SW London girls independent/grammars 2020 PART 2

She (the head at WHS) is also very ambitious. Nothing wrong with that, but that's the way it goes when you're at the top!

Hi Ladies.

Just checking in and giving a hug to anyone who needs it.

Hedwig I feel gutted for you, I have followed this thread since the Autumn and appreciate the stress, hardwork and nail biting that’s gone on.. it seems so cruel.

Slowly adjusting to homeschooling my Y5 daughter.. luckily her tutor has been amazing at offering remote sessions so I’m getting a little respite! No idea where this will leave the Wandsworth test or early pre-tests for WHS / JAGS etc but these are small concerns right now.

If anyone wants a distraction from co-vid19 discussions, I’d be interested to hear views on WHS’s head leaving for Alleyns.. she was very pro single sex education when I went to their open day....

We are all fine here too...getting to grips with homeschooling...have spent most of my days running up and down the stairs to help them as they keep shouting ‘mum, help’! I hope every one is doing ok and that we can go back to normal life soon...

@Thesunalwaysshines thanks. I spoke to the council and it sounded like I definitely wasn't the first person to call in - the guy in the phone practically finished my sentence for me. On waiting lists. Just a bit galling I gave up a place at a state school I was quite happy with, just had made a personal choice to go private. Have to keep reminding myself that this is nothing compared to other people's worries.

So sorry to hear that, hedwig I hope things sort out for you. Can you get back on a waiting list for a state school?

@Thesunalwaysshines us. And like the socially responsible people we are we quickly turned down a place at a good over-subscribed state school - oh if we could turn back time and be a bit more selfish!!! I actually remember calling up my husband to check before rejecting her place and jokingly said 'you won't lose your job any time soon will you' .

Just unbelievable to think I spent so much time fretting about her getting an offer at an indie, then had about 3 weeks of joy/relief, and then corona happened. I'm self employed and my work will be thin on the ground for the foreseeable, and husband's job, while he is personally ok for a while, is in an industry that has been hit very hard and he'll have to take a substantial pay cut.

I know absolutely a very much middle class problem to have and a lot worse is going on, but still am so sad. Won't tell DD until decision made but I can't see a way around it.

Like @ColaPip, I’m just checking that everyone is fine. We’re back in Hong Kong (having all of February in France, it looks like we left at the right time) and next week will be our 8th week of homeschooling. It’s a bit of a pain (especially if you have younger kids) but it does get better over time.

There is no doubt that the kids do not learn as much as in school. This has been very disruptive for us and I’ve decided not to go all tiger mum about it, and let them enjoy the hiatus and strange times we live in. It looks like the disruption will continue for the better part of a year or more, so this is a marathon.

I’m not relishing the thought of moving back to London in July, but needs must.

I think you need to be very careful about checking terms and conditions. There is no consistent policy. The school where we accepted a place made it very clear in their paperwork that once we’d paid the deposit we would be liable for the first term’s fees - if we pulled out at any stage from when we paid the deposit. This happened to a friend of mine (at a different school) who pulled out shortly after paying deposit and when giving more than a term’s notice - they still had to pay a full term of fees (and they sought legal advice on it.) So read your terms and conditions carefully.

I think that @Malak2020 means Wallington County High School for Girls ( state grammar in the London Boroughof Sutton) and Old Palace School (indie) in Croydon?

(Sorry, Malak2020, I had to smile at the thought of Uxbridge being such a desired destination, although a friend's DH did an engineering degree at Brunel and subsequently had a very successful and fulfilling career, as I'm sure thousand of others have as well).

Thank you @Frostyskies1223

@mummyme2016 , every school is slightly different but if their published first day of summer term is 20 April then a signed for/hand delivered letter or acknowledged email on 19 April giving notice should avoid Autumn term fees.

Thanks @Frostyskies1223
My understanding is that schools need to be notified before the first day of Summer term which is after the Easter holidays,
is that correct? So give written notice before the 19th of April...
Wording says fees become due if school is not notified prior to the first day of the term preceding the term in which daughter starts school

Thanks. Who else is seriously considering state now?

Just a reminder to all who have recently been through the process and now wondering about job security & payment of fees:

1. Read the T&C's but you should be able to give notice by end this term and lose deposit but not liable for Autumn terms fees.

2. once you get to first day of summer term of current published date you are liable for autumn term fees

3. private schools are using distance leaning to teach once school closure is in place - they have to teach to charge fees or they will go bust. There is no massive insurance pot underwriting this crisis.

4. THere will be movement in September - either due to House moves/ relocations falling through/parents losing their jobs. Or the quickest way for schools to make up
   Lost income is to increase class size.

@granof4 I also heard this yesterday from a friend.

Heard WHS has closed its WL Email sent out .

Although they do all over offer so does depend on how their offer ratios have all worked out.

@Catrina7
I know at least 4 girls who have turned down WHS offers. So the WL will start to move (if it has not happened yet).

I know of some who turned down WHS and there will be junior girls who may go elsewhere so don't give up hope yet! The registrar is very nice and helpful.

Hi all mums, I cannot name the school we are holding for family reasons. Got the impression from PHS that there is some chance if a waitlist place but they seem to be starting to give out WL places ( eg. Sully 113) and haven’t heard anything.
Haven’t heard of anyone turning down WHS so maybe not so much of a chance.
Can’t wait much longer so we may well go with the school we have. Thanks Everyone. Hope all the schools turn out to be right for the DC allocated them.

Definitely ring them now Catrina, before they pack for the weekend. Just ask them where you are in the waiting list and for an honest heads up so you know what’s up. Tell them? If you were offered a place, you will be there within half an hour with a deposit cheque I’m sure the schools just want it all done and dusted by now too.

@Catrina7 it’s worth ringing both schools and finding out the situation- Putney I believe are pretty good about discussing the WL. Are you able to say which school your DD has a place at or would you rather not? I know a lot of people who have turned down PHS so you may be lucky. I don’t know anyone who has turned down Wimbledon. Good luck and hope to ‘see’ you at PHS in September!

Yes the school we have is a good enough school but not really what we were hoping for . This for various reasons. But when people are waiting for any Waitlist place it seems churlish to feel so disappointed and I’m sure my DD would be fine there. We are treading a fine line between saying this is great and still leaving the glimmer of hope for PHS or WHS alive.