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. 🤞🏼🤞🏼

I’m having a bad day today, well fucked off with everything. We’ve moved up the WL but it still feels like we might as well be on the other side of the moon.

Also I don’t know what our real WL position is as the Council are doing their 2nd round allocations - we could easily sink a few places.

Sending positive thoughts to everyone. This is a horrible system. No update from either school here. Life is on hold until we get this sorted out and it’s getting very wearing.
Please keep encouraging anecdotes coming!

Also find it really hard, had hopes pinned on getting our first or second choice this round, it's so mentally exhausting. Our second choice we only moved up one place :( first choice was a bit more hopeful, we moved from 13 to 7.

I can understand the disappointment. Our WL
position has dropped 6 places and when I asked LA the reasons why, they just replied probably because the WL is populated manually, the one I checked earlier was not the most updated one. So frustrated! I just think probably we will be pushed down after they deal with the second round. I have a feeling I don’t want to ask the WL position again and don’t want to be even more disappointed.

I haven't asked our WL position. I don't think I want to know. If we're close, I'll probably obsess over it and if we're far it'll be demotivating. Good luck to everyone going through the next rounds.

Thanks. When I try to use my head I know there will be a space coming up before September…

We are unlikely to be overtaken on the waiting list. It’s just so bizarre to have no kids turn down places at all. I wonder if it’s the private school fee threat for next year with Labour?

DS has dropped from 15th to 25th on the second schools waiting list. I thought I’d been more upset but I’m so drained by the whole thing now.
Just waiting on appeal hearing dates.

For those of you going to appeal -
Please make sure that you send in any evidence along with your appeal letter. I've just received my first bunch of paperwork for year 7 appeals. (I'm a panel chair)
There are some which have a good case, but they have not included any supporting evidence which puts us in a difficult situation.
If you say the child or close family member has medical issues to be considered for example, send in something to prove that, even just an appointment letter is better than nothing, but a short statement from a health care professional would be more helpful.
If you have already sent your letter then send your information as supporting evidence to the admissions team at the local authority. We will accept extra supporting evidence up to 3 days before the appeal and by email is fine.
Most panels will not accept evidence produced at the appeal as we won't have had time to read it. This is especially more likely at the large multiple appeals where the time allotted is quite short.

Thanks @Raera thats so helpful. Thanks also for being someone who wades through the masses of paperwork to deal with appeals. It must be tough.

You are welcome.
Just wonder if everyone realises we don't get paid?!?
With regards masses of paperwork, just to say appropriate evidence yes please, but a phone directory size wad, no thanks.
Also no thanks to photos of your child and letters from the child, yes unbelievably I've had those and I'm afraid they don't really get considered.

@Raera yes, I know you don’t get paid. It often makes me wonder about the composition of the panels as you need the time to do it and be able to work unpaid during the day.

I looked into volunteering for appeals panels but couldn’t make it work around the day job. That said I was a school governor for 10 years and therefore understand all about the unpaid labour!

Hi all I am in the same position we have had our first part of the appeal process and that just left us feeling like we have no hope we are 128/330 on the waiting list so no way we will get a place off the waiting list

we are also going through this with our daughter to at the same time she was the only one in her nursery not to get offered first place 🤦‍♀️

i emailed the school and they actually called me said there hearts broke for us said they can’t tell us about waiting list but did say only 15 children on it and we are not at the back of the list but can’t tell
me my actual place till after the 30th April

feel so angry that you have to beg for a good education for your children

gutting part is I have worked at the nursery for 18 years next door to both the primary and senior school I am there more than some one who lives there 😡

I feel so helpless and the school we have has no breakfast/after school club spaces left only take 40 for each

my working hours are crazy 7-5:30/7:30/6
and due to all the new funding there are no childminders with space feel so stuck

How is everyone - Thursday is our second round of offers for spaces from declined in round 1. I’m doubtful we’ll get one but still feels like a milestone.

@Rinse123 Ours is Thursday too. I’m not hopeful. I can ring the schools we’re on the waiting list for on Friday to find where we are on the list, but I don’t know if I can face it 😬

Good luck to everyone waiting to hear this week!

There’s been such little movement for us, I think a lot of private school parents have been clinging onto their spaces instead of firming up a decision. Hopefully lots of spaces to come.

We had our second part of our appeal this morning council don’t seem interested at all and have no hope we will get any where with the waiting list

wishing you all the luck for Thursday 🤞

@Mummyk13 i’m sorry to hear that you didn’t feel the appeal went well. May I ask what your grounds were in summary? Is it 10 days you wait for the outcome?
@KirriIrry i understand entirely our 1st choice said after Thursday as it then goes to them to control they can tell me WL position however based on the ridiculous WL position for 2nd choice I don’t want to know, although that won’t stop me asking and depressing myself!

Still here, too…
No movement at all here this month as our LA processes second round.

@shockeditellyou when does your second round happen?

Fingers crossed for everyone having their appeal hearings.

Only downward movement here on school 2 list. I can’t bring myself to contact school 1 again and ask for an update. If DS had a space they would be in touch!

Waiting on hearing dates for the two appeals now.

Is that for a secondary place? So sorry to hear it didn’t go well. Maybe they aren’t allowed to give you any indication and have to play to very neutral during the hearing?

@Rinse123 we went on the whole distance not being very as a reason to allocate place show it’s not given children equal opportunity for access to good education that you shouldn’t be penalized for where you live education states all children deserve the same standard of education yet it isn’t actually an option unless you can afford to live in a high cost area
There argument was apparently a child of 8+ can travel on there own 75 mins each way
which I then challenged and said that’s not a law that’s been put out there as an opinion of the nspc
actual a child can be left alone or travel when parents feel there mature enough and if they do this when they feel there not the parent is then breaking the law so if we where to do this we would be breaking the law they didn’t know what to say
we also said our child isn’t ready to travel alone and due to my working hours 7-5:30/7:30-6 I can only take him to the school next door to my work as there’s no space at wrap around child care due to new goverment funding spaces are full and they do not open early enough or close late enough
also our son attends an academy that’s part of the school that’s been offered we have had daily phone calls as the children in class are very disruptive my son gets adult Ed daily by being stabbed with pencils threatened to be killed had his elbow split open we have had countless meetings with the school around safeguarding that gets over looked and that we feel we should have the opportunity to a higher standard of education regardless of our post code that this stage of education determines the next stage in there adult life can’t hear you

i said we are under no illusion that we will win the appeal as we have read and seen it will only be over turned if based on criteria

they said that’s not true if your case is strong enough if could be for other reason and said that my son would be proud of me that we all deserve a good education for our children and want the best which was nice

I said a lot more but to much to right lol normally get 15 minutes we went on for 39 🤦‍♀️

@AllSuggestionsTaken this was for the secondary appeal haven’t had anything for primary yet still holding on hope we get offered a space off the waiting list 🤞it’s all so stressful but must say the appeal was not that bad apart from the man from the council getting abit rude when he was challenged about the 75 minutes travel time 😂😂

@Mummyk13 thank you so much for taking the time to break down your arguments. It really does sound like you gave it your everything and you should be incredibly proud of yourself. It’s not over yet. When will you hear the outcome?

@Rinse123 they have appeals all day today and tomorrow then it’s 10 days after

you know what even if we don’t win at least we tried our best and I actually feel better for my moan lol 😂