2024 waiting list/appeal support thread

[Hopeful88]

I thought I'd start a support thread for everyone in the same position - either waiting on appeal outcomes or hoping for a secondary school place from a waiting list.
I've read all the advice I can and I'm doing the best I can but I'm still struggling with the unknown.
We're currently in the 20s on the waiting list for our first choice school and an unknown number for the second choice.
Fingers crossed for everyone in the same position. 🤞🏼🤞🏼

@dodi1978 Thinking of you today for your second appeal.

@AllSuggestionsTaken Thank you. We have just come back. We don't feel particularly positive about that one. The chair kept interrupting, in particular our closing statement. She then declared "I think we've got everything" when this isn't her role - the panel should decide whether they have got all information they need.
Apart from that, the panel asked how many OT sessions my son needs, and I think they are going to rattle us on the fact that it is 'only' two per half term, though we tried to elaborate by saying that we don't know yet about any future needs.
In this one, the school represented themselves via the head teacher rather than via a lawyer, which was actually positive... he didn't interfere with the questioning at all, whereas the lawyer person from the first one asked a lot of questions that were really trying to undermine our case.
We will probably complain about the way the appeal has been conducted, because we don't think it was fair due to the behaviour of the chair.
We might get an answer as early as this afternoon, but definitely on Monday. There were only four appeals heard in total, so they will make a decision fast.... I feel sick thinking of my e-mail inbox and what might land in it!

@dodi1978 It’s done now and well done for getting through it.

I agree the chair shouldn’t dictate on behalf of the panel.

Our school represented themselves too and there was a legal clerk for the panel, but she didn’t ask questions.

We heard by email just after 5pm the day after our appeal, which was on a Wednesday. I hope you find out soon.

Unbelievably still no1 on the list for DC1 but I’m feeling a bit more confident that we will get in now - I’ve heard from people who went through this in previous years that the school didn’t open up spaces until after the appeals results in July. I’m starting to think I should have appealed but at no1 on the list it seemed a bit silly!

My other DCs have September offers now for primary 🙌

Amazingly, we have just won our appeal! I think my pulse is still at 180! I couldn't believe it when I opened the e-mail. My son is so so happy and it has taken all the worry about transition away for him as he now knows he will stay with his friends.
@AllSuggestionsTaken Thanks for your handholding in the last few days! @PatriciaHolm Thanks for all your advice and @Hopeful88 Thanks for starting this thread in the first place. I will make sure I'll check in next year on similar threads, and will also stay on this one in case anyone wants any tips or handholding.
Now for some 🍷!

I’ve heard from people who went through this in previous years that the school didn’t open up spaces until after the appeals results in July.

The school may find out around the same time that it is losing some of its intake due to those pupils having appeals elsewhere upheld, but it certainly shouldn't be 'holding places back' in case some of its own appeals are upheld. if it goes below PAN before the school and the appellants have been informed of the outcomes of the appeals (which must happen simultaneously), then the place shoukd be offered out to the waiting list as normal.

Amazing, what a relief. Let's keep the good news coming. 🍾

🍾

@dodi1978 That is brilliant news! Enjoy the high as it is the best feeling! Fantastic that it’s before transition day.

@dodi1978 that's great! Well done. Very pleased for you.

Really glad to hear people’s positive news!

Congrats @dodi1978 !

@MarchingFrogs interesting - to be honest there’s so much misinformation/misunderstanding of the system I wouldn’t be surprised if someone made this up. The school does their own admissions, the LA aren’t involved at all after the initial offer day so nobody would know either way.

I wish more people would take the time to understand how the waiting lists work… There is a family at our primary school who are furious with us for “jumping in front of them in the queue” when they have been “waiting longer” and it’s created a really hostile situation for my dc as they have told their dc that my dc has somehow gamed the system to be ahead… we just live v close! We’ve known them since our kids were in nursery so it’s a bit grim… I’m not sure what the expected us to do… Not apply for a school place?

Having a bad week we have gone back on the waiting list we are now 4/8 😢

@Mummyk13 Oh no. Please don't loose hope - there is still some time.

Doris

What’s the PAN? Is it big enough that there could be some house moves?

Thanks guys @Rhayader its a 90 place

There’s definitely still some time but that is a small PAN. Crossing fingers for you :)

@Rhayader is it too late to appeal ? We've gone from 1st to 4th on waiting list but 3 on time appeals were upheld so we are effectively 7th on the list :/ so pinning all my hopes on my appeal

@willowtolive In my county, the deadline for appealing was right after the Easter break, and most councils are likely the same. There are also options for in-year appeals, but you are likely to have to wait until after the AY starts.

@dodi thanks yes I've got my appeal on the 25th just a suggestion for other poster. May be able to get an appeal still if you push for one perhaps

The deadline for appeal for us was mid-April. I regret not doing it now but as a late applicant I didn’t think we had a shot and because we were first on the list it didn’t feel necessary.

I hope it's not the case of no chance as late applicant :( I feel my case is strong and not the fault of child that we were late. They are still doing late appeals and there will be appeals for really late applicants that applied after the second deadline. Like the people who have taken over us on the waiting list . So you never know you may be able to get one

Also for our school last year there were three late appeals and 3/3 were upheld

You can submit an appeal now, but at this point in the term, there is no guarantee that it will be heard before term ends.

I’ve just asked for an update (by email is the only way frustratingly) to see if we are still no1. It’s a very popular school with a waiting list over 400 and I expect there were a lot of appeals this year too but this data isn’t published until September.

Second choice waiting list is ~360 and we were 13 last week but moving around a lot. We’ve been between 8th and 18th…. And for our third choice we were 96/~330 last week so no realistic chance there.

We would be happy with any of the three and they are our 1st, 2nd and 4th closest schools respectively. The 3rd closest is a single sex school that we didn’t have on our list. We were assigned our 10th closest school (not one of the ones on our list).