If in London and you got a place at your preferred school via the waiting list, how far down were you and how long did you have to wait for your place?

[CloudsOverHead]

We're 40+ on the waiting list for our preferred school (250 intake) but before any second round offers were made. I was told by the admissions people that there was a lot of movement to come (in London so always lots moving in/out/going private) but don't know whether to hold hopes high or assume it's never going to happen.

In previous years, I know people who were in the 60s on the list (same school) who got their place in early April but others who only moved from 50ish to 30ish before giving up in August.

Really interested to hear other experiences please!

Last year in April when the positions came out my DC was 30 for a 220 entry school. Got offered a place in August after bouncing up and down the list a lot. At one point we went from 15 back up to 26 or something.

It moved a bit after us too, new kids joining in September and I think even now. You may also find it moves faster in late August/September as people higher on the list may turn down a place. But there are no guarantees at all. We tried not to think about it too much and always talked about the offered school as the one they were going to.

In our experience too, the list didn't move constantly. There was some movement early on, then nothing for a while, then we went down. There was a flurry of movement after the transition day where all the kids go to spend the day at their new secondary. I'm guessing that's a chance for the secondary to realise some kids haven't turned up and chase them to confirm their place. Then a slow dribble over the summer holidays and a little rush in September.

DS was 9th for our second choice, but only within his band (in a borough where secondaries have banded intake). He was offered a place in July. He made it up from 19th to 13th for our first choice (no banding). We had lots of people telling us he’d definitely get a place a 1st choice, as they’d known children get in from lower down the list in previous years, but it didn’t happen. He’s happy enough at 2nd choice.

Thanks for your responses. Chimes with what I thought.

We also keep getting told we'll be bound to get a place at 40 but I'm not convinced. My child doesn't want to switch in the summer so we just have this window and I guess all we can do is wait and see. And try not to torture myself thinking too much about it!

DD was mid 70s for her 1st choice school. She moved up quite a bit before the holidays, top 20 then got offered a place in the 3rd week of term. School is a 180 entry so don't give up hope!

I can understand why your child doesn't want to change in the summer. But in our experience it was absolutely fine. The transition day was so short and not that helpful tbh. Even the kids who started a bit into term seem to settle well. I think it was only in January that friendship groups got more settled.

Why wouldn't they want to change in the summer? Loads of kids don't even go to the transition day. I'd understand if they were apprehensive perhaps half a term in, but summer is vry different.

With a PAN of 250 and no second round of offers made so far there (or in the surrounding area), I'd say it's certainly possible.

They have had to chase up people who haven't accepted before withdrawing current offers, then there's people on other waiting lists on both this WL and who have previously been offered and accepted, private schools, moving home, siblings moving schools giving the younger ones a higher priority on their WLs, some higher on this WL who have decided they'll stay put with what they've already been offered - a very rough estimate would be a churn of 25 by July without taking into account no second round so far means another 15 or so may have already declined their offers.

Then there's the WLs being open at least until Christmas, probably about 7-10 who don't arrive because they didn't decline before taking up a private place or leave by the end of September... and if there's a WL after Christmas, more start moving then or in the summer term...

Never assume that it'll happen - but it wouldn't be a surprise if it did.

Thanks everyone - really helpful.

@NeverDropYourMooncup - such a useful explanation thank you. I had been trying to imagine the process and all the possibilities but kept getting a bit lost in my head. It's such a complicated process!

We got offered a place in the second round on 30th May but we knew we were only 5m past the furthest offered distance on offer day.

Since May 30th, friends have moved up the waiting list by 3 places.

The area of London we live in (South west) has had the largest number of applications ever this year. Borough of Kingston has had more applications than they have places so schools are being forced to go over PAN.

Apparently far fewer places have become available after the first round offers in all our local schools, high birth rate and uncertainty about finances limiting how many kids are going private maybe?

We are in the exact same position as you. In a London Borough and DC is 41 on waitlist of a very oversubscribed pan 270 school. We have moved 8 places since beginning of April. Literally have everything crossed but not feeling hopeful x

We were 17 on the list and got offered a place at the end of May.

@CloudsOverHead We are hoping that once the 2 local boroughs close to us have their 2nd round allocations next week it may move quicker as these are where all the grammars are and where children in our borough want to go. Not sure if this applies to where you are as well?

Hi @Fruits81 what boroughs are the ones near you?

@JM231 Kent and Bexley x

@Fruits81 goodluck
we are west London way, hounslow

out of interest how do you know second round allocations are next week? Our borough are very tight lipped

@JM231 My borough doesn’t have a second round but Kent officially does. What seems to happen in our borough is Kent Grammars tend to offer more towards our borough in 2nd round and beyond which then has a knock on effect to the state school places i.e people give up their state place in our borough for the Kent grammars.

I’m so hoping that lots passed the 11plus tests and get offered so it frees up space 🤣🤣🤞 x

Oh @Fruits81 I hadn't thought about that but Kent and Bexley will affect our one too. Hadn't thought to check when their second round would be. Fingers crossed for lots of 11+ movement!!

@CloudsOverHead Let’s keep everything crossed. X

@Fruits81 absolutely!!

Any idea if/when the Bexley second rounds will happen? Internet says Kent is Tues 25th.

I’m not sure about Bexley, they may not have an “official” second round like Kent x

@CloudsOverHead
Ps keep me posted how you get on xx

@Fruits81 and vice versa!

@Fruits81 @CloudsOverHead ooohhhh.. .we are in the kent waiting list system too.

What schools are you hoping for? are you appealing also?

@SueSue12 I’m in Borough of Bromley.

Appealing has crossed my mind but to be honest I don’t think we would have much grounds to do so.
The school we have been offered is very good and I’m sure people desperately want our place but DC has heart set on our 1st preference and the commute is so so much easier. X