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No offers from school 13+

76 replies

hattiebatty · 25/02/2014 13:33

Does anyone have any experience of not been accepted into a school at 13+?
We are in the unfortunate position of not having a place for our child for year 9.

All the entrance tests are over. What should we do?

The head at our school is useless

OP posts:
diabolo · 26/02/2014 13:03

OP it's the same DS is at school (Suffolk). Schools own entrance tests in January/February and then offers are made, subject to good performance at CE.

Gunznroses · 26/02/2014 13:29

I'm really surprised, your head should definitely be sorting this out.

OP would you consider boarding at all? cos that would stretch your net a bit further, someone suggested Aldenham ? do they require a test as well? i don't know but might be worth a try, also there is St columbas, i don't know much about it except an acquaintance sends his son there and says very good things about it.

Dinosaursareextinct · 26/02/2014 13:31

Not all schools that call themselves selective actually select. My DC attended entrance tests for a public school. She's not very academic but got very good results. I noticed that the result options marked on the results sheet we received were something like; 1)excellent, 2) good, 3) satisfactory, 4) pass. There simply was no fail category - every single child who took the test will have passed it. But they advertise themselves as selective.

Gunznroses · 26/02/2014 13:43

Dinosaur but surely they will still have to sit CE where they have a certain percentage you have to reach ? or am i being naive here Confused this is really interesting any hint on which school this is ?? or PM please.

totallyuseless · 26/02/2014 13:47

My DS attends St Columbas, it is a lovely school with lots of very academic children and a few not so academic.

I know of children who failed to get offers for St Columbas this year.

The school have really upped the academics in the last year or so. We started in year 7 DS is in year 9 now, my younger DS just sat the entrance test and it was much harder than the test DS1 sat when he was in year 6.

Dinosaursareextinct · 26/02/2014 14:07

Gunz - The exam was taken in yr6, to enter the school in yr7, so I'm not sure what happens with 13 year olds. But I doubt they need to do well in CE, or even take it. I know someone whose son went to prep school and was told by the school there was no point his even taking the entrance exam for the local selective that most children go to, and just to go for this other (much more expensive) school. He got a sports scholarship! He was 13.

MmeMorrible · 26/02/2014 14:16

Agree with everyone else that the Heads attitude is shocking. have you tried Bishop Stortford College OP? I know of several children holding offers for there who are planning to take up alternative offers so there will be movement in their waiting lists over the next few days.

Gunznroses · 26/02/2014 14:30

Dinosaur The ming truly boggles! why they can't just be honest ? so long as they add good value and get good results and everything else a private education offers.

Gunznroses · 26/02/2014 14:32

ming Shock No! Mind!Mind!

LauraBridges · 26/02/2014 15:06

I thought just about anyone could get into Aldenham? Was that not on the list? Ring round. The prep school should be helping much more too. I am certain the years my 3 boys have done 13+ from their prep schools every single boy has got in somewhere.

loveroflife · 26/02/2014 15:22

OP,

Here's some suggestions for Herts schools that you should look further into:

St.Colombas - St.Albans
Lochinver House - Potters Bar
Aldwickbury - Harpenden
Lockers Park - Hemel
Beechwood Park - Markyate

I'll let parents with dc at the schools give their thoughts as I don't know enough about how selective they are, however, 1, 3 and 5 are, as a far as I understand, not as 'academic' as 2 and 4 and they're big schools too, so more places may be available/more movement....

It may also be worth booking an apt with HT's at the schools and having a really honest chat about your situation.

As for your current school, I would not be leaving the HT's office until you have had a guarantee that he is going to put things into place to find your son a place. Maybe even gently threaten legal advice and withhold fees as they have not worked/are working with you to enable your son to continue his studies...

Gunznroses · 26/02/2014 15:28

loveroflife the schools you have suggested bar St Columbas are prep schools. OP is looking for a Senior school to start in year 9.

lottysmum · 26/02/2014 17:55

I know you are in Herts but not sure whether South or North...I'm in Beds ...if you are anywhere near the railway line into Bedford why not try Rushmoor...its a 10 min walk from station ...also a bus system works from places on the Herts border like Dunstable
www.rushmoorschool.co.uk/
St Andrews in Bedford also an option but a little harder to get too...

mary21 · 26/02/2014 18:40

How academic is St Edmunds ware these days.
How bright do you this yous DS is.
Are you wanting a traditional public school or somewhere a bit different.
Out of the south east I think there is a lot less pressure on places unless you are after big names.
Sherradsword and Rushmore small schools. Aldenham tradional public . St eds catholic. St Chris's alternative good sen
Or go wild Devon boarding. Kelly college or west buckland selective in name only .west buckland does very well by its low middle acheivers

slowcomputer · 26/02/2014 19:47

I would consider telling the head about this thread and that if he doesn't help you'll name the school. 4 children with no place is shocking and if word gets out people will remove their kids pretty swiftly.

wordfactory · 27/02/2014 07:54

lover those schools are all prep schools apart form St C (which is 4-18)...

aghteens · 27/02/2014 11:25

I support the advice of asking Gabbitas for advice/help. They will charge of course, but it sounds like better value than your prep school fees. Hope you and DS can get this sorted soon - it's a horrible situation to be in.

ShredMeJillianIWantToBeNatalie · 27/02/2014 11:52

I know that St Columbas will guarantee a child coming from their prep school a place in the senior school, provided that they don't apply to any other senior school. So they may well be gaining a few places after Monday night when the state school places are offered. They will also lose a few boys to St Albans and other private schools, so I would definitely persist, and not lose hope if you don't get a yes straightaway. Can you find out if you are on a waiting list for any school you've already applied to?

sixlive · 27/02/2014 13:32

I would contact the governors of you school who will hopefully kick the headmaster into action.

Needmoresleep · 27/02/2014 14:02

This happened about three years ago in South London, with everyone being surprised at the volume of 13+ applicants and pupils from several preps in the area being left without places. One cause may have been an ongoing shift away from boarding.

I think one of the existing less selective schools, spotting potential fee paying customers decided to add a bulge class. It will also have helped that Radnor House, which had been set up with hedge fund money, was opening its doors with a 13+ entry point. And since then a further new secondary has opened.

Your Head should phone other preps to find out if it is a general problem. If it is they can use their contacts to persuade senior schools that the first to offer a bulge class should pick up most of the business.

If it is just your school then try to find someone experienced and sensible. At 11+ the new Head at DDs school was pretty useless, but the Deputy was happy to help. (Looking back I think she was polishing her CV - she has done deservedly well since.) Then as other have suggested, read the Good Schools Guide, pick up the phone, perhaps employ an educational consultant though you would be paying for something that the Prep should be doing).

I would be tempted to write to the Governors, politely, suggesting they might offer you a discount on next term's fees to cover your additional costs. This might spark them into putting pressure on the Head. And they might not be aware of the problem yet.

Good luck. It must be awful for your son.

Livinghappy123 · 22/02/2016 08:56

Bumping this to see how things were resolved for OP

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 22/02/2016 17:13

Living
Please don't bump up a 2 year old thread to satisfy your curiousity.

If you have a question of your own then post an new thread.

ZOMBIE THREAD

Livinghappy123 · 22/02/2016 17:28

It's my first time on here, wow thanks for the welcome

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 22/02/2016 17:31

Living - I'd pm original poster, she may see a private message if she's still on here

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 22/02/2016 20:51

Living
There has been quite a problem with people bumping up old threads. Posters then get quite upset when they realise they have spent time and effort answering a query that is years old. Consequently, bumping up old threads is disliked. If you have a problem or question the best approach is to start a new thread of your own.