What happens if current school refuses to provide a reference?

[Blueberrypots]

My son sat the 8+ and we had a letter today to say he has an offer - hurray!

HOWEVER this offer is subject to reference from the school. As this was asked a long time ago now (end of November) and clearly they haven't received it yet, what happens if the head refuses to do it? I can't make him.

Will my DS1 miss out on this place? Does anyone have any experience of this situation occurring?

It might mean that the destination school only requests references from the candidates they're seriously thinking about making an offer to (or having at the top of their waiting list), as this saves heads the effort of producing references for those who are not in the frame.

Can you ask your current HT if a request for a reference has been received (and when)?

Yes I will go in on Monday morning to enquire.

I know it was sent at the end of November, as we were told this would happen and also this indeed was the case last year with my DD1 - except it was a different head, who was much more co-operative and amenable on these matters.

I know I am probably panicking and he's probably just forgotten, but I have a strange gut feeling he isn't keen on producing a reference and was wondering - worse case scenario - what would be the consequences of this...

It is likely the 8+ school will make do with a copy of the latest school report if reference was not forthcoming.

thanks catastrophewaitress, that had crossed my mind...

Is current school state? If so many refuse to provide these references and new school will be used to this. Just get current head to let you know what their policy is on references then use last school report if no reference forthcoming.

Yes it is state...I will do as suggested, thank you!! (I have stopped panicking now).

Agree. I work in admissions and we ask for last 2 reports if no reference available.

Thanks again - should I case the current head or just leave it to the two schools to sort it out with each other?

sorry I meant chase

It's worth being in touch with the destination school. If your HT is not going to come up with a reference, you need to agree with them what the alternatives can be. Don't worry about this. If this HT (or others from their state school applicants) has form for not supplying references, you'll be going down a well trodden path.

And remember they want your DS and so will not penalise him for having a non-cooperative HT, and will be open to alternative evidence that he's not had wall-to-wall behavioural issues or dreadful attendance (which is probably all they're checking now).

Thanks, my plan then is to ring the destination school on Monday and see what they say..!

Our destination school was happy to receive last 2 reports as we had a miserable Head who disagreed with DD going to a boarding school. Her political beliefs got in the way of her being professional in her work.

I have just been on the phone with the destination school and they told me not to worry about it and to leave it totally up to them. They said they will concern themselves with chasing it, and procuring themselves alternative forms of evidence should the reference not be forthcoming.

I am delighted I don't have to go and beg I mean chase this as it a hassle I didn't need...

In much the same circumstances, we had to provide a copy of the last school report as a reference wasn't forthcoming.