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Original poster

Are Independent school waiting lists moving at all...?

84 replies

ticking · 03/05/2020 10:33

Mostly curious (based in surrey/west London area), we have our place and are happy with it, but was wondering are people dropping their places due to money issues, or whether they are hanging on to them?

It seems to have been a particularly tough year to get into certain schools, and I'm just curious if after all people are hanging on to places or ditching them for the state sector with all the financial uncertainty?

OP posts:
MarchingFrogs · 06/07/2020 07:28

Don't you mean the opposite way round ie moving from private preps to state primaries?

Probably not (although there will be plenty trying to move that way, due to personal financial circumstances - or their DC's school going bust). Apparently, a fair few with the money available have moved in that direction due to frustration with their state schools not keeping their DC glued to Teams or whatever 5 hours a day in the way that some indies have.

Meredusoleil · 05/07/2020 22:40

Don't you mean the opposite way round ie moving from private preps to state primaries? 🤔

Singingrain1223 · 05/07/2020 18:31

Yes very little movement and in the prep sector parents moving from state primary to prep schools since schools reopening in June.

Bakeachocolatecaketoday · 05/07/2020 16:33

@Homelandisending No - happy with what we have.... there appears to be very little movement,,

Homelandisending · 18/05/2020 08:35

bakeachocolatecaketoday Are you waiting for one school in particular?

Homelandisending · 18/05/2020 08:20

Nothing recently. Only hearing of a few receiving offers in April, possibly just before liability for autumn term fees

Bakeachocolatecaketoday · 18/05/2020 07:54

Any updated news on this, wondering now with news on schools going back if any waiting lists are moving?

Homelandisending · 04/05/2020 12:48

ticking you must have a very successful business. Good that you have set aside money for schooling. Hopefully the economy will start to pick up following the phased exit from lockdown. I have two friends who receive dividends. They are really stuck currently, although I understand they will be getting help soon

Original poster
ticking · 04/05/2020 09:00

@Homelandisending If you run a business and have been through 2009, and 2012, you do get a store of money for the bad times!!!

I went into private schooling with my eyes open, and made sure I could see it through... I have to say right now with them both being on 18k fees come September and no income whatsoever for this year, I do have to take a deep breath!!!

I read some of the threads about "company owners ripping off the taxpayer by taking dividends" and think - but this is what its for - as a director we get tax breaks, the other side of the coin is right now - no income. I know another business owner who is now in deep dodo, as he's spent all his income AND taken a massive mortgage, and now has no income. My business is at least ticking over (although I estimate I'm losing £250k per month)...he's had to shut down entirely.

OP posts:
Homelandisending · 04/05/2020 08:42

ticking that's good you have back up for fees. There will always be families with plenty of money in London and the surrounding areas but things will certainly get harder for the next few years. Taxes are bound to rise, house prices will fall and pensions will go down in value, meaning families will cut back on the non essentials.

Original poster
ticking · 04/05/2020 07:48

Thanks all for the insight - I we more curious as it had seemed like a really "big" year for school places (any comments on that??) - Lots of kids at the Prep didn't get places at senior schools they were expected to as numbers very high.

It was my thought that people were still going ahead - not too worried about the money (which is good!!)

I posted as I'm worried about my business, and wondering if there is still money out there, and private school type parents are our perfect customer!

Even with no (current) income, I have plenty of backup for school fees as long as the recession isn't too long or deep.

Schools are a good indication!

OP posts:
sw199999 · 03/05/2020 23:32

@iamthankful - my DH also didn't want to hold onto a grammar and independent place so we let the grammar go. I was tempted to keep them both but realistically I know that in (less than) 4 months when we would have had to made a final decision we probably wouldn't know much more about what's likely to happen in the future job wise than we do now.
I'm also keen for my Y6 DC to know where they are definitely (virtually or otherwise...) going in September- there's enough uncertainty with everything else as it is.

Mumto2two · 03/05/2020 21:43

Similar situation to @iamthankful. Scholarship at an independent and a good grammar place too. But we are keeping both options open, as it’s far too uncertain for us at the moment. Whilst the scholarship is a generous percentage, it will still be a substantial outlay. We would never have done this otherwise, and I know other parents who are keeping state options open too. I think any movement will be later on in the process.

Oblomov20 · 03/05/2020 16:57

3 friends in Surrey all accepted their independent place at an all girls school and refused their state place, quite early.

I'm surprised to hear on this thread of so many not turning down their state place.

That's not good. Two of my friends are on state waiting lists and would have wished to be notified by now.

Homelandisending · 03/05/2020 16:41

Sorry I meant iamthankful.

Homelandisending · 03/05/2020 16:39

What a fortunate position for you to be in Iamgrateful. Your DC must be very clever to get a scholarship. What a relief.

iamthankful · 03/05/2020 16:34

We've just given up a St. Olave's place 3 weeks ago. I had wanted to hold on to it for longer, but DH said no. We have a scholarship at an independent sch, for which DS will be unable to attend without the scholarship. Due to the COVID -19 situation and it's impact on independent schools, I was really weary letting go of the Olave's place just in case the independent struggles financially and is unable to honour the scholarship (I know this is unlikely), but DS insisted another family will be happy with the waiting list space which I agree it. If we were paying for the independent, I would certainly have insisted on holding on to Olave's for longer.

Homelandisending · 03/05/2020 15:55

Thank you. I would not be surprised if there weren't more families thinking like this

PettsWoodParadise · 03/05/2020 15:36

Yes, thanks @sw199999

sw199999 · 03/05/2020 15:32

It's St Olaves in the Bexley thread.

Homelandisending · 03/05/2020 15:19

It doesn't work. Are you able to state which location and thread? Thank you!

PettsWoodParadise · 03/05/2020 15:10

An example here, hope posting the link is ok MNHQ! www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum/11plus/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=60348&start=20.

Homelandisending · 03/05/2020 15:07

PettsWoodParadise interesting. Which thread?

sw199999 · 03/05/2020 15:06

People always weigh up the likes of Tiffin etc against Independent schools but many SW London families won't be giving up Independent places in favour of the local comprehensive- it just wouldn't occur to them. There simply wouldn't be enough places anyway- will be interesting to see what happens.

PettsWoodParadise · 03/05/2020 14:30

Over on the elevenplusforum there are people giving up independent places in favour of a grammar option.

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