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Original poster

£50 non refundable deposit for 6th form - normal?

32 replies

Reindeerballs · 07/01/2015 15:37

My daughter in year 11 is applying to various 6th Forms. She has just received a letter of offer from a state school academy which stipulates the following:

6 A/A* GCSE
Sixth form must be first choice
£50 non refundable deposit must be submitted asap to secure place as they are allocated on 'first come first served' basis.

The school does promise that she will be on a "fast track" with extra support for uni applications etc. it does not say the deposit in any way funds this, it appears to be purely to secure a place.

I am absolutely incensed at being asked to effectively pay for a place at a state school. Is this a normal procedure - what about those who can't pay?

OP posts:
titchy · 07/01/2015 17:25

Does the requirement to put them first also break the code? Although how would they know....

Might be worth accepting the place give that it's first come first served, but explain you won't be sending a deposit as this is an illegal request.

DoctorDonnaNoble · 07/01/2015 17:25

The grades sound fine to me. Most of our sixth form have significantly higher than that. The deposit? Nope, weird.

prh47bridge · 07/01/2015 17:20

This is a clear breach of the Admissions Code paragraph 1.9(n). A school may not request a financial contribution as any part of the admissions process. It is also potentially a breach of 1.9(e) which says they cannot give priority to children on the basis of any practical or financial support parents give tot he school.

The Adjudicator ruled against Camden School for Girls on precisely these grounds. I would suggest that as well as sending this letter to the Adjudicator you send the school a copy of the Adjudicator's decision in the Camden case.

caringdad66 · 07/01/2015 16:04

Outrageous

LadySybilLikesSloeGin · 07/01/2015 15:59

It sounds very harsh, as does the 6A/A GCSE's. Ds is at a private (academic, top 20) school and they ask for 5 A/A. It looks like they are being 'private school' picky, and the deposit will remove a lot of low income families.

Original poster
Reindeerballs · 07/01/2015 15:54

Thanks. I wondered if I was over reacting. I did a quick Google and it appears that Camden School for Girls used to do something similar which was referred to the Adjudicator.

I think I will send a copy of the letter to the Adjudicator and let them deal with it if they think it breaches the Admissions Code.

OP posts:
Leeds2 · 07/01/2015 15:47

I have never heard of that, and would be very cross if I received such a letter.

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