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!

Oh no!!

I can’t actually work out what the mechanism would be for anyone moving out of area to come off waiting lists? Maybe they will all just get skipped over when there are places available?

They’d only come off if they were reapplying for a different school in a different area. If they’ve moved locally but outside of the catchment, I doubt they would notify anyone despite it being fraud! It’s so frustrating. If they do notify the council, their place would be withdrawn and they’d go back into the queue if they wanted a place.

I cracked and called. No movement at all in a month 😭

Really sorry :-(. Where are you now in the list?

At least you haven’t moved 6 places backwards like me. Would you consider moving once term has started as that is bound to prompt some movement? Have you asked the council how many offers there usually are once term has started and until the end of September?

Still no news for us either. I'm coming around to the idea she'll have to do at least Sept at the 2nd choice school. What's annoying is I can tell that's compromising our approach to her starting secondary. It would have been better to forget about #1 completely...

This is exactly how I feel. Maybe better to have had no hope whatsoever.

@Turquoiseturtle3 I'm much more open to moving mid term but not sure my child is. At this point though just have to accept it's not in our control. Shame as in previous years we would have definitely got in!

We have gone back 2 places, now 13th.
I think I’m going to throw in the towel now 😞 xx

Do you have any information from the council as to patterns for the last few years? It might be helpful to know how many offers they made after term started to give you some hope. My friend was 13 the week before term started and was offered the day before. It does happen. Hang in there

Yes, it’s a very frustrating year. Hopefully there will be a flurry of people giving up their state places once the private uniforms have been bought and locked in!

Thanks @Turquoiseturtle3, like you say you never know.
I should ask the council, whenever I call and get the number we are, I’m so meh I just want to get off the phone. 🤣 xx

Exactly the same here!!!

Did you guys ask the council for the further offers? X

I’m genuinely leaving it now. We won’t get a place before term starts - and the school we have starts a few days before school we want so they’ll have to start there regardless.

And once my child starts I can’t see them being willing to move unless very unhappy. It’s a big thing for them going to secondary and I can see the nerves have kicked in. Hard to do that new stuff again.

Shame it’s not the other way around and that school starts first! Totally fair enough decision though. We are still of the opinion that we’ll move him - I’m now hoping a place comes up within a few weeks of term starting.

Fingers crossed for you!

I’m still half hoping but it all just feels impossible now 😞

Anyone have any place updates? We’ve moved back 3 more again 😢

I just wanted to wish everyone the best of luck for their new schools. I’m sure most will have started or are about to start. Fingers crossed for those wanting some movement.

It depends where you are. I know people in 100s in Kent and Bromley who got their places by Jan. I also know a poor sod who was 5th in Bromley and stayed 5th for a year until their parents gave him.

Best of luck to everyone! Would be amazing to hear some positive stories soon fingers crossed!

@Turquoiseturtle3 we called at the end of last week and had moved back another 3 to 15. She said they had late applications, I was so cross it still happens so late.
DS started yesterday at 3rd choice. I’m not overly happy but he doesn’t know that.
Unless a miracle happens, I can’t see it changing.
Wishing you all lots of luck xx

Sorry to hear that!! I have never heard of so many late applications. What is going on. Do you think private applicants might have put their name down as a back up option? So bizarre. I’m going to try and contact the council today and see if any no shows.

I know!!
I wish I knew. The admission lady said when I called she had just had a late application in. Seems so unfair.
Infuriating isn’t it. They should have some sort of cut off.
A lot of people round here rent to get them into the school, as I don’t know who’s buying at the moment as there are hardly any houses for sale near that catchment.
Feeling very flat today, just not happy with him at that school at all. X

Ps let me know how you get on with the no shows info x

Really sorry. Try to keep the faith. I can’t remember if I have asked - do you have any knowledge on past offers made once school has started? That might give an indication of what you might expect.
Agree - seems very unfair people go straight to the front at such short notice.
There is always a chance that they accept the school they have been allocated as would have automatically been placed on the waiting list for higher preference schools. So when offered they might all reject. Wishful thinking perhaps!

When is your cut off for moving?

@Turquoiseturtle3 No I haven’t asked them. Whenever I got the number I just wanted to get off the phone 🤣.
Wishful thinking is always good.
I’m not sure, maybe end of the month or October. I wouldn’t want to put him through that new school thing again too late.

He’s ok at the school he’s at but would love to be with his friend at the one we want, that may change.

At the point now where, if it happens we will cross that bridge.

When does your DC start school? X