Falkner House and Glendower waitlists

[sokenmum]

Hello

What do I do? My child has been wait listed at our two top choices.. is there anything that can be done to move us up the waitlist or improve our chances of being offered a place? I have been told to write a handwritten letter to the Headmistress, do references from parents with children already in the school help at all? I don't want to be ringing and hounding the schools, wouldn't that just serve to annoy them rather than help?

[Dawntodusk]

Sokenmum - I am assuming you mean for 4+ entry?

In my experience there are 'waitlists' and then there are 'waitlists'.

I know some schools who will waitlist most people who don't recieve an offer at 4+.

Check the wording of your letters. If your daughter is a serious wait list candidate (rather than the term being used to fob you off in a nice way) then the letter usually has some words of encouragement (e.g. 'you are a strong position on the waitlist').

That is the one worth gunning for!

Out of interest, is Ken Prep too far for you? I have heard on numerous occasions that Ken Prep has shot up the rankings and is now the hot ticket for girls in the area. But Glendower and Falkner are still of course great schools too (especially Glendower IMHO but then I went there myself and so does my DD!).

[sanam2010]

call and let them know you are very keen - the waiting lists do move!

[Hamptons99]

I am in the same boat! Frustrating.

[MovingSouth]

Mine was waitlisted for Ken prep and I called and spoke to the registrar, asked questions as to her position, likelihood of her getting a place, and did some (prob not very subtle) name dropping (one of her cousins had been there and done V v well) and showed tonnes of enthusiasm. She was offered a place a week later. dunno what effect the call had but it's worked for us!

[S999]

me too! at Westminster Under for my son...what does 'a relatively small wait list mean'? aaaaaargh!!!

[titto0805]

I have the same question as sokenmum. Has anyone been waitlisted for Glendower Prep? Do you know if there waitlists actually move and if there is anything that can be done to help the child to move up the list?

[Hamptons99]

I am waitlisted at Glendower and Falkner House. I know a girl from our nursery who was also waitlisted at Glendower but she got a call yesterday (Friday) so it seems the list is starting to move so hang on in there. I have recently heard that Glendower has some serious pastoral care/bullying issues which is now putting me off it completely. Apparently in the older end of the school the gang ho/sporty girls can be quite brutal. I prefer the family run nurturing atmosphere at Falkner House. Desperate to get a place there. Anyone with any help and advice would be really appreciated. Thank you.

[sanam2010]

Hamptons, really? never heard anything like it. Be careful to check the source and make sure it comes straight from the parents, don't base such important decisions on hearsay (not sure if this is the case, just saying...)

[Smilingmum09]

We have been waitlisted for GP and really love the school - it is our first choice. Such a stressful wait.

Has anyone apart from Hampton heard of the waitlist moving and offers being made to waitlist candidates? Feeling in real need of a glimmer of hope as the uncertainty is driving me slightly bonkers!

[AnotherNewt]

Problems with bullying can occur in any school, and at any time. The issue is not whether it crops up, but rather when it does how it is dealt with.

When was the closing date for accepting/rejecting offers? Because as all schools will over offer, they will only go to the waiting list when they have received enough definite rejections to know there will be an empty place (as they really don't want to go over promised class size numbers).

If they know they need to use their wait list before the final deadline, they'll want to do it quickly to catch those putting off the signing on the dotted line and cheque writing until the 11th hour (as not all families can afford to lose a deposit).

[Hamptons99]

The waiting list definitely moves. I have this morning had some good news. Re: Glendower, the story came from a mom from our nursery currently with a girl at the school. It may of course be that it is a specific incident to her child and she has an axe to grind but I simply do not hear stories like that from Falkner and Ken Prep parents so you have to wonder what's going on.

[Hamptons99]

And I agree with AnotherNewt that bullying can occur anywhere now and again but it's how the school deals with it that matters. I do not know enough about the personalities of the Heads/those in charge at Glendower to comment.

