Offers day: 1st March 2024

[Jbrown76]

Anyone nervous, slightly apprehensive?

Ah yes :) I told my DS it wasn't a guaranteed yes. A lot of his friends didn't get a Yes which has meant he is unsure he wants to go now 😬 I am hoping he does get in and will change his mind.

Me too, but apparently a couple of 10 year olds know more than the adult who completed the application, ha. At DD's 1st choice my understanding is that they give out 'yes' letters only to the 155 highest scoring applications, then 'maybe' letters to those who pass the 11+ but are place 156 and beyond. So in theory if you get a yes letter it's a comfortable expectation to get offered a place, but I imagine there could be students who have an EHCP/are looked after etc who might contribute to movement from the list.

I've just been reading on the BBC about a family refusing all offered high schools, even those good ones within walking distance, on the basis that the boy had never left the house unaccompanied and his brothers school was different way. They blaming Barnet LA. Some extreme examples out there!

Please post the link to the BBC article.

That's interesting as the children I know that got maybes didn't apply as thought it wasn't an option. I was told children may apply from outside of the area. Good to know they didn't give out as many yes's this year. I'm hoping my DS gives grammar a chance if he gets a place. I think it's a big change being away from friends and travelling to school.

Father calls for Barnet school admissions changes after months-long search www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-67659675

I notice that article doesn't say why his applications were rejected... did they apply for the closest schools or ones further away?

We've already got DS in Y8, so a fairly foregone conclusion here, although I'd still like to know!

Ours is more about who else gets in, it's massively oversubscribed (and not even that good!) where DS goes, and likely DD will follow.

Terrified this year - it's for DD2 who has a lot of SEN but academically is able, and the most local schools have all gone completely bonkers with sanctions for breathing incorrectly - which would be a nightmare and totally wrong for her.

Hoping she gets into the school her older sister is doing well at - which is much more nurturing, but we've moved a bit further out of catchment since DD1 got her place so it's always going to be a bit of squeaky bum time. Based on last year's numbers we should be OK but I'll believe it when I see it.

He won't get anywhere with that. The fact their son has never been out of the house unaccompanied (if true) is their problem, not the council's. A child of secondary school age should be able to get to and from school under their own steam.

If it is true that the admissions team told them they wouldn't be able to withdraw their son from religious assemblies, that was wrong. Parents have the absolute right to withdraw their children from RE and collective worship.

@PuttingDownRoots looks like over subscribed schools he's too far from as 77th on wait list. Sounds like they only wanted a school on same bus route as his younger brother who travels on two buses. Mum now learning to drive so she can take him to school so he doesn't have to walk.
It's never going to wash with the LA unless he has needs that it doesn't mention. Yr7 are expected to walk or navigate public transport. And what about in Yr8/9/10/11 - is she still expecting to mummy him?

@CoffeeWithCheese no sibling priority?

Yep but not massively high on the criteria.

To add to the can of worms - the secondary's just had the Ofsted call this morning so hopefully they do well and they can see that there's a place for a warm and nurturing place rather than the "we exclude everyone for the wrong type of label inside their underpants"

I think it's difficult as some children may only just have turned 11. I know a few that have birthdays the end of August. It is a big leap. It depends on where people live to how feasible it is for them to get themselves to school as well. Everyone's circumstances are different.

I appreciate the schools can't give preferential treatment.

I am. We’ve applied to our local faith school and it’s really oversubscribed. It should be fine because we’re in a nominated parish, but you just never know. I keep thinking that I’ve filled the paperwork in wrong or they’ll have lost the copy of the baptism certificate or something. Just really want to know now.

Bricking it. Catchment and last choice is now inadequate. First choice school has changed admission criteria this year to prioritise baptism over siblings. This moves us up the ranking, but I think other unbaptised families with siblings have lied on the SIF - the priest signs it to say they’ve seen the baptismal certificate and then hands the form back, so the families are then ticking the “seen certificate box”

@Hopebridge yes some are only age 11 etc but millions navigate tubes, trams, buses etc and having to have your mum take you to school as you haven't ever left the house alone at Yr6 really isn't the norm. Most high school kids who walk do so in packs or with friends and at home time walk in a sea of other kids.

It’s also frustrating in that our LA releases allocation info to primary schools today but doesn’t tell parents until Friday!

I didn't know the primaries got told the secondaries today. I wonder why they need to know earlier?

It seems every school is different (which is a bit of a pain!), at the school my DD has put 1st they will tell the people who get a 'maybe' where they are on the list and also how far into the maybe list places were allocated in previous years (around 15-20ish typically; some children sit the 11+ for the school with the intention of using a 'yes' letter as bargaining tool for an academic scholarship for independent schools and don't intend to apply to the grammar). DD has a couple of friends who are within the first 10 on the maybe list and their folks are desperate for a positive answer on the 1st but also scared of being in limbo; we know of a couple of kids previously who didn't get offended the grammar and then got an offer within a few days of secondary starting!

Eek! I wouldn't want to be a year 6 teacher today then, I imagine they must get parents desperately trying to find out from them!

I don’t think it’s common knowledge- I only know because I’m an admissions nerd who read the entire county council agreed admission arrangements and timescales 😂

I’m not nervous this time round as I’m confident we will get a place at our first choice school due to sibling link. But two years ago we didn’t get a place at any of our preferred schools and got given a place at a woefully inadequate school instead. It really was an ‘over my dead body’ school and I went against the advice and rejected the offer.

Knowing I had limited chance at appeal we were very fortunate in the end to find an absolutely wonderful school 25 miles away that was undersubscribed that year (rural location). It’s a small secondary only around 100 pupils per year which was perfect for DS who has anxiety.

Fortunately we were in a position to relocate closer to the school and we couldn’t be happier. It was the best decision for us as a family and I’m really glad now we didn’t get a place at our preferred schools as I don’t think DS would be doing as well

Won't be long now guys. My child is in last group of oversubscription criteria and out of catchment etc for first preference but last year was undersubscribed and last distance admitted was almost 5 miles. It's the historically bad school but it recently got a good Ofsted and neighbouring schools inadequate so hoping that doesn't make it shrink drastically. We loved it at the open day and are less than 0.4 miles away. 🤔 We would have just missed out on second choice last year and we have put our guaranteed Ofsted rated good school third but it's the furthest school with a ridiculous route x

My son passed the 11+ and is in catchment for the grammar he wants to go to, but still a little worried he won't get a place. But like 90% sure he will get his first choice. But still, roll on Friday!