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. 🤞🏼🤞🏼

@Gobbolinothewitchscat I am feeling good today. Looking forward to the Easter break. Emailed school 2 as she said she may have news today - so far nothing back but I’m sure we are like 100 on the list so not holding my breath.

re; appeal maybe one of the pluses of being brief is that I can encapsulate lots of things within those categories as an expansion. I’ve only appealed on distance being inaccurate and medical needs so I can expand on the needs and how the school can meet those in the hearing (I hope)

I am looking forward to taking a week off with the girls next week and catching up with friends this weekend so that’s helping my positivity.

@MsJuniper any news on your WL?

Oh my goodness we just got an email saying he has got his first preference! I am in shock. Thank goodness no appeal stuff and we can think about buying uniform.

Oh @MsJuniper another success story to add to our thread. Excellent news

Amazing news just in time for the break. Must be a weight off your shoulders. 🥰

Had a reply from school 3 saying no news until after Easter - radio silence from school 2 who said they should have info today and school 1 claim to know nothing at all. I don’t think I’ll have any updates this side of Easter just have to try to be patient.

Sorry to those still waiting. Hopefully we all get our DC into the right school. You are all clearly very loving and caring parents so let's hope it all pays off.

The best news. Am so pleased you found out before Easter.

I'm so sorry for those still waiting. Not in anyway helped by the lack of a clear process and communication route with the schools/LAs

It is interesting how all LA's are different. You would think they would have to align with each other. Congrats to those that have had news :)

Just heard we've been unsuccessful at reallocation for the grammar schools, so it's waiting list for us.

Haven't told my DD yet and not sure what to do - how are people dealing with this? Keeping them in the dark to save the disappointment or being open about it.

We're only a few off on the 'order of merit' - cut-off is 474 and we're 477... so a bit surprised there was such little movement at reallocation but hey ho. There
is no catchment for us so distance doesn't come into it - only the score.

Not sure how late applications work with the grammar school test but perhaps that has meant she is further away than I know at the moment.

I've emailed to ask where we are on the WL as they didn't mention that on the letter (god knows why). Just feel so deflated.

We've not considered appeal, although every time I call up to try to find out any info they always suggest this as an option. Makes me think we should go for it.

Hope everyone has a nice Easter.

So sorry to hear this.

For what it is worth, we didn't tell DS. I just felt that the strain was for us as parents to bear. I know some feel differently but I don't actually believe relatively young children who perhaps don't have such developed coping mechanisms need to know the ins and outs of all of this. It is stressful enough for adults to deal with.

I would just keep things quiet at the moment and then have a deadline in place for when you genuinely think there will be little to no movement and confirm the school she will be going to then. For me that would have been around transition day.

PS - I would always advise appealing as I think that means you can work on the basis that you did all you could and have nothing to lose.

I would just focus on constructing a good case now around what the school you want offers that the other school doesn't and how to show real detriment to your DC if they were denied that.

I would also ask for more details on the waiting list to ensure there is no administrative error

@MsJuniper Yay! Awesome news! That must be such a weight off your mind.

I’ve dropped off my appeal this morning, and just had email confirmation of receipt, so now I need to just not think of it again until June (yeah, right!).
Ive told DD we’ve waitlisted but not that we’ve appealed- and I’m preparing her to go her allocated school. I figure anything else is a bonus, and I don’t want to build her hopes up.

Ahhh congratulations @MsJuniper

We just got assigned a school that isn’t one of our 6 choices - but we are still number 1 on the wait list for our first preference… SURELY there will be some movement before September. I think when the out of borough grammar school places come out people will move a little bit 🤞🙏

So nice to see some positive things happening in here.

Unfortunately for us the LA won’t release waiting list placements until mid April. They couldn’t tell me anything about movement on waiting lists in previous years and it all just feels hopeless. Hubby and I have decided we would still move her even after starting school because the allocated school is just so bad. My SIL works there as a teacher and she told me she wouldn’t consider letting her kids go there.

I feel so sad for my girl, her friends are all starting to get bits of uniform and stuff and I just won’t consider buying anything until I really have to. Fortunately, due to the nature of the school there’s very little branded uniform (deprived area) and they actually provide all the stuff that is branded so even if we do end up getting the whole lot it’s not going to cost the earth.

sorry, this is very negative from me. I just hate feeling so powerless.

@AllSuggestionsTaken @KirriIrry @MarchingFrogs thank you, yes we do feel slightly lighter and dc was quite happy that the dreadful school is off the table.

we submitted our appeal last night, we were up until 1am getting it done, but it’s out of our hands now. I feel good in myself that we have done all we can, what will be will be I guess. (Trying to believe that lol 😝)

Amazing news, congratulations to you all!! What a relief 😅

@Fizzyrosie

I agree with this, it’s so stressful and complex for us as adults, I think the kids just want it black and white so they know what’s happening rather than all the possibilities. I agree to try the appeal route, you e got nothing to lose and it may pay off. Hopefully you can get some update on the WL soon.

@MsJuniper Oh what a wonderful update! A fantastic start to the Easter hols!

I’m not contacting the schools again until late April. We have until 15 April to get appeals in. One point left to do then the draft is ready. I’m a worrier and treble check things but there’s no benefit in getting it in early. Keeping in keeping on!

Bravo ladies! We can do this!

@MsJuniper super news! I'm sure this is so encouraging for everyone to hear success stories!

@Fizzyrosie we didn't tell DS about the appeal either although he knew his teacher had given us a letter of recommendation. I also didn't mention any dates that I thought we might hear about any WL movement. The uncertainty was already very hard for him to cope with and I wanted to reduce any rollercoaster effect.

That sounds really hopeful... the waiting is painful but 1st place is a good spot to be. I hope it doesn't take too long.

Another sleepless night, we haven't heard anything from either of our waiting lists so I can only assume there's no news. I keep checking my emails like something is going to appear.

Now my mind is so active again, no matter what I try I just can't switch off.

@Hopeful88 I hope you managed to get some rest. The waiting is very trying.

@AllSuggestionsTaken Thank you, I managed around 6 hours which is plenty for me. I'm feeling a lot better this morning because I know no emails are coming so I'm not obsessively checking. 😁

Happy Easter Everyone 🐰