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Secondary education

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

Original poster

Secondary school waiting lists Solihull and Birmingham

94 replies

Karpuz26 · 27/03/2023 10:17

Hello everyone,

After an anxious wait for offer day on 01st March 2023 my daughter wasn’t offered any of our 6 preference schools. Instead …We have been offered a local failing secondary school. A school which we made sure to visit for ourselves, the visit reaffirmed it was not an option to be put on our list.

Our preference schools were all realistic options.

So now we are left hanging on to hope through the waiting list process!

As of today, my daughter is 15th position on 1st choice, 59th on 2nd and 83rd on 3rd choice - the other three schools are in the high 100’s.

Does anyone have an experience of waiting list movements in birmingham/Solihull? I know the appeal deadline is 29th March, I’m hoping this will have some bearing although that may not favour our position. Are there so called ‘second rounds of allocations’? I read about these in other regions.

I can’t see how waiting lists move - the LA only ask parents to contact before 15th if they are refusing the offer. So that’s has now past leaving us in the above positions.

Has anyone been in my situation of waiting list positions that could share their experiences?

It’s an awful situation - I feel a have a dark cloud hanging over me and my daughter is so disappointed.

Any advice, experiences, opinion are most welcome!

Thank you for reading
Karpuz26

OP posts:
clary · 27/03/2023 11:02

Hi Op, have you considered an appeal? Lots of helpful advice on this board and several helpful experts too.

youhavenoidea123 · 27/03/2023 11:37

Is the school you have been offers closer that the preferred schools you submitted?

crazycrofter · 27/03/2023 11:45

One way the lists will move is if someone with a place at one of your preferred schools gets a late offer from a private school and accepts that instead. Or in Birmingham. there's often a knock on affect via the grammar schools - so someone accepts a private school place and releases a grammar school place - which means someone else releases a place at a comprehensive.

What are your top two schools?

LetItGoToRuin · 27/03/2023 13:10

Hopefully you have accepted a place at the local school, as doing so won't affect your position on waiting lists, and it may reduce your chances at appeal as the panel may feel you are pressuring them as the child would otherwise be without a school place.

You can appeal for a place at more than one school, and I believe your waiting list position isn't relevant at appeal. As another poster has said, there is loads of advice on here about appealing, so you can read through other threads and ask for specific advice on what to cite in an appeal.

I gather that it is unwise to mention at appeal what you dislike about the offered school, but instead focus on what is specifically offered at the school you're appealing for, that is not offered at the allocated school and is particularly relevant to your DD (eg a specific sport or musical offering if you can evidence your DD's strong interest/talent, or a specific foreign language that your DD is already learning because of a family connection etc.)

Have you considered any other schools even further away? You might find one with places that is a better choice than the local school.

Original poster
Karpuz26 · 27/03/2023 14:08

clary · 27/03/2023 11:02

Hi Op, have you considered an appeal? Lots of helpful advice on this board and several helpful experts too.

Hi Clary, yes this is an option I am considering. I have drafted an appeal and found some very useful information on this site with the approach to take. I just don’t feel my argument is so strong! My daughter is musically talented and the two top schools we choose offers many opportunities to develop her musical abilities.

I think I’m just going to put the appeals in! I have nothing to lose but everything to gain👍🏻

OP posts:
Original poster
Karpuz26 · 27/03/2023 14:11

crazycrofter · 27/03/2023 11:45

One way the lists will move is if someone with a place at one of your preferred schools gets a late offer from a private school and accepts that instead. Or in Birmingham. there's often a knock on affect via the grammar schools - so someone accepts a private school place and releases a grammar school place - which means someone else releases a place at a comprehensive.

What are your top two schools?

That’s a point! I haven’t thought about that! I spoke to the 2nd school choice (as they hold the waiting list) and was told from the waiting lists last year only 3 places became available in September! So unless I win an appeal that and 3rd choice is just impossible!

OP posts:
CJOJ · 27/03/2023 14:50

Hi I was wondering if anyone has experience with my issue. We didn't get 1st choice of school due to distance (60 meters for last allocated place). We are 3rd on the wating list. I was wondering if we moved home closer to the school would the position on the wating list change? Thanks in advance

LetItGoToRuin · 27/03/2023 16:53

@CJOJ I recommend you start a new thread for your query.

