Just after a little advice - anecdotes - stories - cheerful reflections...
My daughter wasn't offered ANY of her preferred secondary schools (we weren't fussy - would happily have sent her to all of them - and we did include her catchment school). Instead she's been offered a place at a school across town (c. an hour's bus ride) with a less good reputation. We're in Cambridge, which seems to have had an absurd bulge year.
She is 10th on the waiting list for our 1st preference (240 PAN), and I'm just trying to understand how these waiting lists work. Does anyone have any insight?
In particular: are places offered as soon as they become available, or do schools / LAs wait until after certain dates - perhaps the deadline for acceptances?
If we decide to home-school or manage to find (and indeed afford) a place at an Independent, can we remain on the state waiting list?
Does 10th sound hopeful in this situation - bearing in mind the almost general over-subscription here? I'm torn between remaining optimistic and gently preparing my daughter for a change of plan, but I've no idea how much movement is usual on these lists, or when it happens (why would anyone change their mind in July??).
I'd be so grateful for any thoughts anyone wanted to share - we're thinking about an appeal too, but just hoping against hope that won't be necessary.
Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.
Secondary education
waiting list experiences / help!
pearlsthatwerent · 04/03/2024 11:40
pearlsthatwerent · 04/03/2024 16:38
We do live over 3 miles away @mirror245 , but only just: I'll look into it. In the meantime hoping for a happy waiting list ending like @Verite1 and @Pipeskeepleaking - I think a few people do go private, but imagine those on the fence are being cautious over the proposed VAT on fees. Sounds like it's not impossible things will move, but it may take a little while... my poor shredded nerves!
I thought of another question: those of you who spent some time on these lists, did you keep ringing / emailing every now and again to find out where you were on them, or did the LA or school let you know periodically?
pearlsthatwerent · 06/03/2024 19:26
Hello @MyPearlPeer - I don't, but you can ring the Council admissions office and they will tell you a) where you are on the list, which you may already know; and b) what happened last year, i.e. which number they offered down to. No guarantees that things will happen that way this year, but it's some information at least. Also heard that end of March is the time to ring back to check waiting list movement (once acceptances / rejections have come in and non-replies chased).
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MyPearlPeer · 07/03/2024 20:33
I don’t think we have much chance at St Bede’s as we are not religious but hopefully parkside 🤞. We won’t appeal - don't really have any ground
to complain about the school admission process.
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