to this school, so I’d asked for her to go on waiting list just on the off chance - can’t believe she’s actually been offered a place as we haven’t even moved yet!

Can anyone advise what would happen in this scenario - if we accept the place (deadline Monday), bearing in mind it’s school hols, will we actually get any info from the school regarding what form she’ll be in etc? We haven’t been on any transition days, obviously.

Or will it literally be a case of rocking up in September and hoping they’ll look after her?! She won’t know where to go, we’ve never even looked round the school!

Does she want to go to the school? Does she know anyone else who is going?

The not knowing which form, where to go is only a first day problem. Once she's through that then she'll be like any other year 7.

Depends on your dd. Does she know anyone else who is going there? How does she feel about the school she was supposed to go to? Did you go on waiting list because of outstanding rating or because it is the best fit and most convenient?

You probably won’t get any information during the holiday, but she will be looked after on the first day. Go for it!

She'll be looked after on the first day.

At my DDs old secondary school, on the first day only y7s were there plus y10 'peer supporters'.

They were met at the entrance and escorted to the hall and then collected from there in tutor groups.

There may well be some admin people working some days over the summer, (plus the school will be open on 25 August for GCSE results but you probably shouldn't gatecrash that.)

Can you look on the school website to see if they have an INSET day at the start of the year? You missed be able to get some information on that day of so.

Otherwise, I'd email the office and ask for any details they can give you. Most secondary schools will have days the administration staff will be working before the school opens to pupils.

Do it. If it’s the school you really wanted, don’t be put off by minor inconveniences of having bought uniform or missed induction day.

Perhaos ask the school if they can tell you the Form and then you might be able to find a Facebook group and there could be some meet-ups over the summer.

People get offered places in Sept when children dont turn up. This timing is far better. Great stuff.

Thanks all, good advice. We’re taking the weekend to mull it over but DD is keen on the newly offered school (and has some y6 classmates going there) so I think we’ll probably go for it! I’ll send an email to the school and see if anyone can come back to me before term starts.. failing that she’ll just turn up and hope for the best!

The transition day is one day. School is 5 or 7 years. There'll be others who've missed transition and Y7 are always given a lot of help when they arrive. Best of luck to your dc - sounds like this is welcome news

I'd defo go as close to where you'll be living. It's a good school. In covid no kids did transition and it's been fine

If she has classmates going there, do you know any of the parents to ask for any information they’ve had?

Definitely accept. There will be 1 or 2 INSET days at the start of term when staff will be in. If you ring the office on the first INSET day they will probably allow you and her to pop in for a quick tour and maybe to buy items of uniform. Ask for the head of Y7 - their email address should be on school website. Our school would be happy to have you come in for half an hour on an INSET but ask first, don't just show up.