School waiting lists

Waiting lists for primary school (reception class) and high school (primary to high transfer) 

Provided your application was made before the deadline (31 October for high school and 15 January for primary school) your child will automatically be placed on the waiting list for any higher preference schools on the application than the school offered. Late applications will also be added to the waiting list after national offer day (1 March for high school and 16 April for primary school).

Waiting list positions are determined by the primary school admissions criteria and high school admissions criteria only, length of time on a waiting list cannot be taken into consideration. Waiting list positions change frequently and a child can move down as well as up as new applications are received.

Vacancies only arise at oversubscribed schools when a decline is received for a child that has been offered a place. Any available vacancies will be offered to the child(ren) with the highest priority on the waiting list on the dates published in the late offer timetable for primary and late offer timetable for high school.

The admissions team cannot provide confirmation of an offer until an offer letter has been sent to you.

The waiting list for all Ealing community schools is cleared at the end of the autumn term. You will be sent information by 31 December on what to do if you wish to remain on the waiting list beyond this point.

For all other schools please check their waiting list policy.

Waiting lists for in year primary school and in year high school admissions

When you apply for an in year primary or in year high school place you will receive a letter by email within 10 school days to confirm if a place can be offered at any of the schools on your application. If it is not possible to make an offer your child will automatically be placed on the waiting list(s). If you are offered a school place you will be given the opportunity to remain on the waiting list for any higher preference schools on your application. 

Waiting list positions are determined by the primary school admissions criteria and high school admissions criteria only, length of time on a waiting list cannot be taken into consideration. Waiting list positions change frequently and your child can move down as well as up as new applications are received.

A place will be offered from the waiting list once a vacancy is declared by the school. The offer will be made to the child with the highest priority on the waiting list at that time.

There is no way to predict when an offer can be made for a child on a waiting list as vacancies only arise once a child has left the school. The admissions team cannot provide confirmation of an offer until an offer letter has been sent to you.