Original poster
Karpuz26 · 28/03/2023 14:41

LetItGoToRuin · 27/03/2023 13:10

Hopefully you have accepted a place at the local school, as doing so won't affect your position on waiting lists, and it may reduce your chances at appeal as the panel may feel you are pressuring them as the child would otherwise be without a school place.

You can appeal for a place at more than one school, and I believe your waiting list position isn't relevant at appeal. As another poster has said, there is loads of advice on here about appealing, so you can read through other threads and ask for specific advice on what to cite in an appeal.

I gather that it is unwise to mention at appeal what you dislike about the offered school, but instead focus on what is specifically offered at the school you're appealing for, that is not offered at the allocated school and is particularly relevant to your DD (eg a specific sport or musical offering if you can evidence your DD's strong interest/talent, or a specific foreign language that your DD is already learning because of a family connection etc.)

Have you considered any other schools even further away? You might find one with places that is a better choice than the local school.

Hi @LetItGoToRuin

We haven't refused the school place we was offered. Although, I have no desire to send my daughter there (This is a plan Z option - Maybe to start her there whilst waiting for a place to become available from our 6 and now 7 preference schools).

I have now put my daughter on a 7th school waiting list - currently sitting at 35th position.

I feel so stressed out about the whole situation. I ensured we visited every school, even the one was offered. I wanted my daughter to find her fit and where she felt comfortable and happy. My daughter isn't interested about what schools her friends are going to, for her it was about the school and what it could offer to her.

Visiting all the schools has felt like a pointless exercise and has really upset my daughter that not one of the schools was offered. A bit like this is what you could have... but this is what your getting! My daughter now knows she has been lumped with the worst school as she had the chance through the visits to compare. I have maintained a happy smile (through gritted teeth) every time I've spoken about the offered school, I have tried to put a positive spin on it - clutching at straws to find the benefits.

Today, I have lodged 2 appeals for the 01st and 2nd preference schools. I have received some fantastic advice from this forum so thank you in advance. I just need to do everything possible to secure a place at a decent good school.

The school which has been offered to us and has apparently had over 200 refusal for places ( This was identified when I called another school who mentioned they 300 children on their waiting list and over 200 of those children are without a school place due to rejection - the receptionist actually queried with me the allocated school I was given and before I could reply she said have you been given ................. school?

The offered school in question has had a long standing bad reputation. Low achievement levels, lacking strong leadership, high staff turnover, low parental engagement, high levels of bad behaviour which the school hasn't dealt with properly by not constantly reinforcing the behaviour policy... the list is endless.

It's almost like a holding school for children with behaviour issues and those who don't want to learn and then children are shipped off to the numerous referral centres and exclusion schools that the school works with.

I appreciate all the comments and responses - It's helping me though this very distressing time!

OP posts:
LetItGoToRuin · 29/03/2023 11:49

It sounds like you're handling it really well, having accepted the place and maintaining an upbeat attitude to your daughter about the allocated school (whilst making every effort to find an alternative school for her.)

Best of luck - I really hope you find an alternative school place soon.

MostlyHappyMummy · 29/03/2023 12:04

Similar situation here - same region. Someone was telling me it's due to the higher numbers of children in south brum/Solihull due to families moving here from Hong Kong over last few years. So may be a case of new schools being needed or extra classes added to some existing school if it's possible.

MoneyInTheBananaStand · 29/03/2023 12:04

I work at a school in Birmingham and we have only just had the second set of offers through (spaces freed up by parents declining the place). So your number on the waiting list may change soon if not already.

Are there any other realistic options you could get on the waiting list for? I feel like a place in the 100s is pointless and you might want to change your preference to a different school if there's any closer that are not the dreadful school you would like to avoid.

Best of luck with the appeals.

Original poster
Karpuz26 · 30/03/2023 21:14

MoneyInTheBananaStand · 29/03/2023 12:04

I work at a school in Birmingham and we have only just had the second set of offers through (spaces freed up by parents declining the place). So your number on the waiting list may change soon if not already.

