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Original poster

SW London Private and Grammar Schools Waiting Lists (Y7 2023 entry)

359 replies

Limebasilico · 14/02/2023 09:00

Following the private and grammar school exam threads, I am starting this one for those with waiting list places. May be helpful to hear if and when waiting lists begin to move.

We had some offers and some WL places. We have released the offers we are not taking and waiting for a place on the Reeds WL.

Hoping for movement after offer holder days (next week), national schools offer day (1st March) and offer acceptance dates (circa 9/10th March).

OP posts:
Ayalga · 01/04/2023 13:13

Ukmum2012 · 01/04/2023 08:56

Yes. This is why the Tiffin waitlist moves 30 places sometimes through the first couple weeks of school.

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Agree that it is a more likely scenario but would not explain the movement in WL for private secondaries that we are seeing at this stage

SleepyRooster · 01/04/2023 13:19

Going by what I read on here, it's also become normal for parents to put in for multiple private secondaries. Some of those will have multiple offers. They eventually start to let them go & the WL moves?
Enough people in London are wealthy enough to stump up thousands in fees/deposits in order to have the best sensation of "choice", right up until quite late in the day

Ukmum2012 · 01/04/2023 13:24

Ayalga · 01/04/2023 13:13

Agree that it is a more likely scenario but would not explain the movement in WL for private secondaries that we are seeing at this stage

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Some of it is the grammar school waitlists moving (not just Tiffin also Sutton, HB) - I have heard of a few holding boarding and day school options and still deciding. I thought there might be a few calls on Friday but haven’t personally heard of that happening this week.

ellie2468 · 02/04/2023 14:26

Does anyone know typically how many children independent schools have on their waitlists?

ellie2468 · 02/04/2023 15:28

Also does anyone know if surbiton wait list has moved much?

EA1999 · 02/04/2023 17:39

I know someone who got a place on it a few weeks ago but don’t know how much it has moved unfortunately.

CruCru · 02/04/2023 17:48

Ukmum2012 · 01/04/2023 08:56

Yes. This is why the Tiffin waitlist moves 30 places sometimes through the first couple weeks of school.

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That is incredibly annoying - it wrecks the plans of children who can’t afford to go private. Even if they end up in their school of choice eventually, they’ll have bought uniform for the school they were first allocated by mid August.

weightymatters73 · 03/04/2023 15:25

SleepyRooster · 01/04/2023 13:19

Going by what I read on here, it's also become normal for parents to put in for multiple private secondaries. Some of those will have multiple offers. They eventually start to let them go & the WL moves?
Enough people in London are wealthy enough to stump up thousands in fees/deposits in order to have the best sensation of "choice", right up until quite late in the day

We had a firm offer for school A and a wait list for school B. We preferred school B. As the wait lists often don't move until the deadline passes we were nearly in the position where we had to pay for school A, and then would have lost the money as school B came through.

Fortunately for us I spoke to another parent on a random dog walk and realised her DS had a place at school B that they weren't planning to take.... I nudged her in the direction of giving up the place, and we got the wait list with 1 day to go.

I think people rarely pay for multiple places, but they often do like us and pay for one place, then switch as the wait lists move.

Turquoiseturtle3 · 05/04/2023 13:42

Hi everyone, I was just wondering whether most people are now sorted with their schools or still waiting? When are deposits/commitment for paying 1st term fees? Trying to gage how much knock on movement there will be for state schools as we are on the waiting list for our top choice. Thanks

Lurkingbutinterested · 05/04/2023 13:48

Deposits will have been paid.

There’s a terms notice for fees so end of the Easter holidays is the point at which Autumn term fees will have to be paid whether or not the child starts. I’d assume w/c 17th April or so depending on the date term starts.

Turquoiseturtle3 · 05/04/2023 16:56

That’s good to know, thanks. Hopefully that will prompt a bit more movement.

Turquoiseturtle3 · 05/04/2023 20:55

Another question, sorry. Do you guys know many people holding onto private and state places? Is that much of a thing?

weightymatters73 · 09/04/2023 15:28

Turquoiseturtle3 · 05/04/2023 20:55

Another question, sorry. Do you guys know many people holding onto private and state places? Is that much of a thing?

The wait lists in my experience continue to move right up to the day after school starts in September...

You get people holding multiple places until the deadline for deposit.

You get people moving after they have paid the deposits when wait lists come through.

You get people holding a state and private place.

You get people whose circumstances change and drop private school place before starting.

You get people who start a private and are still holding a state place....

Turquoiseturtle3 · 09/04/2023 19:26

Fingers crossed it keeps moving! Thanks

lolo99 · 15/04/2023 21:33

Really keen to know where people got offered from WL and who accepted what this year. Do you think some of the past schools that were easier to get into have become harder ? I have this to come next year.

Ukmum2012 · 15/04/2023 23:14

lolo99 · 15/04/2023 21:33

Really keen to know where people got offered from WL and who accepted what this year. Do you think some of the past schools that were easier to get into have become harder ? I have this to come next year.

What schools are you targeting?

Daydreamscometrue · 15/04/2023 23:18

@lolo99 I only know that LU and Emanuel didn't go to their waiting list this year. Someone on the Emanuel waiting list has been told that they may have information in August. Not sure about other schools. IPS went to waiting list.

Ukmum2012 · 15/04/2023 23:57

lolo99 · 15/04/2023 21:33

Really keen to know where people got offered from WL and who accepted what this year. Do you think some of the past schools that were easier to get into have become harder ? I have this to come next year.

only one boy from our prep offered a place a lu this year, he accepted a place at spbs. One boy on the wl at lu and he accepted a place at ibstock.

lolo99 · 16/04/2023 08:55

Ukmum2012 · 15/04/2023 23:14

What schools are you targeting?

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Targeting LU, Reeds, St John’s, KGS, KCS.

Ukmum2012 · 16/04/2023 22:37

lolo99 · 16/04/2023 08:55

Targeting LU, Reeds, St John’s, KGS, KCS.

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LU seemed very difficult this year, our prep school usually sends a decent handful and very few offers or waitlist this year. Kids who wouldn’t normally consider Reeds or KGS from a more West London location accepted places this year.

redrobin75 · 17/04/2023 21:57

Turquoiseturtle3 · 05/04/2023 20:55

Another question, sorry. Do you guys know many people holding onto private and state places? Is that much of a thing?

@Turquoiseturtle3 , check out the thread I've commented on in the education section, someone giving notice to LEH or PHS tonight. (Very last chance to avoid autumn term fees).

Turquoiseturtle3 · 18/04/2023 09:51

Thanks. Will check it out - glad there is still a little movement but seems like it will only be minimal now

createname · 18/04/2023 11:30

lolo99 · 15/04/2023 21:33

Really keen to know where people got offered from WL and who accepted what this year. Do you think some of the past schools that were easier to get into have become harder ? I have this to come next year.

It might be different next year. Hampton went to the waiting list last year, but over-offered more this year, so they did not go onto the waiting list this year. Reeds and KGS went onto the waiting list this year.

MumGPT · 18/04/2023 15:16

The WLs are moving again! I applied for a few girls' schools for my DD who unfortunately was on the WLs with ALL of them. Yesterday she finally got one offer!

ghislaine · 18/04/2023 15:33

That is great news @MumGPT . You must all be feeling such a sense of relief.