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Original poster

If anyone is still 'sitting' on a senior school place for Sept....

36 replies

Whippet · 18/03/2010 12:39

....please don't .

I know someone locally whose daughter is in a private prep currently, and is 99.9% likely to continue on into the senior school (and has been offered a place)

HOWEVER

her parents applied to the (very good) local state school 'just in case' and were offered a place which they duly accepted.

They are apparently intending to 'keep it' until summer just in case one of their jobs is suddenly at risk (there's no known threat of this at the moment), or in case they 'decide to change their mind' .

Tossers. I can't believe they are being so selfish, when there are people considering moving/ remortgaging/ and generally going through heartache because they haven't got local school places...

However it does highlight why it's worth hanging on in there on waiting lists etc - I bet they are not the only people doing this .

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 18/03/2010 15:59

"Realises Soupdragon is probably doing the same."

Er, no. I'm not actually. As it happens I turned down DS1's place at the heavily over subscribed local secondary but I don't see any problem had I not done so.

They aren't depriving anyone of a place because the place will, most likely, become available.

Reserve your anger for those who cheat and lie to get a place they are not entitled to.

Original poster
Whippet · 18/03/2010 13:48

I know their situation very well actually, as
a) they are relatives
b) they have been very open (and some might say verging on smug?) about the fact that they are just hanging onto the space 'for the hell of it' because they can.

You just have to read some of the tears and anguish on other parts of this forum to see how upset and stressed some families are as they wait to see if their child is going to get into a school within a 10 mile radius of home... so yes, selfish, to deprive someone of something which you have no intention of using, when you could so easily shorten the torment for someone.

OP posts:
mamatomany · 18/03/2010 13:43

Rubbish, in the current climate they sound very sensible.

Our next door neighbour found out she had her first choice school on the 2nd September and he started on the 3rd, no harm done.
The idiots are the ones remortgaging/moving it would be cheaper to go private in many cases.

SoupDragon · 18/03/2010 13:36

The only people who are selfish, silly and "tossers" are those who lie to get their child a place at a school.

SoupDragon · 18/03/2010 13:35

[shrug]

I can't get too worked up about it. It is sensible for them to hold onto the place if they feel there could be a chance they won't send her to the private school. Unless you are them, you can't possibly know for certain what their situation is. Not silly or selfish at all, nor are they "tossers".

Ivykaty44 · 18/03/2010 13:30

no I have got my first school - I wnat my second choice on the list...

Original poster
Whippet · 18/03/2010 12:54

But Ivy & Noah - in your cases there are genuine reasons why you are holding onto places - because there is a chnage coming along, or because you're still aiming to get into your first choice school.

This family have got, and accepted, a place at their 'first' choice (private) school. They have admitted that there is nothing on the horizon which would likely make them change their mind, but they're going to hang onto the state school place until the very last minute...

When you look at how things 'settle down' at schools my the end of the year, there is a huge amount of 'shuffling' goes on between August and December as waiting lists suddenly open up and people finally get their 1st and 2nd choices, and it's all because people are doing this sort of thing.

It's just silly and selfish .

OP posts:
NoahAndTheWhale · 18/03/2010 12:48

I agree that she should keep hold of the place. We are hopefully going to be moving house by September but I will keeping hold of the place at DS's school and DD's reception place (that I am very sure she will get) until we know that everything will work out.

Ivykaty44 · 18/03/2010 12:46

I am sitting on a place of a very good secondary school that is over siubscribed by 100 places - I want my dd to go to another state school which I think will suit her better and I know she is top of the list, I know she will be offered a place at the school I want as they are undersubscribed

i have phoned and asked and said - well shall I accept this place now so that you can put someone out of there misery - oh no was the reply make them wait......

Original poster
Whippet · 18/03/2010 12:45

Because they really have no intention of sending her there...

Initially it was in case she didn't get into the senior part of her current school, and thath's absolutely fair enough... but now they know she has a place there they have accepted that. So they have accepted two places and are holding onto the state one until the very last possible minute 'just in case' some unforeseen random event occurs...

I know they are entirely within their rights to do this, but it's rather selfish, no?

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 18/03/2010 12:40

Why shouldn't they? It makes perfect sense.