Are there any other realistic options you could get on the waiting list for? I feel like a place in the 100s is pointless and you might want to change your preference to a different school if there's any closer that are not the dreadful school you would like to avoid.

Best of luck with the appeals.

@MoneyInTheBananaStand You are so right too! Today we are now 9th for our first choice school! We’re heading in the right direction on the waiting list!

I’m trying not to get to excited but after such a stressful time since allocation day…this feels like a glimmer of hope!

I may even need to cancel our appeal hearing at this rate!

Staying positive! All good things come to those wait😁🙏🏼

OP posts:
Original poster
Karpuz26 · 30/03/2023 21:16

LetItGoToRuin · 29/03/2023 11:49

It sounds like you're handling it really well, having accepted the place and maintaining an upbeat attitude to your daughter about the allocated school (whilst making every effort to find an alternative school for her.)

Best of luck - I really hope you find an alternative school place soon.

@LetItGoToRuin Thank you so much for your kind words x We are now 9th on our first choice school! Atleast we can go into the half term feeling slightly upbeat about the situation👍🏻

OP posts:
MoneyInTheBananaStand · 30/03/2023 21:29

Ok, that is good news. Very pleased to hear that. Fingers crossed for further movement next term 🤞

Hunter2501 · 02/04/2023 18:51

Hi,
Is the school you have been allocated in the north of the borough? I’ve heard lots of parents been offered a certain school which is quite frankly horrific.
Fingers crossed for you, we got TG but are still holding out hope for Arden

Carmella9 · 04/04/2023 19:47

We are in Solihull and have been allocated none of our preference schools. DD missed out on grammar by a few marks and we are on a waiting list for grammar and preference schools. Does anyone have experience of how the numbers move. The allocated school is far and poor.

Carmella9 · 04/04/2023 19:48

I am pretty sure the school you mention is the one we’ve been offered.

XanaduKira · 04/04/2023 20:09

I hope you have some luck Op, but I've experience of friends being first and second on the waiting list since September for the school my DCs go to & they haven't been lucky, despite places becoming available as they're always trumped by people moving into the area who are 'school-less' so considers a greater need than those on the waiting list (it's mainly people moving in from HK). It doesn't make sense or seem fair and a teacher friend did tell me the only way they're likely to get in is if they constantly badger both the LA & the school itself. I'm not sure if that works or not, but new kids have definitely joined my DCs classes whilst the friends are holding first & 2nd place on the waiting list.

XanaduKira · 04/04/2023 20:11

Plus the person in first place lives in catchment and opposite the school (they moved into the area after places were allocated) so they can't be beaten on the waiting list legitimately unless it's someone who has moved into catchment with a sibling already in the school, so the 'school-less' need does make sense.

XanaduKira · 04/04/2023 20:11

We're in Solihull.

LockInAtTheFeathers · 04/04/2023 20:44

@XanaduKira Badgering the LA and school will make no difference whatsoever- the waiting list will be held in order of admission criteria and places offered in that order, not by who badgers the most.

LockInAtTheFeathers · 04/04/2023 20:52

Best of luck to everyone on the waiting lists. I wouldn't give up on the Birmingham grammars either for those hoping for a place- the waiting lists have been known to move significantly.

CornedBeef451 · 04/04/2023 21:21

This sounds like a bit of a nightmare OP.

You might end up having to start at the rubbish school but make sure you stay on all the waiting lists after Sepember as depending on how the lists are kept they sometime clear them at the start of the school year.

There is often a lot of movement in the first term so even if she has to go to the rubbish one it hopefully won't be for long. It's not ideal but better than having to stay there.

Carmella9 · 05/04/2023 11:03

Thanks. I do find the whole system really opaque. Even the appeal system seems a huge imbalance of power with those in the know and who fit the bill in terms of not being too pushy, striking the right chord etc getting a place. We have found that we have moved down not up the waiting list after offer day. My daughter is really gentle and I didn’t in my wildest dreams think she wouldn’t get any of her offers. We’ve lived here twenty years overpaying on our council tax and house because it was a great catchment for schools. LA and MP were aware of this issue but didn’t think they should inform the residents. After all the covid district job it feels really unfair. I definitely would have moved had I known this would happen.