Can you be on a waiting list and have accepted an offer?

[Sammy900]

Hey

Just thinking ahead about secondary offer day next week.

If say for example we got offered our second or third preference- could we accept that offer and still go on the waiting list for first preference?

or what happens next - how long have we got to accept an offer?

Thanks

Yes and you are automatically added to the waiting for any higher choice schools.

Yes. You’ll speak to your preferred school and they can let you know how many are on the list and where you are on it. They should be able to tell you how likely you are to get a place based on past experience.

Yes - you should always accept your offered place unless you have an alternative e.g. private school or homeschooling. You can then go on waiting lists for schools you prefer. Some places automatically put you on the waiting lists for higher preferences but you should check that.

Thankyou. Do I need to contact the local Authority and the school to say I want to be added to the waiting list. No harm doing both I guess

You should accept the offer regardless.

Your offer letter should tell you if it happens automatically or if you need to do anything. Some areas ask you to accept the place and some presume acceptance.

Does anyone know how the waiting list is ordered? Is it first come first served or down to the other criteria such as location, catchment ,etc

Same order as admissions criteria for each school.

You must accept what's offered and go on wait lists - same order as original. Except late applications enter the field..

Reading that this is about state school offer day

Yes it’s about state school offer day