Private school writing to current school

[BurnTheBlackSuit]

Thinking of going private for secondary education. The information from the private school says they write to the current school for a report and this, together with the entrance exam, is how they decide.

I just wondered if anyone knows what they ask the current school? Child's attitude? Personality? Last year's school report? Grades? Or is it just a "is x suitable for y school in your opinion?"

The private school won't ask the state school for their opinion on whether they consider your dc to be a suitable candidate.
I have filled in these forms for a child going to a private school. It is pretty much the stuff you said- attitude and aptitude.

They ask all of those. They need to know how your child progresses and what their perceived expectations are. They like to know a childs character/personality and any extra support your child has received from the school. They want a round picture of your child so they can help them fit seamlessly into the school.

Is there a reason you're asking? Do you feel that the current school may highlights some issues you feel are incorrect?

Its like a reference for a job, IME they dont ask the current school specific questions, so its very much what current school wants to say about Dc.

You should be able to go into current school and discuss whats going to be written. Although you'll want it to sound good, Id suggest you dont get them to omit any important facts that you feel may hinder her admission (if there are any), as it will do Dc no favours.

I haven't got a clue tbh, I got the impression it was similar to a normal report/ parents eve type content. Just to find out how representative entrance exam results are and whether your child will fit in behaviour wise, socially etc.

My child's school didn't have a head when applying and nobody else felt qualified to write the report. Seemed to make no difference whatsoever...

I wouldn't worry about this. A registrar at one private school told me that "they pay little attention" to references from state schools. I suppose if there was a serious behavioural issue that might count against your dc though.

Thanks all. I'm not worried at all- he has a brilliant record at school. I was just wondering what they asked that's all! And wondering if they would share his year 5 school report for example (because it is good).

They will also ask for any standardised scores that the school have, e.g. CATS, progress tests, reading/spelling ages etc...

and attendance and punctuality

QGmum, just out of interest if you know, why wouldn't pay any interest to state school reports?

QGmum, just out of interest if you know, why wouldn't pay any interest to state school reports?

I'm not the pp, but agree that private schools don't take much notice of state school references because state schools aren't geared up for providing those kinds of references in the way prep schools are. Some primary schools will try and provide what's asked for, some will give very cursory answers and some won't bother to reply at all, or refuse to do references on principle.

Private schools that have a significant state intake will know this, and therefore will not give weight to the reference (or lack of reference) in the way that they will for a prep school candidate, simply because the information may not be reliable and they want to select candidates on their own merits, not on the ability or willingness of their primary school to play the reference game.

They will pay attention to previous school reports, whatever the school or how it is funded.

But what they are less likely to do is count an apathetic/minimalist report (or even refusal to supply one at all) from a state school against the candidate.

Though they will tend to put more worth on reports from schools they 'know' simply because they will have seen more and they'll know how to read between the lines a bit.

I think it depends on the private school Head. Our own seems to me to look down on the state sector and isn't very interested in exchanging information with state Heads either for pupils transfering in from state or transferring out to state. I think he doesn't give much weight to what a state school says and believes it's a waste of his precious time to pass on information if a pupil is leaving the private sector. The exception is if the pupil or parents have been at odds with him, even with good reason - in that case I understand he tends to pick up the phone and give his opinion to the next school, thus risking any chance of a fresh start for the pupil or parents.

So the information will be requested from the state school, but not much weight given to it. It is more to identify any major problems with the pupil that the parents have not been entirely honest about in their application and which might subsequently cause problems at our school. A pupil might not be admitted in such cases, or asked to leave if any deliberately withheld major problems later become apparent. The onus is really on the parents to be honest however and they are the ones who will potentially lose thousands in advance fees if they are not and the pupil is asked to leave.

One question asked by our Head but not so far mentioned by others, unless I've missed it, is about the parents. What is the attitude of the parents, are they supportive to the pupil and to the school or are they those sort of parents? He is wanting to know whether they will fit in, in his opinion, at our school and whether he will have problems with them. This is also another reason he will pick up the phone to the next school, to warn them about, in his opinion, unsupportive parents. This has been used to discourage parents from complaining about him.

Good luck BurnTheBlackSuit. My advice with the private sector is always to look behind the glossy brochures and stage managed tours.