Henrietta Barnett 2024 waiting list movement

[Fahmin]

My DD's waiting list ranking on HBS is 38. Last year, the last one offered was 46, 2022 was 55 and 2021 was 57. So, I am now keeping my fingers crossed.

Please use this thread to update us on any offer you have received so that the rest of us on the waiting list can estimate whether we are likely to get an offer.

Please let update as follows:

Waiting list rank: XX
Date of offer: DD/MM

Thanks

Hello,

Incase you guys haven’t seen the website they have offered to waitlist number 29.

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2022 Waiting List Movement, Last Place offered WL55
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02/04/2022 - WL 7
14/04/2022 WL 15
27/04/2022 WL 16
16 May 2022 WL 21
28 May 2022 WL 24
01 Jul 2022 WL37
22 Sep 2022 WL50

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2023 Waiting List Movement
-------------
17/04/2023 WL 16
27/04/2023 WL 20
28/04/2023 WL 23
16/05/2023 WL 26
30/05/2023 WL 31
12/06/2022 WL 33
03/07/2023 WL 35
31/07/2023 WL 37
29/08/2023 WL 38
04/09/2023 WL 39
06/09/2023 WL 42
11/09/2023 WL 44
18/09/2023 WL 45
25/09/2023 WL 46

--------------
2024 Waiting List Movement
---------------
27/03/2024 WL 17
21/05/2024 WL 20
03/06/2024 WL 23
26/06/2024 WL 29

2024 Waiting List Movement
---
27/03/2024 WL 17
21/05/2024 WL 20
03/06/2024 WL 23
26/06/2024 WL 29
11/07/2024 WL 30

Can I ask if anyone here is sending/hoping to send their child to HBS from outside of the borough, and if so where? I'm Waterloo and have a very academic child, but wondering if it's just too far for her (obvs know that getting an offer is another issue)!

2024 Waiting List Movement
---
27/03/2024 WL 17
21/05/2024 WL 20
03/06/2024 WL 23
26/06/2024 WL 29
11/07/2024 WL 30
17/07/2024 WL 31

Good luck @Fahmin getting there fingers crossed!

Yes, keeping everything crossed. We are currently in Orpington and DD got Newstead Wood, which is also a very good school. Once we get the offer, both of us need to get a transfer to our London office (both of us work in 2 different firms in Maidstone), move house, get a school place for our 6 years old, arrange after school childcare for him, rent our current house.... Phew, the list goes on.

Many suggesting keep the things where it is. But we are quite detiremind that we will move. Otherwise, for the whole life, we will suffer thinking that DD had the offer from HBS and we did not give that a priiority. A tough decision :)

What unique opportunities does HBS offer that Newstead Wood doesn’t, and worth the effort? Both schools are girls grammar schools with the same state funding.

@Fahmin , you are really overestimating the importance of 1 grammar school over another. A bright dc will achieve pretty much the same gcse results at either school. You should probably focus a bit more on the differences between the 2 to justify such changes, particularly for your 6 year old.

I would think very, very carefully about this. Honestly it sounds like madness to me. You have a place at a very good school already. Is it really worth uprooting your entire life for HBS? It particularly seems unfair on your 6yo.

Any differences in results are largely down to the cohort. The more selective the school, the better the results end up. I went to a grammar probably on par with NW. I came out with top grades across all subjects (and generally enjoyed school!) I also would worry about being bottom of the cohort. It's probably better for self esteem to be middle of the class at a slightly less academic school.

@Fahmin have you asked the school what position on the waiting list your DD is currently? State school waiting lists are dynamic - anyone who joins a waiting list (at this time of year, this would be e.g. someone whose DD sat the relevant part(s) of the entrance test, either didn't name the school initially on their CAF and has now made a late application, or did name it, but below another school which they were offered, but have now changed the order of their preferences) must be ranked on the list according to the school's oversubscription criteria. At the same time, people may decide that they no longer want to wait for a possible place at a school, and take their DC's name off a waiting list. So positions on a waiting list can go up or down, depending on the ranking of new joiners / withdrawals. It's not like taking a ticket for a queue in a shop and the numbers called out in time order.