[titto0805]

Thanks Hamptons. So it does actually move. The deadline for those who received confirmed places to accept/reject their offers is 5th February 2016, next Friday! Most movements in the waitlists should happen around this deadline. Smilingmum, what did your letter state? Did it say your daughter has been put on "a relatively small waitlist?" or that she has been put on the "waitlist"? Wording of the letter I think indicates on the daughter's position on the waitlist. We have been "put on a short waitlist"... Keeping fingers crossed. What does your say? I would not worry too much about bullying. I agree with Hamptons or AnotherNewt. Please do post if you hear anything about the movements.

[titto0805]

Hamptons, I know one girl from my daughter's nursery, who received a flat "no" from Falkner House, which means that the waitlists are genuine waitlists and only relatively few applicants are waitlisted. Some schools just put everyone who they do not offer a place on a waiting list. Falkner House does not seem to be one of them! Do not know how the list moves though. I would write an email or call them to inform them that you are very keen and would keep calling the school at regular intervals.

[titto0805]

By the way, Kensington Prep waitlists are genuine waitlists too. We received a flat no from them. So if anyone is waitlisted for Kensington Prep, it should mean that they do keep a relatively small waitlist and it will move after the deadline the parents have been given to accept/reject their offers.

[Biw]

Titt0805 - a waitlist is encouraging although there are of course no guarantees. There should be a lot of movement next week as some parents are still sitting on multiple offers, undecided. I know one parent with an offer at Glendower, originally wait listed at Falkner but was subsequently offered a place so she will definitely be freeing up one of them. Make sure both schools know you are very, very keen. Handwritten letters to the Head, regular phone calls to the registrar. Remember if you have been waitlist end it means your child is good enough for the school but sadly there just isn't enough places for everyone.

As for the bullying comment re:Glendower I am a parent there and can categorically assure you the claims are unfounded. It is a happy school and all girls are supportive of each other.

Best of luck next week and try not to worry. All children (and parents!) end up at the school they are happy with - eventually!

[Smilingmum2009]

Tito - our Glendower letter said 'very short waitlist'.

But I know several people from DD's nursery who got the very same letter (and from what I'm now gathering several mums on mumsnet!) so it can't be that short after all!! And now it sounds like offers are now being made from this 'very short' waitlist and unfortunately I have not heard a thing.

[titto0805]

Thanks Biw for your comment. Glad to hear this from Glendower parent. I have written an email to the register confirming that we are very very keen, but I've been ignored, no reply whatsoever. I've been calling and no answer, voicemail messages only. Should I then try a handwritten letter? mmmm.... yes, maybe. Smilingmum, yes, we've been put on a "very short waitlist" too, I have just double checked the letter. This means all waitlisted candidates have received one template wording! not too encouraging.

[Smilingmum2009]

Anyone hear anything today?

[titto0805]

Nothing our end! Bumping this up.

[Lolakath19]

Hi just to give you hope, I think we are not going to accept GP, so people on the waiting list be ready.
Hamptons did you accept FH at the end? you are lucky to have been called, the headteacher told me it is the first year they will not pick girls on the WL.

[titto0805]

Thanks for posting this Lolakath19. You've made my day. We are desperate for the place at Glendower but have heard nothing from them yet. I hope other mums with multiple offers will spare those on the waiting lists and will not accept two offers simultaneously.

[Cerebral28]

I would say the pastoral care is outstanding at Glendower. Bullying exists at all schools and I would say Glendower are actually better equipped to deal with it. Just to be aware those who are considering Falkner, the girls tend to look down on those from outside South Kensington. I know of a bully at Kensington Prep, does this mean that the school should be avoided? Of course not.
Best of luck to all those on the waitlists.

[Hamptons99]

We have accepted a place at Glendower. Decided there wasn't much point in holding out for Falkner. I got some insider information from mums with kids at both schools in another forum to confirm there isn't an awful lot of difference between these two schools. The bullying is isolated and I agree with Cerebral28 that these one-off cases happen in ALL schools so best not to dwell on it. Also have heard same feedback that Falkner families can be very snobby indeed.
Glad this is all over. Good luck to everyone!

[Smilingmum2009]

We accepted Glendower today too!!

Delighted and relieved it is all over. And over the moon to be part of such a great school.

Thank you for your support and wishing you and your DDs all the very best.