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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Waiting list - positive experiences

70 replies

number1miss · 16/03/2023 22:08

Sad Family Time GIF by Lifetime

Hello..I need positive secondary school waiting list stories please.

I just need a pick me up today, hoping you could share your positive experiences with your child’s waiting list experiences, Please.

Thanks so much

Fellow stressed parent : )

OP posts:
Inthebathagain · 04/05/2023 22:02

Back in 2017, DD didn't get a place in DSs secondary.

Initial place on the waiting list, 22.

Appeal heard at the school in early June. Rejected. Waiting list 12.

Place offered 1st July.

Hang in there all of you.

Hunter2501 · 04/05/2023 22:04

We’re in an area with quiet a lot of movement due to private schools and grammar schools.

I hope it gives hope to this year and future years who frantically search for any bit of hope (like I did!)

Nowillpowerarall · 04/05/2023 22:06

My daughter got her place at grammar school one day into term.

Turquoiseturtle3 · 05/05/2023 21:00

The grammars in Surrey have started another round of offers. Really hoping this will have a knock on effect

SuperSue77 · 05/05/2023 23:34

@Turquoiseturtle3 Can I ask what you mean by the Grammars in Surrey? I don’t believe there are any state grammars, do you mean private schools?

Turquoiseturtle3 · 06/05/2023 07:57

Yes, there are several state grammars in Surrey - tiffin boys and girls in kingston. And then wallington girls, wallington boys, Wilson’s, Sutton grammar school, and nonsuch for girls - all closer to the Sutton area of Surrey.

SuperSue77 · 06/05/2023 11:13

Ah, the schools themselves fall under London Boroughs but I know a lot of Surrey kids go to them, so movement there does impact Surrey school wait lists. This is good to hear.

Turquoiseturtle3 · 06/05/2023 14:50

Yes sorry, where we live we consider ourselves London even though it’s Surrey, and then the Sutton ones as Surrey. Probably to distinguish between the tiffin and Sutton ones.
It would be helpful if there were online waiting lists like a lot of councils have. Also if the people who had accepted could mark themselves anonymously green to say the here locked in or amber to say they are undecided or plans may change. It would make the guessing much less painful

SuperSue77 · 06/05/2023 15:03

@Turquoiseturtle3 that's a really good idea - in this day and age of digital and realtime everything, why does our current system have to be so antiquated.
Was feeling fed up earlier - took my son to football and every parent I spoke to said their son was going to our preferred school, even the person who lives near us - turns out the boy's mum works at the school!

Turquoiseturtle3 · 06/05/2023 15:08

Oh no, that’s so tough. Whereabouts on the waiting list are you and do you know how many offers the school usually make following the first round? I’ve heard that the school we want to get into over offered as the area has too many kids. So we have to contend with that as well

SuperSue77 · 06/05/2023 16:55

@Turquoiseturtle3 we were 36th initially, not sure if that has changed. They have since offered 10 places to waiting list kids. Ours offer over PAN with the intention of reverting to PAN, presumably because they know some
will accept private places, but surely that is an argument for them being able to take more, as they would have to be able to accommodate those extra 8 children if nobody declined.

produ · 06/05/2023 16:58

Yes sorry, where we live we consider ourselves London even though it’s Surrey, and then the Sutton ones as Surrey.

I'm so confused by this. You class Kingston & Sutton as Surrey (fair enough) but you live in Surrey & class it as London?!

Turquoiseturtle3 · 06/05/2023 18:01

I live in kingston so it is Surrey officially but as it’s a London borough, also consider it London/Greater London.

For the sake of differentiation, we talk about the tiffin grammars as separate to the Sutton grammars which use the same exam and then rank people based on their own criteria. And as Sutton takes about an hour from Kingston, I therefore consider Sutton as deeper into Surrey 😂. I’m not saying I’m right, that’s just how i think of it.

produ · 06/05/2023 19:09

I thought Kingston was officially London? Although I do know someone from Mitcham who says they live in Surrey so I guess people cling to it!

And as Sutton takes about an hour from Kingston, I therefore consider Sutton as deeper into Surrey

This makes no sense 😆

Turquoiseturtle3 · 06/05/2023 19:28

Kingston if officially Surrey, but as it’s in Greater London and right next door to full London boroughs, people pick and choose whether they live in London or Kingston.

It can take an hour to drive to Sutton, so feels more like Surrey than London as feels far away… 🤪

produ · 06/05/2023 21:00

Why is it officially Surrey? Isn't CT paid to Kingston council & not Surrey? I mean I know it was Surrey a long time ago like Croydon but they are London boroughs now.

I'm in Wandsworth, driving to family in Islington takes an age but they are definitely in London! 😆

Turquoiseturtle3 · 07/05/2023 08:03

Well that’s the debate - it’s considered in both - but the county is definitely Surrey. Around here it’s split if you ask whether you live in London or Surrey.

SuperSue77 · 07/05/2023 09:36

It didn’t help that Surrey County Council’s Town Hall was in Kingston! Though they have moved now.

Secondary23 · 12/05/2023 14:36

Has anyone had an offer from the waitlists? We were advised that due to the number of applications they won't let us know until next week (if we do get a place that is). My DD just wants to know and feel settled as schools seem to be starting primary visits etc.

Turquoiseturtle3 · 12/05/2023 14:45

I’m not hopeful of a place any time soon but have moved 4 places in the last 3 weeks. Still a way to go. Agree very unsettling.
I don’t think I said on this thread but a lot of people are a friends primary are holding private and state places. Hopefully they will release soon

schoolstress1 · 12/05/2023 15:58

@Secondary23 Do you mind sharing which area your in? We've had barely any movement in Barnet . . . Your post made me wonder if we have a similar issue here. But maybe I'm being too optimistic!

Priyavk1 · 12/05/2023 16:18

Hi

We are waiting list for grammar school in Bucks but live in Slough.

Today we learned we are 13th whet do people think of our chances ? Feels like a mountain to climb

Appreciate your experience as it feels very depressing

Thanks

Turquoiseturtle3 · 12/05/2023 18:34

schoolstress1 · 12/05/2023 15:58

@Secondary23 Do you mind sharing which area your in? We've had barely any movement in Barnet . . . Your post made me wonder if we have a similar issue here. But maybe I'm being too optimistic!

South West London borough…

Turquoiseturtle3 · 12/05/2023 18:36

Priyavk1 · 12/05/2023 16:18

Hi

We are waiting list for grammar school in Bucks but live in Slough.

Today we learned we are 13th whet do people think of our chances ? Feels like a mountain to climb

Appreciate your experience as it feels very depressing

Thanks

Have you been on the 11+ forum for your area? I know for the Surrey subsection they have people discussing waiting list positions. You might be able to see what the trends are for the previous years. 13 sounds doable but not sure how many other options there are in your area. Good luck

Priyavk1 · 12/05/2023 18:46

Thank you! Yes I'm on that forum too

There is a Bucks page too but people haven't yet responded as I suppose it's an impossible question

😔