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Secondary education

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

Original poster

Secondary School Waiting List Offers 2023

24 replies

Secondary23 · 14/04/2023 21:39

Curious to find out if anyone has received a waiting list place since offers day?

We are nervously waiting as our DD didn’t get any of her choices. Keeping fingers crossed for good news! We don’t know anyone in our situation so it’s been so difficult.

OP posts:
SuperSue77 · 14/04/2023 23:31

I don’t know of any, but I know my son won’t anytime soon as we were 36th! We are appealing but it’s at least 5.5 weeks before we’ll be heard :-( In the meantime the offered school have written asking for personal info about my son - I can’t bring myself to fill it in. I accepted the offer of course, but despite saying they need it back asap, they also said that they need it before he starts and that’s not til September, so I figure it can wait a few weeks.

Hye000 · 14/04/2023 23:49

@SuperSue77 same here. I called the LA and they gave me the week of my DD preferred schools appeal week so I know when it is (mid May) worth a call if you are waiting as impatiently as I am

SuperSue77 · 14/04/2023 23:52

Thanks @Hye000 I e-mailed them last night and they replied today with the provisional dates. Sounds like I am equally as impatient as you! I have done so much research into this school I feel I know what they offer better than half the parents of kids already there!

Marchsnowstorms · 15/04/2023 00:29

SuperSue77 · 14/04/2023 23:31

I don’t know of any, but I know my son won’t anytime soon as we were 36th! We are appealing but it’s at least 5.5 weeks before we’ll be heard :-( In the meantime the offered school have written asking for personal info about my son - I can’t bring myself to fill it in. I accepted the offer of course, but despite saying they need it back asap, they also said that they need it before he starts and that’s not til September, so I figure it can wait a few weeks.

They may use this info to decide his form eg what friends & interests

KateZaza · 15/04/2023 04:37

I am in the same situation, had a place on the waiting list for s1 in an independent school, I am desperate.

Original poster
Secondary23 · 15/04/2023 08:24

Sorry to hear you are all in a similar boat! The waiting game is awful. My daughter just wants to feel like she belongs somewhere.

I'm hoping we get some news next term. Although I've heard this year is a bulge year or something like that?!Confused

OP posts:
Hye000 · 15/04/2023 08:37

@SuperSue77 my DD was 35th on the list and is now 37th so not holding any hope for a place from the waiting list. We have everything pinned on this appeal and like you I have done so much research and re-wrote the appeal so many times to make sure I had covered everything and my argument is as strong as it could possibly be. My child’s dietician has said she will attend the appeal aswell as we originally applied on medical & social grounds but this wasn’t taken into account so that’s why I have tried to cover all bases with regards to her medical needs, social needs and also showing that the school offers things academically and extra-curricular that the allocated school doesn’t. Are your provisional dates soon? I should be getting an email on Monday with the date of DD appeal as that will be the 10 school days notice beforehand. My anxiety is through the roof, I haven’t even told DD when it is as it’s the same week as her SATS!

SuperSue77 · 15/04/2023 08:59

@Secondary23 you poor daughter ☹️ hope you get some good news soon

@Hye000 Our provisional dates are the week before May half term, so after SATS I believe. We haven’t told our son anything about schools. He knows we are applying for an EHCP for him and we said we’d know which school he’ll go to when that is decided. I didn’t want to make him anxious about it all, and he hasn’t asked any questions. To be honest I think he thinks he is going to either a small special school or a small independent school but they have all said no (special schools haven’t but we can’t apply to them without an EHCP) he has been quite vocal about not wanting to go to a large secondary (all state ones are 240 entry round here) but all other options have run out.

Original poster
Secondary23 · 15/04/2023 09:52

@SuperSue77 it sound so stressful for you guys. Is there usually much movement in schools in your area? I hope your appeal is successful.

For our first school 15 were offered last year via waiting list.

OP posts:
UlrikakakaJ · 17/04/2023 11:59

Hi - we are not happy with where our daughter has been offered and are going to move to try to get her in somewhere better - I will try to get the closest house to the school, would it be possible for me to be number 1 on the waiting list or will I have to go behind everyone who is on the list already? It sounds from @Hye000 that people can join the waiting list above people already waiting??? Any help appreciated!!!

EduCated · 17/04/2023 12:13

UlrikakakaJ · 17/04/2023 11:59

Hi - we are not happy with where our daughter has been offered and are going to move to try to get her in somewhere better - I will try to get the closest house to the school, would it be possible for me to be number 1 on the waiting list or will I have to go behind everyone who is on the list already? It sounds from @Hye000 that people can join the waiting list above people already waiting??? Any help appreciated!!!

Yes, waiting lists are held in order of the admissions criteria, not first come, first served.

