How do private schools choose their students?

[lyonheart]

I'm not talking about the likes of Eton etc, but how does a relatively over subscribed local independent school choose it's pupils, especially one claiming to be 'non selective'? Do they choose a wide range of abilities or do they just accept those that do best on the entrance test? Do any other factors affect who is chosen and if they get a group of people all getting the same in a entrance paper, how do they choose who gets in and who doesn't?

Ours is non selective first come first served. SEN, disability etc not a factor, any child can come.

But only two year groups are full, the rest have vacancies whenever.

we-take-any-child.com has become the motto of many independent schools nowadays!

Recently went round a slightly selective school (takes dyslexics) and the message was there is an exam but we now take into any year not just the main entry points. (See other thread about yr6 entry being food for thought.)

I'd think long and hard before taking a place at a school that's struggling to fill its places. What if it closes with minimal warning? Cash flow can be very tight at some small schools with very little by way of an endowment.

Yes, you definitely need to be careful that the school you choose isn't about to fail.

But there's a massive difference between always having vacancies and struggling to fill spaces. The school where I work has, on average, 2 places available in each class (of max 18) at any one time, sometimes 0 or 1 place, sometimes 3 or 4. A few children leave at the end of every term and a few children join at the start of every term. It's very fluid but we're by no means empty and, I believe, have no debts at all so no fiancial problems.

Just because a school can take you straight away doesn't mean it's in trouble.

stillfeel18inside's comments about how much can "you really tell about a child and whether they would fit in/be a credit to the school in a 10-minute interview? (especially if they're shy) " reminded me of that Lenny Henry joke - "My wife says I am a bad lover. How can she tell in 30 seconds?"

If you don't see my point then it must be my sense of humour :)

If you was interviewing for a nanny to have sole charge of your precious baby would you hire a) the nice but shy girl or b) the nice and confident girl?

I admit that a nice person, child or otherwise, shouldn't be penalised for being shy but why do we expect selective schools to be any different from us as parents?

dd1's private secondary has taster days and an assessment test. Like wordfactory says, they seem to be looking for bright, well motivated girls who have interests beyond the academic.

I teach at a non selective prep school and we have them in for a taster day - they'll get in if they fit in and seem like they will take part. In my teaching career in prep schools I have only seen pupils not accepted for behavioural issues that the school would not be equipped to deal with. The Ind. Senior School I taught in WAS selective. The senior school attached to my previous school was non selective but did a test for setting when the pupil arrived.

The school I mentioned being more flexible is I think just adapting to the new world. ie a day school recognising families move for jobs. It has over 800 pupils so is probably viable?