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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Secondary National Offer Day 2026

375 replies

LancreWowhawk · 26/02/2026 17:01

Is anyone else anxiously awaiting news of secondary school allocations for September 2026? If so, come and bite your nails with me!

We've applied for 4 schools in our London borough, 3 girls schools and then our 4th choice is co-ed. Last year, we'd have got whichever one we put first, which will be down to changing demographics in London, so I'm hoping the same is true this year. As recently as 3 years ago, we wouldn't have got either of our first 2 choices on either faith or distance grounds, so I'm not counting my chickens!

We should be safe with either of our 3rd or 4th choices, as there's no year we wouldn't have got either of them, but still - I just want to know now!

OP posts:
Mithral · 02/03/2026 17:20

Second choice here, not a disaster!

trying29 · 02/03/2026 17:21

results are on the portal now - we didnt get an email but just refreshed the portal

bookworm14 · 02/03/2026 17:24

The portal refreshed at dead on 5pm so your result will definitely be on there.

Nushi21 · 02/03/2026 17:24

We have our third choice. It’s the one I thought we would get. Our 1st and 2nd choices were not even in our borough. A very long shot.
Not too surprised with the offer but it’s a notoriously strict school.

trying29 · 02/03/2026 17:24

yes I was surprised - it went down for a minute which was frustrating.

bookworm14 · 02/03/2026 17:29

All the tension has left my body - need a large drink now!!

Original poster
LancreWowhawk · 02/03/2026 17:34

We got our first choice too - I am super happy! And so is DD😀

OP posts:
IHopeYouStepOnALegPiece · 02/03/2026 17:39

Still waiting here! (N London) no email and nothing in portal!

Walkthelakes · 02/03/2026 17:40

feeling for all the London tension...got mine this morning. Frist choice--but no surprise as rural school that is undersubscribed and in catchment. I couldn't have got her anywhere else without having to give uo my job and make school runs a full time occupation!

trying29 · 02/03/2026 17:50

IHopeYouStepOnALegPiece · 02/03/2026 17:39

Still waiting here! (N London) no email and nothing in portal!

if you go on the portal - it is just a line above where it says view your application - it is not a big notice or anything.

Lilactimes · 02/03/2026 17:53

LancreWowhawk · 26/02/2026 17:01

Is anyone else anxiously awaiting news of secondary school allocations for September 2026? If so, come and bite your nails with me!

We've applied for 4 schools in our London borough, 3 girls schools and then our 4th choice is co-ed. Last year, we'd have got whichever one we put first, which will be down to changing demographics in London, so I'm hoping the same is true this year. As recently as 3 years ago, we wouldn't have got either of our first 2 choices on either faith or distance grounds, so I'm not counting my chickens!

We should be safe with either of our 3rd or 4th choices, as there's no year we wouldn't have got either of them, but still - I just want to know now!

when my DD applied ten or so years ago in North London we never got any of our 6 choices!!! I did accept a private offer... tho by September we had our second choice but we stuck with private ... so nerve racking.

hollytheheroic · 02/03/2026 17:55

In Kent we got them at about 11:30, London is just mean.

AreYouBrandNew · 02/03/2026 17:56

Does anyone know how quickly you might find out what position you are on waiting list for higher preference choice? Email mentions re-offers start at the end of the month but hoping we’d find out prior to that where we are on waiting list. We got second choice and knew we’d have to see if we could push to get in. On the edge of catchment.

Schoolhelp23 · 02/03/2026 18:02

First choice for us. Feel like a huge weight has been lifted!

ByDenimNewt · 02/03/2026 18:09

AreYouBrandNew · 02/03/2026 17:56

Does anyone know how quickly you might find out what position you are on waiting list for higher preference choice? Email mentions re-offers start at the end of the month but hoping we’d find out prior to that where we are on waiting list. We got second choice and knew we’d have to see if we could push to get in. On the edge of catchment.

