Need name before registering private schools?

[CupcakesAndFizz]

Quick question - in one of those insane London locations where you need to register at some schools on day of birth. So stressful. What if you haven't yet picked a name?? Can you register and then change your mind on the name and say call the school and change it a week later? Or would they tell you to start the process over?! Any first hand experiences?

[MrsCaecilius]

I am sure you'd be able to change the name at a later date! Surname and gender are important, name, less so.

[AnotherNewt]

There are only about two schools in London that require birth registration, so if they are on your list it might be worth ringing them to ask.

For all others, you'll be safe waiting until you at least have a name.

And for many selectives, it can be anytime before the deadline.

So, in large friendly letters, "Don't Panic"

[starry0ne]

I have never heard of this..What happens if your child is born on a weekend or just before midnight or rushed into surgery after birth.. Does a few weeks really matter?

[AnotherNewt]

'putting the name down at birth' never really meant actually on the day.

Very few schools actually expect it, though there are some which have quite elaborate (and frankly opaque) entrance procedure which do appear weighted in favour of those who register when their DC is tiny.

Though for popular 'first come first served' schools, the earlier the better (especially if the school has a nursery).

[ObsidianBlackbirdMcNight]

Surely 6 weeks won't make a difference?

[LynetteScavo]

But schools with this policy would end up with all autumn born babies....is that what they want?

[munchkinmaster]

We needed a birth certificate to put ds name down at school. Hence us having to decide on a name and dh getting in a panic about getting an appt at the registrars. Of course we had months in reality but it is certainly feasible for our school to run out of places before the end of the birth year (don't know if has ever occurred though).

[SisterViktorine]

Apparently they do indeed run out of places by Easter Lynette.

I know somebody who has just gone through 3+, though, and apparently, despite there being different phases of interviews by birthdate, the resultant class only has two summer borns in it and they are both siblings of children further up the Prep.

Why would schools want summer borns if they could avoid it? (DS is August born).

[AnotherNewt]

Yes, it's possible that they do run out of places, and the only variation in birthdays comes from siblings.

But, as I said, birth registration is not a requirement for most schools. It's far more common to accept all to a (largish) total, or all before a certain date and then prioritise. Which schools can do however they like.

Very early registrations do not make for terribly reliable lists, as schools know that people are likely to be making several applications, may well move house, and haven't seen the reality of their individual DC so don't really know what they are after.

It's all a far cry from the Sloaney days of the last century when putting your boy's name down at birth for a Daddy's old school was the way it was done. But of course that meant 13+ public schools, and perhaps boarding preps. It never really happened for girls schools or other types of boys school.

[Soooosie]

Just do it when the names registered. A few weeks will make no difference

[SquirrelledAway]

Anyone remember Niles and Daphne having this dilemma in "Frasier"?

Probably best not to choose Ichabod ...

[BertrandRussell]

I dare you to call her Des'ree or Neveah or Chardonnay and see if she gets a place........

[SquirrelledAway]

Committeeman: Last name "Crane", first name... "Ichabod".

Director: Well, if they're not going to take the application seriously, how can we expect them to take St. Osric's seriously?

He stamps it "ADMISSION DENIED" and puts it on the reject pile.
Fade out.

[StealthPolarBear]

That's ridiculous.