Page 6 | Secondary National Offer Day 2026

LancreWowhawk · 2026-02-26T17:01:14+00:00

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!

Nushi21 · 01/03/2026 22:14

NeverDropYourMooncup · 01/03/2026 22:11

Other information for the day;

Accept your place. It doesn't affect places on waiting lists, doesn't affect appeal outcomes, doesn't lock you in to sending your DC to that school - but it does ensure that if all else fails, they do actually have a place guaranteed for September.

You can ask to be added to waiting lists/apply to schools you didn't include as preferences.

Don't believe anybody who tells you that declining a place means they'll have to give you one at your favourite school.

Don't believe anybody who tells you the way to do it is to turn up at the preferred school reception and demand to see somebody or tell them you'll bring a folding chair and your kid can sit on that.

Don't believe anybody who tells you tales of a friend whose friend was a Governor or in the PTA who did favours for friends or knew the Head personally.

The Head has sod all to do with admissions decisions. The Governors didn't even get to see the names when ranking them. So wanting to contact the Head is pointless.

Don't phone up every day to see if you can get a place. Nobody knows until after all the existing offers have been accepted or declined and neighbouring boroughs have also sent through their residents' responses to the LA, which have then been input and the details sent to the schools. The next batch of offers is usually after Easter for this reason.

Do not try to find out the name of the person who does admissions at the school so you can trace their personal details/address/etc and contact them through Facebook, instagram or by knocking on their door.

Do not ask how much the school needs in terms of a donation.

Do not waste your time telling the school how lovely your child is. They're sure your child is indeed lovely, as they all are. That doesn't mean that they could or would break admissions law to admit your child on the basis of them being class president, a lovely singer or just an all round adorable angel.

Do not rant about the Labour Party, immigrants, refugees, religious observance, VAT on private school fees or anything else.

And whatever you do, DO NOT send your kid to the school in September with uniform, switch your phone off and expect the school will 'just have to keep them now'. They don't and if you do not come straight back and pick them up, the Police and Social Services will be called.

And yes, all of those have happened.

Omg hilarious

Alee289 · 01/03/2026 22:39