Page 2 | Anyone else losing their mind on a Y7 Wait List?

Original poster

ButterBeanBouquet · 20/07/2026 19:58

JabraHeadphones · 20/07/2026 13:55

It hugely depends on the schools in your area. If private / grammar then you'll see more movement.

One of my DC got a place in October half-term at our absolutely favourite school. I had not even bothered to track the waitlist position (we started in the 70s, so there was no hope!). Shocking as it was, we took the place and had to move home for it as well. It was tough on DC and took a term to settle, but very happy with the change.

I would say, keep your options open until Christmas (sounds insane, but 7 years is a long time and switching to a better school is worth it in the longer run). In Sept, waitlists move fast and most people decline the place as their DC are settled / refuse to move. Councils have to wait longer if someone is a no-show at their school and give them a period of time (7 days I think) before they can offer their place to the next person. Similarly if a waitlist parent does not reply to their email, the council have to allow them 3 days (or 7 in some councils) before they can offer their place to the next person. So even if many are not interested, the paperwork can take days before it lands in your mailbox. Keep your DC open to change (without negative talk about the current school). When we took our offer it was from private to state, so we had to pay 2 terms fees as well but we still took it.

Don't leave the waitlist. Most schools will operate some thin cover to keep the places moving (no school wants an empty unfunded seat).

Play the long game and hold your nerve. Position 4 is very optimistic. Good luck!

This is all great advice, thank you much x

OP posts:

Original poster

ButterBeanBouquet · 20/07/2026 20:01

Luckyforsome23 · 20/07/2026 13:59

Last year we held our nerve until last minute including not labelling the uniform of the school we had a place at until the night before. Day 4 of term we got a call about a no show place at our first choice of school. Day 5 we viewed it again and bought new uniform. Day 6 she started. Week 7 she got over the shock and realised we had done the right thing. Good luck!

Thank you. I like your idea of not labelling uniform until the night before!

OP posts:

Original poster

ButterBeanBouquet · 20/07/2026 20:03

GrowAGarden · 20/07/2026 14:03

I live in an area where there's a lot of movement in the first week or so after they go back. My friend works in admissions and said it's mainly private school no shows but it can take a few days to get hold of them and find out where the child is that hasn't shown up as they could in theory be ill or something.
We are an 11+ area which may make this type of behaviour higher than other areas perhaps.

There aren’t any grammars/11+ around here, but plenty of private schools. That intel from your friend was interesting - thank you!

OP posts:

Original poster

ButterBeanBouquet · 20/07/2026 20:05

RamenEdge · 20/07/2026 15:48

I'd also agree with being open to moving in the first year. Secondary school is a long time, in my experience friendships are very fluid in Y7 so whoever your kid is hanging out with in week 1 will probably be history before Y8.

But also don't build up your preferred school too much as it might not turn out as you want. I know people who moved and didn't regret it. I also know people who stuck with the school they were given because it won them over and didn't regret that. The ones I know who moved mostly did it because the first choice school was an easier commute.

This is all really sage advice, thank you. I agree- secondary is such a long time (in the long run) that like you, I’d be prepared to ‘hold out’ until we get there…if we get there!

OP posts:

Original poster

ButterBeanBouquet · 20/07/2026 20:06

thestraycathouse · 20/07/2026 17:23

Yes - I got an offer the day before term started. I declined it because we were happy with the offer we were currently holding and tbh I couldn’t face going out to try and buy new informal same day: my neighbour was ahead of me on list and also declined it. I imagine now even if people are offered they may not take it as mentally they are settled with existing places.

Interesting that both you and your neighbour both declined places - good to know!

OP posts:

Original poster

ButterBeanBouquet · 20/07/2026 20:09

CatInTheRhombus · 20/07/2026 19:37

We’re on primary school waiting lists and have ultimately given up hope at this point but are sticking on the waiting lists just in case. It is tempting to come off them just to have a final answer and move towards acceptance!

Our council have confirmed that admissions staff are working over the summer and will contact us with places if available. They claim that’s the case for places at all schools, even the ones who manage their own waiting lists (but the schools themselves have OOO messages on saying back in September so it’s not clear what’s going on there).

