Boarding School Offers

[Toofewshoes]

We were meant to hear from our first choice school for our DS1 this week but nothing arrived in the post. I called admissions and was told that they were delaying a week as they were having to re-assess the whole year. What do you think that means???? Pretests and interviews were done a while ago. Have offers been made by other schools and boys pulled out as have taken up offers from somewhere else? In case you can't tell we are a little stressed waiting. Is this usual? Any insight most welcome.

[Whiskers4]

It could well be a genuine hiccup. We heard from both schools we applied to, one a day early, the other by email at 7pm on offer day. Both schools have given us a week or 10 days to confirm acceptance, as they clearly have waiting lists. If this was the case for your son and he's on a waiting list, then I would have thought they'd have been honest and let you know.

If you have another offer on the table and don't want to loose that, I'd go back to your first choice, explain the situation and push for an answer ASAP.

[Toofewshoes]

Thank you Whiskars. I presume that they let all applicants know at the same time; offer, wait list or rejection hence why I called them. The lady I spoke to said that something had happened to make them go over the year again as they want to get the right mix.

I know that Wellington (not one of our schools) are asking that you inform the other schools when you accept a place there. I wondered if that was what may have happened here. We have not had any other offers yet but are not expecting them yet. I don't think my nerves can take this. Trying to be so nonchalant for our DS.

[EleanorRigby123]

Pretty poor of the school to promise an answer by date x and then not to respect their own deadline. The failure to proactively contact parents and prospective students to say there would be a delay suggests they are hopelessly disorganised or supremely arrogant. Do you really want such a school?

With a small handful of exceptions the vast majority of British boarding schools - even some of the bigger names- are finding it difficult to recruit able, well rounded British children whose parents can pay full fees. No problem filling spaces with overseas students but they do not want to become international schools. So assuming your DS is able and well rounded and you applied for a school recommended by the prep it is very unlikely he will be turned down.

The most popular boarding schools are competing with each other for the same students - especially for boys. So a boy offered a place at Wellington or Marlborough for example may well take up an offer at Harrow or Eton freeing up places for others. Relax. It really is a buyers market.

[Toofewshoes]

EleanorRigby

I was slightly disheartened that the school could do this when so many children are waiting. And since my call enquiring and explaining that children and parents are anxious to hear nothing has been emailed. It would take 5 minutes. Very poor and somewhat off putting.

We have been told over and over again by the school how over subscribed they are. I do know a lot who are aiming for other schools have applied to this school as a back up. We have slightly put all our eggs in one basket and our back up choice I am not really happy about.

Thanks for you input.

[OpalTree]

Could it be to do with a financial problem they are having?

[Toofewshoes]

A friend asked that but they are a relatively big name school. I don't think it could be that.