Esher 6th form reserve list - entry Sep 2024

[anoukis]

My DD is not happy, to say the least. She is an open applicant for Esher and got an email today from Esher to say her application was not successful and that she is number 381 on the reserve list. Esher is non-selective and open (non-guaranteed) applicants are entered in a ballot. Guaranteed applicants = post code based, siblings at school, and anyone from a school w/o 6th forms.

The website is a bit misleading -- how can they offer a place to a "vast majority of open applicants", since my DD is 381 on the reserve list? Do they predict so much list movement by enrolment date in Aug 2024?

"As in previous years, the vast majority of Open applicants will be offered a place. Once available places have been filled, a number of applicants will be placed on a reserve list and some applications may be unsuccessful. This will all be determined by the outcome of a ballot system."

https://www.esher.ac.uk/admissions/how-to-apply/entry-in-2024/

Her 3 close friends got an offer - two were guaranteed applicants (post code or sibling) and the 3rd one was lucky in the ballot for open applicants.

What are the chances for her to get an offer from the reserve list? She seems so low on the wait list... :(

Esher was one of her top 2 choices, the other one being her school.

Thanks.

Sorry to hear that @Nancy2 - all the best with finding a good alternative!

So I've just heard back from Esher. They were very fast to respond, I emailed last night.

"In 2023 we placed 450 students on the reserve list and they were all offered a place but not until enrolment at the end of August. You must therefore ensure you have an alternative place for sixth form. As this varies year on year."

That's good. They may not be happy about you posting it on Mumsnet though as it will encourage more people to hang on to their places. 😁

If I was you, I'd reply straight back to them and ask whether all of those 450 students got the subject options they wanted. If your child applies to do 3 preferred subjects and they offer her a place on condition that she switches to one or more less popular subjects, would she be happy? (This is quite a common scenario for over-subscribed sixth forms and enables them to over-offer more confidently than they otherwise would).

Wow, how big is the sixth form?

(I don’t live in the south-east and our youngest is at uni, but the thread popped up and I clicked out of interest)

I doubt they would go in detail at this stage. My DD wouldn't be happy to switch subjects so I hope she gets at least the min grades required to stay at her own school :)

She is planning to do Maths-Bio-Chem and Further Maths as a 4th. Physics would be a reserve. Most local school 6th forms require a minimum of 7-6-6 for this combination, including her own school. Further Maths requires an 8 in Maths and some schools ask for straight 7s across all subjects, just to be able to study a 4th A-level subject.

DD's predicted grades are 8 Maths, 7 all 3 sciences, 7 History, 8 French, 6 Art. God knows how realistic these predictions are though. I guess with the next sets of mocks we will be a bit wiser.

@Em2ds1dd over 2,000 places, it's a big college.

If I am honest, Esher would not be my first choice for her. It's a long commute and when we visited I wasn't really drawn to it. My preference (and her dad's as well) would be her school - smaller 6th form, good results, and a 10-min walk.

However, my DD is very strong-minded and independent and she decided Esher was top 2 in terms of her preferences, hence the disappointment last night.

Her best friend got an Esher offer last night as an open applicant - and they are planning to take the same subjects. They are hoping they will end up in the same school. The friend is not necessarily keen on Esher but has not decided yet. And obviously it all depends on their actual GCSE results as well.

Over 2000 students! (My dc both very much enjoyed EC - great environment.)

Thank you.

No, neither - a local comp which has higher criteria for 6th form than Esher. Loads of kids choose Esher ahead of the school 6th forms due to the Uni campus vibe - we don't live locally but lots of kids in the area go there.