When does secondary school admissions waiting list expire?

[Mamacita18]

Hi everyone,

My son is currently 2nd on the waiting list for our first choice high school under the music aptitude criteria for Year 7 starting in September 2025.

Do waiting lists expire at the end of the current school year? meaning now, in July?

Also, does anyone know if I need to submit a new in-year application to keep him on the list for the upcoming academic year (2025–26)?

And will his original music aptitude score still be taken into account if he stays on the list?We are located in London, Brent.

And has anyone seen much movement on waiting lists over the summer months? There hasn’t been any change in his position since the second round of offers, so I’m just wondering what the chances are like between now and September.

Any advice would be really appreciated.

Thanks so much!

I don’t know about Brent but in our London Borough I believe the waiting lists close at the end of next week when schools close for the summer or soon after. They re-open in early September.

At the Y6 talks the admissions team said that a lot of families had settled on their allocated school by then but not pulled out of waiting lists (despite reminders). They found that by closing and then reopening the lists at the start of term only the truly interested families rejoined the lists.

best to check with Brent admissions team.

I'm surprised by this. Pretty sure in my London borough they remain open until the end of December. So obviously it varies and best to call!

We are in Barnet and on the website it says that waiting lists close in July and that we'd need to reapply in August if we'd like to remain on the list. Our first choice school (in Barnet) however told me something totally different and said that we will remain on the waiting list well into September! Very confusing.

I’m honestly so confused about what I’m supposed to do now… I’ve also heard of people being offered places in September without needing to make an in-year application, so I’m not sure if I should be doing something or just waiting it out?
I don’t want to lose his place on the list, especially since he’s 2nd, but no movement has happened for weeks.

It varies between areas, so ask the school. It may also be that the music aptitude criteria only apply for admissions to year 7, and that in-year applications are just ordered by the other criteria, so ask about that.
There is usually some movement in September, when some pupils turn out to have moved over the summer. However I think it's rather unlikely that this would apply to two pupils admitted for their musical prowess - you'd be unlikely to pursue this route if you were likely to be moving before the child starts.

That’s exactly the kind of mixed messages I’ve been getting too! It’s so confusing when the council says one thing and the schools say another. Honestly, I thought I was just being thick 😆 glad I’m not the only one feeling lost with it all!
I just really don’t want to risk dropping off the list by mistake, especially with my son being 2nd under the music aptitude criteria. Feels way too close to give up on!
I’m definitely going to contact both Brent Admissions and the school directly to cover all bases.

For Y7 September 2025, the waiting list must be in operation until end of December, Admission Authorities can keep it for longer. Need to check the situation for the school/Local Authority.

For Y8 Sept 2025 and higher years, arrangements vary so check with school/LA

To be honest, I am just going to contact the council and do an in year application in August. It surely can't hurt and I'd rather be totally sure than regret it later on! A bit of extra work but I am sure they will promptly let me know if the in year application is no needed.

I get what you’re saying, @lanthanum, but it’s a bit more complicated than that.
I’ve attached the oversubscription criteria and the national offers day info for this year in the picture. The school’s PAN is 270.
All pupils who applied under the first five oversubscription criteria were offered a place, which adds up to about 250 pupils as they have been given priority. However, they weren’t able to fulfill the full 10% quota for music admissions because there simply wasn’t enough space. They admitted only 20 children through music instead of the full 27.
So, it’s not that my child didn’t qualify, but rather he missed out purely due to lack of space.
If even just two of these 270 children refuse their place or don’t turn up, then my child would be offered a place, unless someone else bumps in front of him by qualifying in one of the first five oversubscription categories.

Here it is

The music aptitude criterion comes below everything else, which is why they have only taken 20. Although it says up to 10% of places can be awarded for music aptitude, there weren't 27 places left this year.

As they did offer some places, the good news is that presumably means everyone who qualifies on any of the higher criteria did get a place, and so being second on the "music" waiting list means you started off as second overall.

New applications are ordered by the admissions criteria, so you could move down if there is a new application covered by any of the higher criteria. That's relatively unlikely, as someone moving into the area won't be attending a feeder primary, and proximity is below music. However it could happen: for instance if someone moves into the area with a sibling in an older year group which does have space. They can put in an application once that sibling starts, and would then move above you on the waiting list.

@Mamacita18 the answer to your question varies by local authority. All local authorities are obliged to publish a secondary admissions brochure which will contain the answer. The brochure for Brent is here: https://www.brent.gov.uk/media/16421300/schools-admissions-handbook-2025secondaryfinal.pdf and the answer you need is on page 15. It sounds like you'll be safe until the end of December, then you'll need to do the in year application.

In the meantime, other.families (who aren't already on the waiting list) may be putting in in-year applications and joining you on the waiting list.

Remember late applications, in-year applicants and those allocated through the Fair Access Panel could leap frog your DC for a place, however, you may be lucky.