Edited

Oh no, I hope you don’t feel too disheartened! It’s such an excruciating wait, isn’t it? Crossing fingers for you! x

OP posts:

Original poster

ButterBeanBouquet · 20/07/2026 20:12

LadyLapsang · 20/07/2026 19:52

Sometimes inconsiderate families relocate abroad or out of the area in the summer holidays without informing the school / LA. They then need to track them down to check the child is not ill at the beginning of the autumn term. Remember people may move into the area or a LAC may leapfrog the list. In some areas not so many children are entering independent schools so some state schools that routinely over offered to account for those that turn down the state place may be unwilling to do so knowing they will have to honour the offer.

Make sure you are clear on the date / process if your LA routinely closes the list and everyone needs to reapply. This stops people remaining on waiting lists for years.

Thank you. Our Wait List school manages its own admissions. It will close on 31 Dec, at which point it’ll be deemed an ‘in year admission’. Thanks for intel! x

OP posts:

AndTheSnakesStartToSing · 20/07/2026 20:20

Not year 7 but my dc is going into year 9 and is on a waiting list for a different school. After a recent update where we were moved up to 3rd on the list, originally we were 15th and I didn’t have much hope at all. I’m quietly hopeful now but aware things can change and we can be moved down. I also have to hope that dc agrees to the move, it’s a school they originally wanted to go to for y7, but has since made friends at the current school. They have a couple of friends at the other school and I really think a fresh start is needed and ideally before the end of y9 so fingers crossed.

I’ve already got the uniform for next year at their current school, but I’ll keep the labels on for as long as I can just in case so I can return if needed. If a place comes up after starting I’ll just donate the branded stuff to the school to sell on and use what I can for the new school. Bit of a faff but just one of those things.

Good luck op, I try to put it to the back of my mind until I have to contact the council to stay on the list at the end of every half term, otherwise I drive myself mad thinking about it.

Original poster

ButterBeanBouquet · 20/07/2026 20:26

AndTheSnakesStartToSing · 20/07/2026 20:20

Not year 7 but my dc is going into year 9 and is on a waiting list for a different school. After a recent update where we were moved up to 3rd on the list, originally we were 15th and I didn’t have much hope at all. I’m quietly hopeful now but aware things can change and we can be moved down. I also have to hope that dc agrees to the move, it’s a school they originally wanted to go to for y7, but has since made friends at the current school. They have a couple of friends at the other school and I really think a fresh start is needed and ideally before the end of y9 so fingers crossed.

I’ve already got the uniform for next year at their current school, but I’ll keep the labels on for as long as I can just in case so I can return if needed. If a place comes up after starting I’ll just donate the branded stuff to the school to sell on and use what I can for the new school. Bit of a faff but just one of those things.

Good luck op, I try to put it to the back of my mind until I have to contact the council to stay on the list at the end of every half term, otherwise I drive myself mad thinking about it.

From what I know about in-year admissions (very little!), 15th to 3rd is great progress. Crossing everything for you!

Yes, I don’t mind the faff of buying uniform, even if it goes unneeded, in the end. Our area has a great preloved exchange programme

Keep me posted! Hope you make it to Rank 1, then an Offer, very very soon!

OP posts:

MeridaBrave · 20/07/2026 22:11

ElleDeeCB · 16/07/2026 19:20

Writing from the perspective of a private school ‘double-holder’ a few years further along in secondary school. I am about to withdraw my child from an oversubscribed state school to take up a place next year at an independent school. We’ve told the head of year and form tutor, but not had any information from the school about how we would actually withdraw (and thus free up a place for a kid on the waiting list). It seems to be entirely on us to follow this up, and with all the busy end of year activities for both parents and school staff I can quite imagine it being a few days (if not weeks) until this is all done and dusted. The only pressure is the moral obligation we feel ourselves to let a kid on the waiting list know sooner rather than later. I’m sure there are plenty of parents who don’t feel this obligation and are in no hurry.

I also remember in Year 7 entry several parents who had places at private schools were very slow to decline their state school places. Even though they personally knew kids in the neighbourhood who were on the waiting list…

My advice is stay on the list. Wishing you all the best.

Edited

It’s very easy you tell the local authority that the child is going to a private school. Call the school and ask them for advice. Should have been done as soon as you decided. Otherwise, your kid will be a non show and the place won’t be given up until 2 weeks into term.

Besidemyselfwithworry · 20/07/2026 22:13

ButterBeanBouquet · 16/07/2026 18:41

Hi everyone,

I’m starting this thread because the summer holidays are about to kick off and the agonising wait for a Y7 Wait List place is slowly driving me batty. It's been an excruciating wait, since 2nd March / National Offer Day.

