number 2

I also think that there's something funny that goes on with who you speak to or who replies to your email. I seem to get very different answers. I think maybe email might be the best option. 1st to 7th is utterly rubbish!!!

Oh blimey bizzylizzy. That's a bit of a kick in the guts! I'm sorry! I really don't get how you can have gone down so much in such a short space of time and at this point too!

maybe james or renata would look into the facts about who holds the waiting lists now for us? (please?) i work in a school and i'm pretty sure that we haven't got our list and the school administrator is having to ring southwark and ask for names when other people say that they don't want their place. she's had to ask people directly, when she's contacted them to ask them to enrol, to contact southwark and let them know and they've just given a vague "yes". these are presumably the places that suddenly become available in september and make my blood boil!

yes, i think you have to have a very, very good reason to appeal like one twin getting a place and not the other, severe special/social needs, something like that. hope something comes up for you gina!

good news on dvi and heber emski. not so good with goodrich. we're 50 something with them so have totally discounted it, but it could be people moving into the area (closer than you) or people trying other tacks like social or special needs. there's just no way of knowing and it's enough to drive a sane person crrrraaaazy. i keep on looking at the new houses that are being built close to us and growling to myself that they're bound to knock us further down the list for ivydale. i constantly have my eyes peeled for houses for sale/to let on the walk from our house to nursery (which is a similar walk as it would be to ivydale). obsessed? me? noooooo!!!

I think your neighbour deserves something unpleasant through her letterbox!!! How dare she?! I have to say my 4.5 year old's tantrums are few and far between but when he has one, my god, you don't want to be anywhere close by!!!! I'm a teacher so it's doubly mortifying of he does it in public!!! Really wish I could offer some advice but other than "just don't buy into it" and agreeing with "ignoring the haters" comment I can't add anything.

Has anyone started to see more movement in their waiting list places? Apparently Ivydale are sending out letters this week so I have everything crossed that there will begin to be movement over there.....

Hi, spurred on by the school admissions thread, I'm going to make a plea. If you have a state school place that you have no intention of using because you have a place at a private/independent school, free school, will definitely be moving out of the area or for any other reason PLEASE let the school or the LA know of your intentions. If you really have a good reason for holding onto the place - e.g. You're not sure, your job hangs in the balance and you're not sure whether you'll be able to afford the fees, you're waiting for the Judith Kerr school to sort themselves out, whatever, fair play to you. However, if you just haven't got around to it PLEASE let the relevant people know. There are people out there who have no choice, not one of their 6 choices (and I have to say I am not one of them although we haven't got our first choice) and you making the effort could make a massive difference to them and their child. Thank you!

Yep, it's sad but true. I know of 3 or 4 people who haven't let the LA know of their intentions. Maybe I will start a new thread. Can't imagine it'll make much difference but I suppose it's worth a shot!

Thanks James. I do know of a number of people who haven't yet given up their places, I'm not just talking blind here. I don't think it's everyone, but there are people who just don't bother

Hi Renata, thanks for that. I know it will never happen but it just seems a bit unfair and I know that there are people out there who have absolutely no intention of taking their places in state schools but just don't let the relevant people know. It's really no skin off their noses if they never let the state school know that they won't be taking their place yet the school has to hold the place as it's been offered. That's what seems so unfair. I just think there are a fair few unscrupulous people out there who don't consider the consequences of their actions, especially the consequences for other people. There I've said it!

I absolutely agree emski. I don't know how they'd do it but it does mean that effectively people can sit on two or even more places stuffing things up for others who aren't as lucky. For what it's worth my school (the one i work in - not the one we're hoping to get our boy into) had 4 or 5 kids not turn up in September this year and found it had to fill places as children were settled in other settings. I hope your plan works out for you.

Does this include teachers?! That would be lovely to go off for a cheap holiday a couple of times a year!

We always go to Ambleside and love, love, love it. It's a small town with lots of nice places to eat, a playground and loads of nice walks and because it's the lakes you can just stay a little way out of town and be in the middle of town. There's a lovely walk around rydal water that's great for kids as quite flat and it's just a short drive from Ambleside. We've always rented cottages before and stayed in some lovely places. Don't know what would be available at short notice. Ahhhhhh the lakes! I'm jealous!!!

Renata what does reclassified mean? Also who do I have to email to go on the waiting list for other schools?

Hmmm. Will wait and see whether I get a response by email. The woman I've egot a few times drives me crrrrrazy. She clearly can't work a computer!

Did you get the automated response from the admission team and then just hear nothing after that? I can't bear ringing again - there's a woman who takes about an hour to get you a blooming answer - asks every last detail which I know isn't necessary as I've rung once and got another person and they gave the info straight off within a minute or so!

Goodness knows when (if ever) we're going to see a reasonable amount of movement with Ivydale. Doesn't help that they're not sending out letters or doing anything like that until July! Have Goodrich sent their letters out yet? I'm figuring that this might show up some gaps in the places offered.......

I think I had a moment of madness today. I can't remember whether the woman on the phone said we were 4th or 5th now. I've now got it in my head that I'd talked myself into thinking we were 6th and then she said we were 5th. If 5th then we haven't moved at all. This is why emails are a good idea - I could have checked!! Duh! Have also emailed to ask to be out on a couple more waiting lists so hopefully I'll get a reply!

Gina I've also moved up one space. At least it's progress and we can see movement!! Good luck to you all!!

That's great news ryekids! Hope there is further movement!

Sorry Renata - bloomin' predictive text!

Re ate, as I understood it people, who are going down the independent route are under no obligation at all to officially decline their offer so those with places outside the central system can still hold onto places at community schools for as long as they please. Is that not the case then?

Thanks etta. I know there is some movement now on the lewisham lists that haberdashers is affecting. Not had the hoped for knock effect for our circumstances though.....

hi, has anyone heard of much movememnt on the waiting lists? i'm still waiting patiently for a shakedown from haberdashers *drums fingers*..................