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!

Oooh, exciting!! And fingers crossed. I suppose it depends how unsettling it may be for her. She might be excited to know she’s now second but would that cause disappointment if she’s not offered? Someone might change their mind and go back onto the waiting list who is above you, but doubtful. If you want to keep the option open you might want to mention in passing so it’s on her radar. Would she want to move if offered?

I think she might want to move, but it's
more difficult with each passing week.

Can people turn down a WL place then change their mind and get the offer back??

My impression is the list is moving slowly in a linear direction: the kids have to have passed the tests to be on the WL, so moving house etc makes little/no difference to position

Mentioning it in passing is a good call.

I agree, I would wait to get the actual offer @SleepyRooster. Have absolutely everything crossed for you.
We haven’t moved one place since before or after term started 😔. Xx

Ps @SleepyRooster I would still move my child if I got a place.
Its still so early in the year, if it’s the school you really wanted then go for it, if it’s offered xx

Thanks @Fruits81 it's all so difficult!

@SleepyRooster totally. It’s so hard to make the call. Cross the bridge when you come to it xx
I toy most days with what would we do. Today I would definitely move him 🤣 as the 20min bus journey took 1hr15 whereas the school we want is so bloody close 🤦‍♀️. X

@SleepyRooster we got our offer before term started I am afraid.

I asked what would happen if we had turned it down and was told that we would need to reapply for the place. We would then be put back on the waiting list. We took the place so as soon as DC started at the “new” school we applied again for the original school and were put on the waiting list. This may seem mad but I was so worried about if we’d made the right decision. A place came up at the original school again a month into term by which time we felt able to say that the “new” school was the correct one.

Just got an offer - in bloody January! Heartbreaking decision. Anyone got advice? We have 24 hours to reply.

Oh blimey. How is the current school going? What's good about the offered one? What does you DC think?

Oh bloody hell. Is this the grammar school?

If your child is happy and settled at the current school I would not be inclined to move them now (unless they are keen to move - make certain they understand that if they do move, they are not likely to be able to move back).

You previously said that the current school is walking distance. Don't underestimate the value of that versus a long journey.

Bear in mind that it's often quite easy to move into selective schools for 6th form, if a child has half decent GCSE grades.

@SleepyRooster oh wow!! Such a tough call and only 24hrs notice.
Has DC settled in the current school? friends etc and are you happy and most importantly are they happy?
I asked my son if he would move before Xmas if we got offered and he said no, not now.
I would still love him to go the other school but I think taking their feelings into account as well, I probably wouldn’t do it. He said he would hate to start all over again and so soon after doing it in September as it was stressful.
Go with your gut lovely, you know best x

Gosh, I know what I’d suggest doing, staying put. I’m not sure if we would have reached that decision though.

Now we’ve been through a few years of secondary I’d have other things in mind than I would have had back in year 7. Back in year 7 I’d have been pouring over Ofsted and results. Now I would only move a reasonably happy child if their journey would be significantly improved by the move. An unhappy child would be different. We know children at so many schools. Academically they’re all doing pretty much how you’d expect them to do if you’d known them at primary.

I was also desperate to get a place at my top choice and was willing to move for a while. But I came to the conclusion that happiness was key. I definitely wouldn’t move now and I’m
really happy with the second choice. If my child wasn’t totally happy and settled then I would
take the plunge.

24th for 150 places, got it within fortnight. Fair bit of movement in first few weeks, then again when private schools come out, then dribs and drabs. Good luck.

Thanks for all these thoughts.

The school is a top grammar. 40 mins journey.
DD is at a decent comp that's 7 mins walk away.

She is clever and nerdy and definitely does better when nudged along by expectations; the comp is OK but hands-off. She's made friends yes, and in general she makes friends easily.

As a parent I think you have to take a longer-term view. Ugh.

It's just so so annoying it's come up now. Even Dec would've been less disruptive

Does she want to go? Does she know anyone at the grammar?

She does want to go, but obviously feels it would also be sad to leave. I get it.

Which is all to say - these late WL offers DO come up, even into January, but the decision is tough.

Schools know fairly accurately how many places will come up. The HT at DDs selective school told us that if she was put On the waiting list, she would get a place. and she did. We waited till Easter.

If she wants to go, I’d let her. At that stage I think what she wants is the most important thing. There’s still a lot of school years ahead of her.

I would go for the grammar. 40 mins is an average journey for a grammar and this is still v early in her time there.

Friendships are still being formed in Yr7 and she will be there through sixth form from the sound of it so still so much time left in the scheme of things.

I moved mine in primary and when I look back at the pro/cons list I made of taking the WL place or not - I can’t believe I was considering not moving them tbh.

The comp would have to be very bad for me to swap a 7 min walk for a 40 min journey. Is that a 40 min walk or 40 min by public transport? What’s the journey like? Thats a lot of time to get homework done.

But that’s easy for me to say! I don’t know all
the other ins and outs of pastoral, clubs and admissions into sixth form etc.

children that have moved into my DC school have made friends quickly.

I would take the grammar - 40 minutes is not a lot in London. Worst case she hates it and you put her back on the comp waiting list. It's London and there is regular movement each year for average state schools for her to get back in.

Can she travel by herself or would you/DH need to take her and collect her?

I'd take the place. She wants to move and 40 minutes is not unreasonable for secondary.
It is only January, she has a long time to settle and make new friends. It sounds like the grammar will be more suited to her strengths too.

What did you decide @SleepyRooster ?