It may be that there have been no additions or withdrawals from the waiting list since March 1st. But if there have been, and the school hasn't retanked the list, it is acting in contravention of the Admissions Code.

I have just sent an email :)

Thanks, very interesting. I did not think in this way. DD is generally quite introverted and lacks confidence. Potentially being at the bottom of the cohort may worsen it and may affect her mental health. Very confused now.

Only reason we preferred HBS because about 40% of students end up in Oxbridge and rest on top 10 uni. Also, she will have great connections in the future as most from HBS are more likely to go in big positions in the future. Obviously, similar applies to NW as well but HBS is simply superior.

I don't think there would be much difference for an individual girl between the 2 schools. HBS is more highly selective, as it draws from a wider area. Whilst the high number of Oxbridge offers is great, it's not that surprising given the cohort. I am making these numbers up, but if HBS take top 1% and NW take top 3% for example, then you would expect more Oxbridge offers etc. I would expect an individual student to get basically the same grades at both schools. It's potentially a lot of pressure on your DD to relocate for this, especially if there are other compromises e.g. more commuting, smaller house, potentially less top school options for your DS.

My apologies for adding confusion, but I do think it is worth thinking about.

@Fahmin , none of us know what Oxbridge admissions will look like in 8 years time, you really cannot base such a move on how Oxbridge may view an application in the future.

HBS sends 20-30% of its students to Oxbridge, whereas NW has around 10%. This difference likely reflects the selectivity of their student intake on the very top end. However, I don't think a DD in HBS would increase your chances of getting into Oxbridge if we remove the selection factor. As for the most likely in ‘high positions,’ I’m not entirely sure what that refers to, but it seems like wishful thinking. Both schools also have a significant proportion of girls pursuing medicine, dentistry, and other Russell Group University.

Thanks a lot for your input in our decision-making @daniburg @tennissquare @BendingSpoons @MarchingFrogs

You have made me think of it differently than just school ranking. Looks like a discussion on this will dominate this evening.

Here is the reply:
Good afternoon

She is still the same number, we do not re-number the students.

We will be in touch if a place becomes available.

Kind regards

(Personal info redacted by MNHQ)

Hmm... Intriguing.

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2022 Waiting List Movement, Last Place offered WL55
------
02/04/2022 - WL 7
14/04/2022 WL 15
27/04/2022 WL 16
16 May 2022 WL 21
28 May 2022 WL 24
01 Jul 2022 WL37
22 Sep 2022 WL50

------
2023 Waiting List Movement
-----
17/04/2023 WL 16
27/04/2023 WL 20
28/04/2023 WL 23
16/05/2023 WL 26
30/05/2023 WL 31
12/06/2022 WL 33
03/07/2023 WL 35
31/07/2023 WL 37
29/08/2023 WL 38
04/09/2023 WL 39
06/09/2023 WL 42
11/09/2023 WL 44
18/09/2023 WL 45
25/09/2023 WL 46

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2024 Waiting List Movement
-------
27/03/2024 WL 17
21/05/2024 WL 20
03/06/2024 WL 23
26/06/2024 WL 29
17/07/2024 WL 31
29/08/2024 WL 33
02/09/2024 WL 35

@Fahmin

2022 Waiting List Movement, Last Place offered WL55
--
02/04/2022 - WL 7
14/04/2022 WL 15
27/04/2022 WL 16
16 May 2022 WL 21
28 May 2022 WL 24
01 Jul 2022 WL37
22 Sep 2022 WL50

Is the implication that five girls just didn't show up at the beginning of September 2022?

I guess so. Even this year the school does not start till 5th Sep and it has already moved by 4. I assume a few more will move once the class starts and some will not turn up.

Good luck @Fahmin certainly looks possible to reach #38 by this month.

Two weeks into school start, doesn't look like the waiting list will move anymore. What do you guys think? Thanks

I have contacted the school on 6th September. They confirmed that all the girls who accepted the offer were present on the 1st day, except for one who was unwell.

It is unlikely that it will move any further unless some are on the waiting list at the private school and they switch when they get the offers.