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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:
swlondo · 14/02/2023 15:57

My DS has had 3 rejections and 1 WL - we desperately need this WL place. Have sent 2 emails saying how much we love the school etc but haven't called yet. Is it too early to do so or should I wait till after the offer holder event has taken place?

It is torture, always on my mind. We have no state school to go to as from just arrived from overseas and no prep head to advise or help.

Would be the next steps to take? Try to find another school or wait till acceptance day has passed for the WL school?

Daydreamscometrue · 14/02/2023 16:25

It might help to share information about the relevant schools. I know that Putney have said that they will probably go to their wait list this year as they've been over cautious with offers. IPS have an extensive waiting list so that suggests the same. We've given up places at KGS and Whitgift.

HawaiiWake · 14/02/2023 16:38

swlondo · 14/02/2023 15:57

My DS has had 3 rejections and 1 WL - we desperately need this WL place. Have sent 2 emails saying how much we love the school etc but haven't called yet. Is it too early to do so or should I wait till after the offer holder event has taken place?

It is torture, always on my mind. We have no state school to go to as from just arrived from overseas and no prep head to advise or help.

Would be the next steps to take? Try to find another school or wait till acceptance day has passed for the WL school?

Why not call? Just to show you are keen and maybe talking to a person may help you understand how their WL process is going. Each school does it differently.

momomamiko · 14/02/2023 16:44

Our WL school said their WL isnt ordered and that they wouldnt know how many, if any, offers they will make from the WL and are unlikely to be able to do so before noon on 3rd March.

I thought (hoped) they would approach WL families asa firm offers were being released rather than wait till the very end.

This means we'll have to pay deposit on our firm offer and read the contract really carefully before doing so...

Original poster
Limebasilico · 14/02/2023 17:09

I think WL places will be offered early to mid March.

I'd be surprised if there was any movement during half term but this thread will hopefully share this sort of information so that we're all a little less in the dark.

OP posts:
Original poster
Limebasilico · 14/02/2023 17:10

Information from previous years welcome here too. I know that PHS and LEH have made offers right up until the last moment from WL - think 1st September. All the academic schools also have some movement at the end of Y7 and Y8 with 2-3 newcomers to each year group.

OP posts:
Shiningsun · 14/02/2023 17:16

Limebasilico · 14/02/2023 17:10

Information from previous years welcome here too. I know that PHS and LEH have made offers right up until the last moment from WL - think 1st September. All the academic schools also have some movement at the end of Y7 and Y8 with 2-3 newcomers to each year group.

2-3 newcomers every year makes sense because of relocations to & from every big city. But my “guess” is that majority of waitlist should get cleared by end March/early April. Apart from few relocations, what reason can there be for a waitlist to continue till September 2023?

Original poster
Limebasilico · 14/02/2023 17:23

Agree the majority of movement will happen in March.

Does anyone have a WL offer for St Catherines or Radnor House (Kneller Hall) in Twickenham?

OP posts:
woohooho · 14/02/2023 17:23

I do know more that a few people who have given up places in late August/ early September as they've suddenly got places at State Schools they wanted.

Lolakath19 · 14/02/2023 17:42

Hi all hope everyone is hanging on. Crossing my fingers for people on WL we will be releasing some places end of next week (after offer holder), I think that might be the first point where WL move, followed by beginning of March with state offer and then official deadlines. For those schools who said there was not order in the WL, did people ask how they will decide who to call first then??? Is it just a lottery system at that point? or it goes to people that showed the most interest?

Tolacar · 14/02/2023 17:48

We will be releasing one place at the end of next week after offerholders days and two WL spots. Holding an offer but WL for top choice so hanging in. I don’t expect movemenr until the week after next if that!

Tolacar · 14/02/2023 17:50

Lolakath19 · 14/02/2023 17:42

Hi all hope everyone is hanging on. Crossing my fingers for people on WL we will be releasing some places end of next week (after offer holder), I think that might be the first point where WL move, followed by beginning of March with state offer and then official deadlines. For those schools who said there was not order in the WL, did people ask how they will decide who to call first then??? Is it just a lottery system at that point? or it goes to people that showed the most interest?

