Merton council and waiting list

[Rebbecca101]

Hi! My daughter F 14 is currently going to the German school London, and we have now sent a transfer form per email to Merton council, to switch to an English school so she can complete her gcses and A-levels to study in England. She has been in an English school before, so it shouldn’t be too difficult for her to integrate herself, but I was wondering if anyone knew how long it usually takes for Merton council to get back to you on such matters… I also know that the school that we have chosen does have waiting list, and we live close to the school and have quite a good reason to move (not just that she wants to switch schools, but that she’s switching from another system), so I was also wondering if that would prioritise us on the waiting list? Any infos will help, thank you!! 😀

As others have said, I think there are some challenges with this plan. Firstly I am not sure it is in your child's best interests. It will be difficult to work out what work she has missed and it is a lot of content to catch up on. If she is academic, that is easier than it would be for some, but she has still missed hours of lessons. Let's say she has been learning plant biology at her school but her new school have been doing human biology topics first. She will then have to study plant biology again but no-one will teach her the human biology topics. (This is an oversimplified example of course, as she is currently in a completely different education system). Also as others say, what happens if the subjects she wants to study are full? She wants to take German and History for example, but they only have space in Geography and French?

This will sound blunt, and I don't mean to be harsh but I think you need to be realistic. Your chances of a year 10 place in the next 4 weeks at a popular, oversubscribed school are very small. It is irrelevant how long their waiting list is if a place doesn't come up, and parents try to avoid moving schools in year 10 and 11, especially those who are academically ambitious for their children, which I imagine is true for a lot of parents at the schools you mention. Of course people's life circumstances mean there are always people moving anyway, and you might get lucky, but it is a very short time frame you are giving. One small bit of hope is that if a place did come up, you can be offered it even if you aren't first on the waiting list, as others are more likely to turn it down at this stage. But again, this does rely on a place coming up.

As others have explained, your waiting list place will be based on the admissions criteria, so largely distance. They can't take into account other factors like her grades or current school. They will offer you a place at the nearest school with spaces, and you will have to decide whether you want to accept it. I don't know what your motivation is for moving, but I would ask lots of questions of the school about syllabus, subjects etc and consider delaying and applying for sixth form. She could then start a course at the beginning and could apply and pick where she wants to go, rather than being given a school.

I understand completely what you mean, she will have to transfer all her German terminology especially in scientific subjects) to English.. honestly I’m now thinking of applying to different schools than ricards… does anyone have any recommendations?

Do you want state sector, or are you willing to consider private? Really, your choices will be limited by who has places - to be brutal, on the whole the state schools in demand won’t have places and it would be unusual to join a private school half way through year 10 since it might jeopardise their results based league positions. The Hall in Wimbledon (v near you?) might be a bet? State, I’d try St Cecilia’s as a prior poster suggested, and Harris Academy Wimbledon, on the assumption that you don’t fancy Raynes Park High School or St Marks.

just get on the phone Monday morning to Sutton, Wandsworth and Kingston Councils to find out who has places. Merton won’t know about the out of borough schools

Wait to see where she is offered, then ask what other schools may have spaces if not happy. Likely to take longer than mod February to sort out a place and confirm. Then you would need to buy uniform.

It is more than new terminology though, there will be different aspects of maths, science, geography etc taught and given different emphasis. Method and approach may differ, such as needing to solve worded maths problems and apply what has been learned.

@Rebbecca101 you say you understand but I’m not sure you do…

@BendingSpoons has posted some excellent advice here.

It’s not about applying to x school or y school. The only school your dd will get a place in is one that has a year 10 vacancy. Suggestions of good state schools are academic here - chances are an available space will not be in a good school! You’ll have to take what’s offered.

And it’s not just about terminology - topics covered will not be covered again, your dd may have studied King Lear but needs to answer questions on Macbeth, or the Tudor but she needs to know about medicine through time. Does that make sense? It’s very unusual to move in mid year 10 just because of this. I suggest a move for sixth form instead.

You would be absolutely insane to move your DD at this stage in Y10 - especially from a completely different system - even if you could find a school space.

After Feb half-term, the Y11s will be in exam season and the focus ramps up on the Y10s.

I have a DD in Y10 - they complete the entire science syllabus by the end of next term. They've already done over half the set texts in English. They're all sitting one GCSE early this year.

The last thing any teacher is going to welcome is someone joining the year who has a huge amount of content to catch up.

What you could potentially do is apply to a private school for a repeat Y10 for September given that your DD is a June birthday. I don't think it would be possible in state without significant SEN or being able to demonstrate a good reason to repeat the year.

Otherwise, your best bet is to wait and apply for 6th form. Trying for mid Y10 is going to be utterly miserable for your DD if she did get in somewhere (highly unlikely for anywhere sought after as parents will change or delay plans to avoid a move in Y10/11).

@Rebbecca101 did you manage to do the transfer?