Edited

Not sure if it varies by area, but here (London) there is a second offers day at the end of March. And then after that you can contact to find out waiting list place

prh47bridge · 02/03/2026 18:15

ByDenimNewt · 02/03/2026 18:09

Not sure if it varies by area, but here (London) there is a second offers day at the end of March. And then after that you can contact to find out waiting list place

Show quote history

It does vary by area. Some have a formal second round, many don't.

MmeWorthington · 02/03/2026 18:19

hby9628 · 02/03/2026 15:03

Does anybody know how the waiting list system works? My DD got her first choice however she now wants a different school & was pretty upset this morning. I’m happy with what she has got but I’ve said she can go on the waitlist for another school. It says to accept your place by the end of next week which I’ve done so I would presume that they won’t start to send out any waitlist places until after that date?

Annoyingly if she had chosen the school she now wants first time, I actually think we would have got it as the catchment has changed.
I hate this system. I’m so glad it’s the last time I have to go through it.
im finding it hard to work today. I just want to go and give her a massive hug.

Oh dear!

What has changed her mind? Does she know which school her friends will go to?

Accept the allocated place and then find out how to get onto the waiting list. It is usually automatic if you get anything less than your first preference but you will need to tell the LA you would now like to apply for a different school.

Waiting lists are maintained in order of how closely you meet the published admissions criteria.

Good luck!

JamiLdn · 02/03/2026 18:24

Schoolhelp23 · 26/02/2026 17:48

😀 I'm Lambeth but applying in Westminster and Southwark.

Would you mind sharing where you applied and what order? I have a daughter in year 4 and will be doing this soon.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 02/03/2026 18:24

hollytheheroic · 02/03/2026 17:55

In Kent we got them at about 11:30, London is just mean.

The portal's already crashed and not everybody has their email yet. It's not 'mean', it's a massive technical load on servers.

NameyMacChangey · 02/03/2026 18:27

NameyMacChangey · 27/02/2026 13:35

Glad I’m not the only one pointlessly stressing about Monday. Also in the London 5pm club. We are about 500m inside the radius of our top choice based on last year’s stats, but I don’t know how different this year will be and I am much less keen on our second preference so feel quite twitchy.

Got our backup choice :-/ so the ‘catchments’ must have shrunk a lot here (Lewisham). Lots of friends in the same boat which is sort of comforting but also not as I don’t see how there can be that much waiting list movement! Feel really weird now. DS perfectly happy so that’s something.

JamiLdn · 02/03/2026 18:30

Myanna · 01/03/2026 19:46

London here too, my list has schools in Lambeth, Southwark and Westminster. Trying not to stress before 5pm tomorrow but it's hard! Also irrationally worried I did the application wrong.

Could I ask where you applied? We will look in similar neighborhoods.

AreYouBrandNew · 02/03/2026 18:32

ByDenimNewt · 02/03/2026 18:09

Not sure if it varies by area, but here (London) there is a second offers day at the end of March. And then after that you can contact to find out waiting list place

Show quote history

Thanks. We are London borough too. Was hoping to know waiting list place sooner - no patience 😅

Mithral · 02/03/2026 18:45

So is there a second big release of places at the end of March in London?

OUB1974 · 02/03/2026 18:53

For us (Lincolnshire) we can call next week to find out our places on any waiting lists. And then we may get an offer at the end of March if spaces are available due to others rejecting spaces. Our email came through at midnight and it kept me awake so you can't win!

hby9628 · 02/03/2026 19:19

@MmeWorthingtonwe did get our first choice & it’s the school her sister goes too. I told her that if we put that as first choice we would definitely get it and she was happy with that. She was fully involved in the decision.
she’s since been influenced by her friends which has made her change her mind.
Honestly this morning was awful. Anyway, I have accepted the school we have….its a good school her sister is doing well there. Put her on the waitlist for the other school.
This evening her sister has spent time with her talking about it & we’ve answered all her questions & she seems much happier.

her sister just asked her if she will stick with the allocated school now & she replied “it depends on my friends at the time”

ffs! She’s so fickle. I think I’ll just make the decision for her 🤦‍♀️ honestly. I just think that the reality is she doesn’t want to leave her primary school bubble.

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