One school told me the head revisits the waitlists and decides based on reports, fit etc. not ranked at all.

KPA · 14/02/2023 17:56

We have WL for Whitgift, Caterham and Emanuel and no offers. I have emailed them every couple of days even if it’s a thank you, we would immediately accept an offer etc. Whitgift sent an OOO but the other two are working during half term. Even if you get an OOO, write back.

momomamiko · 14/02/2023 17:59

Lolakath19 · 14/02/2023 17:42

Hi all hope everyone is hanging on. Crossing my fingers for people on WL we will be releasing some places end of next week (after offer holder), I think that might be the first point where WL move, followed by beginning of March with state offer and then official deadlines. For those schools who said there was not order in the WL, did people ask how they will decide who to call first then??? Is it just a lottery system at that point? or it goes to people that showed the most interest?

One school told me that they "make a careful note next to the child's name on WL for consideration"😵‍💫

Original poster
Limebasilico · 14/02/2023 18:06

Is anyone willing to share which schools have said what regards WLs?

What gets included in the careful note?!

OP posts:
Gumps · 14/02/2023 19:09

We are wait list for LEH and have a firm offer for St George's. Neither of the schools are perfect so I'm still quite in limbo. However we are in the bottom third of the wait list for LEH so may not even be a discussion to be had. The admissions lady said they had offered to our point in previous years but I imagine that would be towards the summer.

Daydreamscometrue · 14/02/2023 19:27

Limebasilico · 14/02/2023 18:06

Is anyone willing to share which schools have said what regards WLs?

What gets included in the careful note?!

IPS said extensive waiting list. Won't disclose place. Said they'd revisit after their deadline of 6th March. Putney said lots on waiting list but to remain helpful as they've not over offered as much.

Original poster
Limebasilico · 14/02/2023 19:28

That's very hopeful @Gumps . Good luck

OP posts:
QuiteAJourney · 14/02/2023 19:36

We know from friends that WHS is happy to discuss WL and to refer to whether DC is in top, middle, or bottom third of it. They have said that it rarely moves before deadline for accepting offers.

SheilaFentiman · 14/02/2023 20:50

swlondo · 14/02/2023 15:57

My DS has had 3 rejections and 1 WL - we desperately need this WL place. Have sent 2 emails saying how much we love the school etc but haven't called yet. Is it too early to do so or should I wait till after the offer holder event has taken place?

It is torture, always on my mind. We have no state school to go to as from just arrived from overseas and no prep head to advise or help.

Would be the next steps to take? Try to find another school or wait till acceptance day has passed for the WL school?

Make a late application for state schools. You won’t be in the initial sort but you will be added straight after state school offer day. If you have private by then, just decline any state place.

KPA · 14/02/2023 22:12

Whitgift have said a short WL so boys won’t be ranked

Stopsnowing · 14/02/2023 22:52

What happens if schools get a higher number of acceptances than they were expecting? I can’t quite understand how they can be confident about making twice as many offers as places.

Lurkingbutinterested · 14/02/2023 22:53

Stopsnowing · 14/02/2023 22:52

What happens if schools get a higher number of acceptances than they were expecting? I can’t quite understand how they can be confident about making twice as many offers as places.

If it’s SHS they end up with a massive intake.

Pastamaking · 14/02/2023 22:59

Stopsnowing · 14/02/2023 22:52

What happens if schools get a higher number of acceptances than they were expecting? I can’t quite understand how they can be confident about making twice as many offers as places.

Years of stats / experience !

QuiteAJourney · 14/02/2023 23:02

Stopsnowing · 14/02/2023 22:52

What happens if schools get a higher number of acceptances than they were expecting? I can’t quite understand how they can be confident about making twice as many offers as places.

Most schools offer well over twice the number of places. They go on back experience and, in some cases, complement that information on which other schools the DC have applied to ... eg GDST schools ask when applying and other schools (like Emanuel) ask at interview stage.
Agree that it is a difficult exercise - if they are too cautious they will lose good candidates that, on seeing themselves on WL may not wait and go for another (less preferred but safe) offer. If they are not cautious enough they risk having to accommodate too many students (Surbiton is frequently mentioned as an example)