Hi Petal-Rose (and any wondering how waiting lists work, especially if your DC narrowly missed cutoff):
First off please visit feed started by AK Loving Dad here: [
http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum/ ... 11&t=36289]
Second - and I stress I'm also a first-timer to this - but having observed the process with friends with older children over the last few years my advice is this:
1) The initial cut-offs are just this - the Grammar Schools will offer slightly over the PAN (number of allocated places for pupils) but have absolutely no idea how many of these will actually accept their offer. [THEREFORE IMPORTANT FOR THOSE MADE AN OFFER WHO DON'T WANT THE PLACE TO REPLY TO THE GRAMMAR SCHOOLS SOONER RATHER THAN LATER]
2) Anyone not receiving an offer but having ranked a Grammar School higher than their offered school will be automatically put onto a waiting list (I'm slightly vague as to how long this list will run for - but I think it is fair to think it will run up to Christmas 2014). The waiting list is run by score and priority is based on distance. So if two pupils scored the same but one lives 0.5 miles from KECHB and the other lives 0.1 miles from KECHB - the second boy (the 0.1 mile boy) will be offered the place. (Info on Birmingham LEA site:
Candidates who are not offered a place (i.e. because others with higher scores fill all available places) will be included on a waiting list in descending score order. When several candidates have the same score, offers will be made firstly to children in care and then to those who live closest to the school by straight line measurement. here: [
http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/grammar-schools] - under offer of grammar school
3) DO NOT DESPAIR if you're a few points out. I know of two pupils in previous years who thought they were going to local comprehensives and one was offered a place over the summer and another was offered a place in November of Y7. So if you are close and very definitely would prefer your child to be going to the grammar school - keep in contact with the grammar school(s) and ensure you remain on their wait list.
4) There has also been a discussion on the AK Loving Dad feed above (see start of this post) about the fact that occasionally pupils will leave a grammar school and therefore places can become available (e.g. KECHG apparently had a place come up which was discussed on that feed) - so although it is important not too get your hopes too high - never say never, as it were.
Hopefully other more experienced types will come along and fill this out
But I hope that helps for the moment.
Finally - do bear in mind that narrowly missing out on a grammar means that your DC will be one of the brighter pupils in their cohort and most comprehensives are incredibly happy to have such bright students attend their schools and shower them with praise/ attention. So although it is disappointing not to have successfully gained entry - you have succeeded in highly preparing your child for any secondary in the area!
Hope that helps. Chin up!
