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Secondary education

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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:
Carmella9 · 05/04/2023 11:04

Disruption not district job!

SoFED · 05/04/2023 11:08

Are people missing out on schools in their catchment? That seems wrong. I understand if it’s not a catchment.

It’s a very high birth year.

Hunter2501 · 05/04/2023 11:24

How awful to miss out on catchment schools, really hope there is movement for you!

Carmella9 · 05/04/2023 11:52

Yes and sent to a school 9 miles away! It’s so disheartening. Solihull Admissions were very dismissive and told me not to bother and just accept bad school or I’ll end up home schooling. I replied that I was aware and she repeated it another 4 times. Are they trying to put people off? After that I went down 10 places. Am I paranoid or could they have done something?! Feel so powerless

SoFED · 05/04/2023 12:03

Ridiculous to miss out on a catchment school!!!

LockInAtTheFeathers · 05/04/2023 12:07

Carmella9 · 05/04/2023 11:52

Yes and sent to a school 9 miles away! It’s so disheartening. Solihull Admissions were very dismissive and told me not to bother and just accept bad school or I’ll end up home schooling. I replied that I was aware and she repeated it another 4 times. Are they trying to put people off? After that I went down 10 places. Am I paranoid or could they have done something?! Feel so powerless

I really sympathise Flowers They shouldn't tell you not to bother with appealing and waiting lists, as you have nothing to lose with either, but they are correct that you should accept the school you have been offered for now unless you are prepared to home school or go private. If you turn down this place, they have no obligation to find you anything else, meaning that you could have no school in September if your appeals and waiting lists are unsuccessful. Accepting the place doesn't disadvantage you in appeals or on waiting lists in any way, and doesn't mean that it is the end of your hopes of another school. Waiting lists are also held strictly in order of admissions criteria and there is no way that you would be moved down for disagreeing with them on the phone, so don't worry about that!

Hunter2501 · 05/04/2023 12:13

Hi,
don’t worry about being moved down for any other reasons - they are very strict and operate based on the criteria.
If it’s SW academy, I believe they have not long had ofsted in and moved to inadequate so I imagine there’s an abundance of free places at the moment.
Keep the faith, something will come up!

Carmella9 · 05/04/2023 13:30

Im not sure what SW academy is, we have the Balsall common school

Hunter2501 · 05/04/2023 14:12

oh ok, SW is smiths wood.
Just to give you some hope, just spoken to Solihull Admissions and we’ve already moved 8 places up on the waiting list for Arden, have moved down the waiting list for Alderbrook though. But it shows that there is movement!

usererror99 · 05/04/2023 17:12

Carmella9 · 05/04/2023 13:30

Im not sure what SW academy is, we have the Balsall common school

Have you been allocated Heart of England or is that the one you wanted?

Carmella9 · 05/04/2023 17:23

Great to hear! Will call tomorrow.

Original poster
Karpuz26 · 06/04/2023 10:35

Update… We are now 4th on the waiting list for our 1st preference school.

I know this position can change at anytime and go either way! But for now… I’m a very happy bunny🐣😁

To all waiting list holders please remain hopeful! Nothing is guaranteed but everything is possible!

I’m feeling gleeful at this position and looking forward to cancelling both appeals😉👍🏻 Just a few places to go🙏🏼👍🏻

OP posts:
Motherhubbardscupboard · 06/04/2023 10:55

@Carmella9 how is Heart of England poor? It's rated Good and as far as I know has always been at least Good. It has always been seen as slightly below Arden and TG but it's also nowhere near them, kids who live in BC (lovely area) go to HofE.

JuneOsborne · 06/04/2023 11:36

I know kids offered places in the first week of the new school year starting, and the lists are usually maintained until Christmas.

The issue is buying uniform.

I know one school where a child was 50th on the list and by the first day of September term was second.

I think you're in with a good chance.

Carmella9 · 06/04/2023 13:08

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not poor. It’s just its results are half of TG and we are an academic family and it’s far for us.

Carmella9 · 06/04/2023 13:10

Could I ask for which school this was?

Blueuggboots · 06/04/2023 13:11

In that area, there are a few grammar schools and private schools who will take some children out if the equation, but realistically, with the waiting list positions you quote, you're highly unlikely to get into your top three choices.
I'm sorry.

Blueuggboots · 06/04/2023 13:13

Ah, have read your update.....4th is better....you may have a shot....

Blueuggboots · 06/04/2023 13:18

We were allocated heart of England (catchment school) - I have friends with children there. There was no way I was going to let my son go there based on their experiences - eg. Teachers ringing them to say their child was missing - she was in the toilets at the school??!
.
We put down Tudor Grange, Alderbrook, Arden and H of E. We live 2.4 miles from Arden and 3.1 miles from H of E.
We went private and released a place for someone else (this was last year).

Ridingfree · 06/04/2023 13:31

@Hunter2501 which school do you feel is horrific? Please dm me if you don't feel you can say publically. We are Solihull but DD is only year 4 so I'm not sure much about the local high school but heart of England would likely be our catchment school. I'm considering moving towards Warwick if I my gut feeling about this school is proven, not hearing much good about it

Hunter2501 · 06/04/2023 13:53

i would say Smiths wood is horrific, I think Heart of England is ok, real mix of children from the affluent village kids to the more disadvantaged Coventry kids due to the wide catchment

Ridingfree · 06/04/2023 14:24

@Hunter2501 thank you for your reply that's appreciated.

Cally70 · 07/04/2023 09:38

I have friends with children at H of E and they don't rate it at all. They're thinking of moving their children. Mostly, due to teaching standards and pupil behaviour issues

Marchsnowstorms · 07/04/2023 11:53

I don't understand how there would be 'school less' children then taking places above wait list. Surely they must just have moved closer than wait list children?

Blueuggboots · 07/04/2023 14:03

Have any of you looked at the BOA digital school in Birmingham? We were offered a place there for our son but turned it down to go private. It sounded very good!

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