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Two weeks before the deadline and we've just swapped our first choice

Priya_R_London · Member172 views6 replies
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Priya_R_London

Member

Link to post #3930

Secondary applications close on the 31st. We'd had our list sorted since September. Then we went to the last open evening on Tuesday, mostly out of politeness, and my daughter came out of it completely lit up. It's further away, two buses, but it's the first time she's talked about secondary school with anything other than dread.

The school we had as first choice is closer and on paper 'better'. My husband thinks we're being swayed by one good evening. I think we've been swayed by one good evening too but maybe that's allowed?

Any regrets either way from people who've been through this?

Lou2Boys

Member

Link to post #3931

Remember the order you put them in doesn't hurt your chances at the ones lower down - the council looks at every school you've listed and offers the highest one you qualify for. So you can put the one she loves first without 'wasting' your safe option, as long as the closer one is still on there.

Stoke_Newington_Steve

Member

Link to post #3938

We went with the 'better' one over the one our son liked. He's in Year 8 and he's fine, but he never got that spark back. If I did it again I'd listen to the kid more. They're the one going five days a week for five years.

IslingtonIrene

Member

Link to post #3947

Devil's advocate - two buses at 11 in November when it's dark and raining is a different thing from an open evening with cupcakes. Do the journey at the real time on a school day before you decide. We did and it changed our minds the other way.

Mags1987

Member

Link to post #3979

Also check the admissions criteria and last year's furthest distance offered. Loving it is no good if you live well outside the catchment it actually works out to. The council booklet has the numbers.

Priya_R_London

Member

Link to post #3982

Did the journey this morning at 7.40 with her, in the drizzle, both buses. She moaned for about four minutes and then said 'it's fine, I'd just get the earlier one'. And we're comfortably inside last year's distance. Submitted tonight with her one first. Husband is on board. Sort of.

Lou2Boys

Member

Link to post #4107

How's she feeling now the waiting has started properly? Offers aren't out until March which is a very long time when you're 10. We found the autumn and winter dragged worst for our eldest, he kept asking every week.

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