Should one declare marital status to schools where there is competitive assessment?

[Homely1]

Does this pay a role in as much as the school may feel the child will not keep up? In theory, it should not be a consideration but if they have a 'like' group of children, would they use this to filter?

[BlurtonOnKites4eva]

I fucking hope not

[AnyTheWiser]

Never come across a school that did.

[OddBoots]

What BlurtonOnKites4eva says.

[PeppasNanna]

Why the fuck would you want your dc to attend a school where your maritial status impacted on the placement?!?

[Homely1]

I don't know that it does.... That's my question. I believe it should not. But I wonder if anyone has insight etc who can say it does/doesn't/have insider knowledge.

[idontlikealdi]

I can't get my head around that - why would it?

[Homely1]

They may feel that a child from a single parent home might not keep up?! Parent might struggle with fees?! I don't know!

[Unicornsarelovely]

Do they ask for it on the form? Or would you be writing in separately to say "we really are married, honest!"

If they do, I'd steer clear on that alone, personally...

[Homely1]

On the form... Unicorn, what did you mean re 'steer clear'

[Unicornsarelovely]

If a school requires information on marital status of parents as well as their names, I would assume that they are either overly religious or that they have very conservative moral views. Neither of those are important to me in a school, however academic it might be.

I would therefore prefer to find a different school where they do not ask a question on marital status on the form, and do not judge people by the names of those with parental responsibility, especially not judging on whether those names are the same.

[HardcoreLadyType]

I think the only reason for the question would be if reports and other correspondence have to go to more than one person.

My DC are at selective fee paying schools. There are parents who are married (including same sex couples) unmarried but living together, separated and divorced, and single.

I would be amazed if a school judged your DC on this criterion.

[GeekLove]

If anyone pulled a stunt like that I'd ask if they wanted to date me?!

IF not then they can keep their beaks out of it!

[horsemadmom]

It makes zero difference what your marital status is. They would ask for a copy of the custody arrangements at some point to know who to contact and if both parents must be contacted separately during and after the admissions process. After that, they need to know where to send reports and who collects on which days. Both parents must sign the acceptance of an offer of a place and any bursary info.
Beyond that......nobody cares and I'd estimate that 1/3 of my Dc's have divorced parents.

[titchy]

Have you actually come across a school that asks this?

Cos it's a bit of a pointless thread if you haven't...

[Homely1]

Yes the forms ask

[titchy]

Well don't answer then.

[MyakkaState]

Questions re marriage can be related to parental responsibility. Anyone with PR can withdraw a child from a school, and private schools have this as a possible risk to having their fees paid if parents are separated. Assuming you are talking about a fee-paying selective school.