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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:
Homelandisending · 03/05/2020 14:21

I would suggest families who have more than one child in the independent school system and rely only on monthly salaries to pay the fees (ie don't have savings, lots of equity in their homes, inheritance or big city bonuses, for example) may run into problems over the next few years.

talktalk2020 · 03/05/2020 14:13

Maybe, maybe not- every family has different financial situations and will make a judgement call. Just pointing out that I haven’t heard of any lists moving.

Homelandisending · 03/05/2020 12:48

Sounds like heads in the sand. Businesses need workers now to make sure things are ready for when things get back to normal. The next few years will be very very different

talktalk2020 · 03/05/2020 12:18

SW London here- most people I know had already rejected their state place pre COVID if they were going to an independent school and are sticking with their choice. Haven’t heard of any wait list moving other than grammar schools ( we got a WL place). Bit of a bubble round here though- everyone seems to be working very hard from home and not overly worried about jobs- v lucky.

Original poster
ticking · 03/05/2020 11:55

Interesting, so in a bit of a "do nothing" phase at the moment then?

OP posts:
OhCrumbsWhereNow · 03/05/2020 11:49

I know a few people who have state and private offers and are holding both till they see what happens - some got surprise places at state schools they didn't think they'd get into and are hoping to go and have a look round before they make a decision.

Meredusoleil · 03/05/2020 11:10

I was wondering the same thing but have heard parents may be holding out until the last minute to make a decision whilst already having a place at both a private and a state school (despite fees for September being payable).

Homelandisending · 03/05/2020 10:44

Suspect there will be a flurry of places coming available in both at the end of the summer

Homelandisending · 03/05/2020 10:42

Haven't heard of anyone not taking up their independent school place. Anyone?

We are not ditching the state school place yet