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Original poster

Awkward meeting with headteacher

34 replies

Lindaelisa · 01/10/2022 18:35

Hi,
just really confused about something that recently happened and want your opinions and knowledge please. Basically my daughter was on a waiting list for a school place and we recently received an email from the school to go for a meeting to discuss a possibility for a place with the headteacher.

we accepted to go for the meeting and it turned out to be an interview like meeting with the headteacher, asking question why my daughter choose the school and what her interests are etc. at the end of the meeting, we were told that if the child decides to move then we will get contacted to receive the offer as it’s not for sure, and when asked how long we were supposed to wait, the answer was not sure but as I insisted it couldn’t last longer than a week, which was then agreed.

From my experience you are normally offered a place before you go for a meeting but the whole situation seemed really awkward and it made us both feel very strange as we didn’t like the approach and I was personally not expecting the meeting to end like this.

I just would like anyone with similar experience to let us know if this normally happens and if they have gone through something similar? Did you have to go for a meeting before being offered a place on the waiting list?

thanks in advance

OP posts:
Original poster
Lindaelisa · 01/10/2022 21:27

It’s definitely not private, it’s a state school

OP posts:
roestbruin · 01/10/2022 21:21

Yes this is normal if you've had no previous dealing with the school. You're invited in for a chat with the Head, meaning they want to know more about you and your child before offering you a place.
It's also your opportunity to quizz them on the issues that matter to you. The interview is both ways really.
If you did not like their approach and were made to feel uncomfortable you should perhaps reconsider and try and find a school where your daughter and your family feel welcome.
It's a buyer's market and you have choices.

Hugocat1 · 01/10/2022 20:49

State schools DO do this.

I had similar with my DD1 ( was quite a few years back) it was a great school and we were from a council estate and we were totally vetted 😱

It was supposed to be for us to have a look at the school but it was quickly made clear we were being interviewed. We got a formal offer the next day.

We joined in Y9 half way through year.

MargaretThursday · 01/10/2022 20:45

If it's private, then I'd wonder if he's actually interviewing several children and is only choosing one. If you're not "chosen" he'll then say the child has decided not to leave after all.

Fifthtimelucky · 01/10/2022 20:09

"we were told that if the child decides to move then we will get contacted to receive the offer as it’s not for sure"

That suggests to me that the place is dependent on a child already at the school deciding to leave.

Surely the OP's daughter is already on the waiting list and provided that the place becomes available it will be hers.

XelaM · 01/10/2022 20:00

If it's a private school it's totally normal to be interviewed before getting a place

clary · 01/10/2022 19:43

Yep is this a private school or a state school? If state, it's not ok.

Tootels · 01/10/2022 18:57

Surely it's not up to the headteacher who
attends?

grababag · 01/10/2022 18:53

Is it a state school? They're not allowed to interview as part of the admissions process.