If you are also stuck in Wait List purgatory, please pull up a chair so we can suffer together!

We're waiting on a huge school with a PAN of 360 (own admissions, not council). Our trajectory so far has been:

16th March: Rank 17
7th April: Rank 9
17th April: Rank 10
7th May: Rank 10
2nd June: Rank 6
6th July: Rank 3
Today: Just found out we’ve been leapfrogged back to Rank 4 by a late applicant in a higher priority category

I’ve done enough reading to know that late Aug/early Sep brings a lot of "churn" (no-shows, late house moves, private school double-holders finally releasing spots). But I just can't bear the wait, until then.

I'd love to hear from anyone else in this boat. Specifically:

Has anyone ever "given up" and voluntarily pulled themselves off a wait list in late July or early/mid Aug because you just wanted closure, bought the other uniform, and decided to commit to your allocated school? Or did you really wait until the very last minute?
Does anyone have any glorious success stories of being offered a place in late July or early/mid Aug?
Would anyone be honest enough to admit they are 'double holding' a place at both a state school and a private school? We live in an area with lots of private schools and I happen to know that the most recent family on our Wait List to be offered a place were given one, due to a dropout who finally opted for private school

(and if any school admissions gurus want to look at my ranks above and give me their brutally honest instinct on our chances, please do!)

Huge amounts of luck to anyone who is waiting for a Wait List place! x

Private school double holders are really mean - it would be hard to monitor this but it really needs addressing on some sort of national database - I don’t think people fully realise the implications of doing this.

fashionqueen0123 · 20/07/2026 22:14

ButterBeanBouquet · 16/07/2026 18:57

Thank you, appreciate it.

Absolutely - we have most certainly accepted our 'allocated' school.

DD doesnt even know her rank on the Wait List school, and assumes she's going to allocated school which she's 'fine' with. She would be thrilled to find out she'd got a place at the Wait List school (our first choice).

We simply don't want to get her hopes up. The anxiety of the wait is all 'on me'. We have sheltered her from it and have only said positive things about her allocated school

My friends child spent a week in their allocated school. After going up and down the list like you. After one week she got a space. Mum moved her and had to buy new uniform but for the next 7 years it’s worth it.

fashionqueen0123 · 20/07/2026 22:16

ElleDeeCB · 16/07/2026 19:20

Writing from the perspective of a private school ‘double-holder’ a few years further along in secondary school. I am about to withdraw my child from an oversubscribed state school to take up a place next year at an independent school. We’ve told the head of year and form tutor, but not had any information from the school about how we would actually withdraw (and thus free up a place for a kid on the waiting list). It seems to be entirely on us to follow this up, and with all the busy end of year activities for both parents and school staff I can quite imagine it being a few days (if not weeks) until this is all done and dusted. The only pressure is the moral obligation we feel ourselves to let a kid on the waiting list know sooner rather than later. I’m sure there are plenty of parents who don’t feel this obligation and are in no hurry.

I also remember in Year 7 entry several parents who had places at private schools were very slow to decline their state school places. Even though they personally knew kids in the neighbourhood who were on the waiting list…

My advice is stay on the list. Wishing you all the best.

Edited

Usually it’s a 5 minute call to the council. Or school. Doesn’t take long to sort.

SheilaFentiman · 20/07/2026 22:42

Besidemyselfwithworry · 20/07/2026 22:13

Private school double holders are really mean - it would be hard to monitor this but it really needs addressing on some sort of national database - I don’t think people fully realise the implications of doing this.

Show quote history

How could this be monitored on a database?

Anyone with a private school place would simply say they were holding both until September in case financial circumstances changed.

Besidemyselfwithworry · 20/07/2026 22:47

Like private schools should be made to register who is on their offers perhaps with the LEA
it causes so many problems for people and surely you can either afford private school or you can’t.

SheilaFentiman · 21/07/2026 02:31

Besidemyselfwithworry · 20/07/2026 22:47

Like private schools should be made to register who is on their offers perhaps with the LEA
it causes so many problems for people and surely you can either afford private school or you can’t.

Not if eg one parent loses their job between offer and start of private school term.

It’s also problematic from a citizenship perspective. Each child is entitled to a state school place offer, so to remove that from a group of people without their agreement is not ok.

Equally, parents who plan to HE are entitled to apply for and hold a place until term starts, in case their circumstances change (eg new job that precludes the time for HE)