So if distance is the deciding factor and you move closer, you will leapfrog anyone living further away, hence you can go up and down on a waiting list.

UlrikakakaJ · 17/04/2023 12:20

Amazing thank you!

SuperSue77 · 17/04/2023 13:26

@Secondary23 thanks for the good luck wishes! I will come back on and update after the hearing! I think there is quite a bit of movement in our area, a number go privately so eventually give up their place - I know my neighbour will be above us on the waiting list but has accepted an offer from a private school, so if she was offered that place now I imagine she would decline. Based on where we are on the wait list I don’t think it would be any time soon though, so everything is riding on the appeal 😬

Hye000 · 17/04/2023 15:23

@UlrikakakaJ don’t quote me but I’m pretty sure it depends on if your school/LA have a clause that states you have to have resided in the new property for a certain period of time etc. I guess if it were that simple a lot of people would move house or temporarily move in order to get a place in a certain school. I’m sure the appeal experts would have some knowledge or experience in people appealing on this maybe?? @Prh47bridge @PanelChair

prh47bridge · 17/04/2023 16:47

Hye000 · 17/04/2023 15:23

@UlrikakakaJ don’t quote me but I’m pretty sure it depends on if your school/LA have a clause that states you have to have resided in the new property for a certain period of time etc. I guess if it were that simple a lot of people would move house or temporarily move in order to get a place in a certain school. I’m sure the appeal experts would have some knowledge or experience in people appealing on this maybe?? @Prh47bridge @PanelChair

In general, moving closer to your preferred school will move you up the waiting list. However, it needs to be a permanent move. A temporary move will not be accepted. Also, if you own a house and rent, most LAs will insist on using the address of the house you own.

In general, LAs and schools don't have a minimum period of occupancy requirement. There may be some that do, but I can't say I've come across them. However, most LAs take steps to ensure people can't use temporary addresses for admissions purposes.

Original poster
Secondary23 · 16/05/2023 19:00

Just wanted to post an update. We received an offer today at our second place school and are delighted!! (We didn't get any previously) Stay positive things are definitely moving around. I'll keep my fingers crossed for all those still waiting

OP posts:
SuperSue77 · 16/05/2023 19:15

That’s brilliant @Secondary23 you must be so happy! Are you going to stick with it or would you accept first choice of it came up? Do you know where you are on the wait list? We were 36th initially but now down to 28th and school has made 10 further offers (so presumably 2 more have joined the wait list above us).
our appeal is a week today so feeling nervous and excited at the same time.

Original poster
Secondary23 · 16/05/2023 19:26

@SuperSue77 thank you. We weren't told waiting list spaces although a new school has recently been built in the area so may have an impact on admissions?! All were oversubscribed though so not sure.

We are going to stick as it's a fantastic choice and actually probably better than first! Funny what a bit of time can do. It's like a huge weight has been lifted though and DD can finally start being positive, it's amazing how much it affects them.

Good luck with your appeal! It's all so stressful, I don't think people realise the impact it has.

OP posts:
Priyavk1 · 25/05/2023 11:32

This is really amazing thread to read as we need a lot of positivity
We are on 4 WL

Our preferred school we are 13, and have the admissions appeal hearing for this school on 9 June

Good luck to everyone

I am teetotal but the stress of all this driving to the brink!!

Take care and please could people post up positive stories as it really does help us x

Original poster
Secondary23 · 22/06/2023 13:06

Hi Everyone

So a further update from our rollercoaster journey! We have just been offered our 1st choice school, my DD is over the moon! We never thought it would happen as the school is massively oversubscribed every year but are very grateful. Just in time for transition.

Don't give up hope, we went from nothing to this piece of amazing news! Good Luck to everyone still waiting xx

OP posts:
Priyavk1 · 22/06/2023 13:14

Secondary23

Amazing news!! Well done!!

All the best for the next chapter

We are still waiting and slowly accepting that DC will not go to our preferred school

Original poster
Secondary23 · 22/06/2023 13:18

Thank you. Good luck @Priyavk1 keep us posted xx

OP posts:
Priyavk1 · 11/08/2023 16:07

Hi everyone
Unfortunately it's nearly mid August and we haven't been offered any place on our grammar school lists.

We have moved down the list but all still in double figures and unlikely to get a place.

We stand:

Burnham Grammar- 10 (were 14)
John Hampden grammar - 9 (were 13)
Sir William Borlaise- 15 (were 36)
Dr Challoners- 17 (were 40)

We are trying to remain positive about the non selective school offered to DC.

Good luck to anyone still waiting

HarryHHarry · 12/08/2023 21:52

Hopefully a couple of weeks into September a few more spaces might come available? Well that's what I hope will happen for us.

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