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Secondary education

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School offer day: what time?

70 replies

ghqpabks · 01/03/2025 09:13

Our LA usually updates the portal at midnight, I stayed awake last time I went through it. Last time I want to say the school offer day was a Tuesday so I stayed up on the Monday night. This time it's the 3rd so I assume our portal will be updated on Sunday night, anyone else know for their area?

(Our website doesn't actually say, only gives the date).

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ChocHotolate · 01/03/2025 09:18

It varies by area. London doesn’t update until 5pm (as the team leave the office I guess). It makes the day very long…!

ghqpabks · 01/03/2025 09:20

Sorry yes I realise that, I should have said if you get updated at midnight as well, I'm worried I'm going to wait up Sunday but it'll be Monday 😂

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fatandtrying · 01/03/2025 15:08

I didn't have to go through thisbwith my son as he's at a special school which is primary through to secondary! and have no clue what time derbyshire send there emails

Lindy2 · 01/03/2025 15:14

Surrey and London are 5pm.

What area are you? Does staying up until midnight achieve anything? Obviously you know as soon as the details are released but I'm assuming you couldn't contact anyone, if you needed to, until normal office hours.

I've always imagined Surrey and London pressing the button at 5pm and running for the door. It gives everyone an overnight before dealing with the queries.

Luckily we've always got the places we applied for so have never needed to contact anyone the next day.

FrannyScraps · 01/03/2025 15:14

fatandtrying · 01/03/2025 15:08

I didn't have to go through thisbwith my son as he's at a special school which is primary through to secondary! and have no clue what time derbyshire send there emails

Thanks. Helpful.

ghqpabks · 01/03/2025 16:08

@Lindy2 they release at on March 3rd, and the portal updates at midnight so was curious if those who have areas that do the same if they were assuming that to be Sunday or Monday night (it's only throwing me off as it was midweek last time), that's all.

No it doesn't achieve anything, but that wasn't really the point of the question. I really don't know why someone can't just ask a question on MN without people being awkward about it, I'm anxious about the space, I want to know as soon as I am able.

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fairydust11 · 01/03/2025 17:46

I checked my portal today (even though I know it’s the 3rd - I thought maybe it had been updated. It hadn’t!
I will check again at midnight & midnight on Sunday too.
We are in catchment and with an older sibling but even still, I find the waiting an anxious time & want to know asap.
To the person upthread who asked what’s the point in checking at midnight or as soon as possible, I can’t answer for the op, but for me, I think it’s best to know as early as I can in case there was an issue. That way I can fire off an email if needed & then get straight on the phone the following day as the offices must get extremely busy.
Also just to add, when I found out last time it was on a weekday & it updated at midnight- hence the midnight checks! There is a slight method to the madness!

ghqpabks · 01/03/2025 18:06

@fairydust11 exact same situation, we have sibling link so it should all be fine, but until you see it you just don't know, I've heard of weird things happening at the school before! DS has special needs and this school has completely different term times to the other local schools so it would be a genuine nightmare if they went to different schools. I won't relax until I see it!

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ghqpabks · 01/03/2025 18:08

I've just logged in and it says "school offer shown here 3/3/25" so I assume midnight tomorrow.

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fairydust11 · 01/03/2025 18:11

ghqpabks · 01/03/2025 18:06

@fairydust11 exact same situation, we have sibling link so it should all be fine, but until you see it you just don't know, I've heard of weird things happening at the school before! DS has special needs and this school has completely different term times to the other local schools so it would be a genuine nightmare if they went to different schools. I won't relax until I see it!

Completely agree. I know it’s probably irrational, but like you I can’t relax until I know for sure. Good luck!

ghqpabks · 01/03/2025 18:18

Yeah, our school gets over 1200 applications for 180 places, but hopefully should be fine!

Good luck to you too!

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Elfie23 · 01/03/2025 19:05

We're in Hertfordshire and had an email from county council to say allocation emails will be sent at 10:00am - but like others I'm wondering if I log in before to the portal if it will show.

First (and only) child here - the nerves are real!

ghqpabks · 01/03/2025 19:13

@Elfie23 good luck, no harm doing a few early tries of the system!

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MissEloiseBridgerton · 01/03/2025 19:20

I can't believe the stress this causes! Scotland has a way better system, whereby you're guaranteed place at your catchment school, there is only one school in catchment. if you want to put a placing request in for another school, then you can but I know that none of my friends did this.

ghqpabks · 01/03/2025 19:30

@MissEloiseBridgerton yup it's a ridiculous system. Where we are you have less than 20% chance of getting the local (very good) school (I crunched the numbers), it's less than 0.3 miles away. It's nigh on impossible to get the other 3 good schools as we don't live close enough and they run on catchment (although one is only 1 mile away, but very residential area) which leaves us with the special measures school 4 miles away that not only is a dire school, but they don't provide transport because it's less than 3 miles as the crow flies (but not by road).

I felt like we won the lottery when we got a space at our local school (that randomly selects). I won't relax until I know my second is in there, even though I rationally know his sibling link should protect him, I have heard urban myths of siblings not being allocated!

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IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 01/03/2025 20:32

This'll be my 6th offer day.... Kirklees is usually about 8.30 am.

fashionqueen0123 · 01/03/2025 23:41

I’m wondering this too! It says it should be through by 11.30 so presumably could be anytime from midnight onwards! 24 and a bit hours to go to check then! I can’t even remember what the website is !

Elfie23 · 02/03/2025 19:00

fashionqueen0123 · 01/03/2025 23:41

I’m wondering this too! It says it should be through by 11.30 so presumably could be anytime from midnight onwards! 24 and a bit hours to go to check then! I can’t even remember what the website is !

If you're in England it'll be your county council website, school admissions x

niclw · 02/03/2025 19:13

When I went through this for primary school a few years ago it was on the portal at about 00.05 on the Sunday night/Monday morning. Plus I got an email about then.

I stayed up as I was panicking about my dc not getting into the good school near me and instead getting one of the awful schools. My second choice school went massively down hill between November (when I looked at it) and April which is primary offer day. So I was able to sleep easily knowing that they had the place at the good school. I needed to be able to get onto it straight away the next morning if they hadn't as I needed to do so around my own lessons (teacher).

fashionqueen0123 · 02/03/2025 19:55

Elfie23 · 02/03/2025 19:00

If you're in England it'll be your county council website, school admissions x

Thanks I found it!

Alice2535 · 02/03/2025 20:13

Do most LA's update the portal at midnight? I'm debating whether to stay awake Confused

Awcw1234 · 02/03/2025 21:58

I’ve been told by my council that emails will be sent from 10am onwards but wondering the same!

Dazzlemered · 02/03/2025 22:41

Alice2535 · 02/03/2025 20:13

Do most LA's update the portal at midnight? I'm debating whether to stay awake Confused

I thought they all did but after reading a few threads I’m not so sure now. I’m staying up anyway though. I neeeeeeeeed to know.

ghqpabks · 02/03/2025 22:44

Not long to go now for the midnight crew! Not decided if I am going to stay up or not yet!

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fashionqueen0123 · 02/03/2025 22:59

I’m so tired but equally it’s only an hour away…