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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:
FunnyMongoose · 02/03/2026 07:29

Surrey don’t get emails until after 5pm today.

Justpink13 · 02/03/2026 07:30

Sorry to all those who haven’t got their first choice.

It happened to one of my dc a few years ago and it’s a horrible feeling. Things did work out well in the end.

Fingers crossed for the waiting lists.

Lighteenights2822828228 · 02/03/2026 07:36

We’re North Yorks- portal updated but no email. We got first choice, which we always would get as catchment and v rural! Good luck to everyone

bookworm14 · 02/03/2026 07:39

Congratulations to those who got the offer they wanted! Londoners (and those in Surrey by the looks of it) now have a long, anxious wait until 5pm…

gototogo · 02/03/2026 07:40

@Nushi21

some people are unbelievable though just a point of order, whether the head has any influence does depend on the school’s admissions code, my dc’s school had an unusual set up, two applications, one to the lea one to the head - we had our place confirmed by the head in late January as they had control over 20% of the places, there’s lots of weird and wonderful set ups across the country often down to who owns the land, foundation trusts etc set up more than a century ago (my dc’s school dated from 18th century, completely state funded but weird admission process)

Clearinguptheclutter · 02/03/2026 07:44

I’m in Stockport and the email came at 7am though you could check the portal at midnight

all sorted with ds2 for the school ds1 is at. With the sibling priority (here) it was a bit less stressy this time round.

kittyfairy66 · 02/03/2026 08:02

Justpink13 · 02/03/2026 07:30

Sorry to all those who haven’t got their first choice.

It happened to one of my dc a few years ago and it’s a horrible feeling. Things did work out well in the end.

Fingers crossed for the waiting lists.

Happend to my son he's almost 18 now broke my heart we did the appeal and won so now my son has got into the school my son gets the places for as I have 1 on yr 10 Im gutted for 1 parent he's been with my son since playgroup now he's going to another school:(

LadyLapsang · 02/03/2026 08:02

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.

Agree. To add, try to stay calm if you are disappointed with the offer. Your DC will take a lot of their cues from you. Do not spend all your time in tears or ranting in front of your DC.

If you know you are going to accept a fee-paying offer, please turn down the state place so someone else can benefit. If you hold the place until September it will mean more disadvantaged children may not be able to take the place as their families may not be able to afford to buy a second uniform.

Mithral · 02/03/2026 08:18

I've got my calm face ready 😬

Gutted I have to wait until 5!

Creu · 02/03/2026 08:19

I’m resfreshing constantly but no updates. Is it really obvious on the e-admissions site? It just says that the application has been submitted

TinyTear · 02/03/2026 08:20

LOndon do it at 5pm so people have to sleep on it before complaining

Yuja · 02/03/2026 08:23

Just had ours - West Sussex. DS got our first choice but no surprises as he’s a sibling in catchment. Hope everyone gets the news they want

Pickleslovesourdough · 02/03/2026 09:29

Congratulations to all that got their 1st choice! 💃

Pickleslovesourdough · 02/03/2026 09:31

Lambeth resident here. We’ve applied for schools in Lambeth, Wandsworth and Southwark. Now just trying to wait calmly until 5pm to find out!

Alee289 · 02/03/2026 09:37

Will the emails for London come through at exactly 5pm? or is it from anytime between 5pm & midnight?

BendingSpoons · 02/03/2026 09:49

Alee289 · 02/03/2026 09:37

Will the emails for London come through at exactly 5pm? or is it from anytime between 5pm & midnight?

There's a lot of emails to go out, so it may take a couple of hours. If you haven't had your email, you can log into the portal from 5pm and that should have updated.

Araminta1003 · 02/03/2026 09:52

The London emails can come out any time from 5pm. As there can be many, yes, there can be delays. We got our email confirmation at 8.17pm last year! However, we could see the outcome on the portal itself earlier although from memory the website did crash a few times so may have gotten in by eg. 5.10pm.

noidea69 · 02/03/2026 10:07

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.

But my child is the most special child ever, surely the school would make an exception for me and my child, the best child out there, and give us exactly what we want.

Charlotte0284 · 02/03/2026 10:13

FunnyMongoose · 02/03/2026 07:29

Surrey don’t get emails until after 5pm today.

Good to know, I’ll try not to keep jumping every time I get an email now!

Original poster
LancreWowhawk · 02/03/2026 10:40

Congratulations to all those who have got first places/places they are happy with, and good luck to anyone gearing up for an appeal or a waitlist!

I'll be hunkering down with the rest of the London crew! I've just realised I've managed to book a meeting for 5pm (the perils of working with the US!), and I'm now sorely regretting it!

OP posts:
Myanna · 02/03/2026 10:41

Yeah I've just realised we actually applied for four boroughs - Southwark, Lambeth, Wandsworth and Westminster. SO MANY different websites and detailed criteria to read.

prh47bridge · 02/03/2026 10:54

For those who are unhappy with the offer they receive today...

Rule 1 is to accept the offer as others have advised. If you don't accept it, the LA is not under any obligation to come up with another offer. Accepting will not affect your place on the waiting list at any of your preferred schools. Rejecting the offer could make it harder to win any appeal, as the appeal panel may think you are trying to bully them into giving you the place you want.

If you want to appeal, go ahead. You will not lose anything by appealing (apart from some sleep and your hair going grey!). If your appeal fails, you will be in exactly the same position as you are now. However, if you win you will get a place at your preferred school.

If you want advice on an appeal, start a separate thread, preferably with the word "appeal" in the title. That way you will get advice from myself and the other experts on here. I can't speak for the other experts, but I may not notice requests for help on this thread. Having your own thread for your appeal also helps to avoid confusion.

EllieQ · 02/03/2026 10:58

Got the email at 10.05 and DD has got into her first choice. I was so relieved that I cried. I felt so guilty that we hadn’t been able to move into the catchment area as planned, and was really worried that she’d miss out on going to the same school as her friends.

Good luck to everyone still waiting 🤞

Pipsquiggle · 02/03/2026 11:11

We got our first choice.

I have heard on the grapevine that quite a few of his classmates haven't, it seems the distance has got shorter this year

bananashoes · 02/03/2026 11:11

we are still waiting for our email- apparently it comes in the evening today. We are surrey

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