Personal statement from parents for reception entry to prep school...

[twaseverthus666]

I guess this is a screening process to see whether they can put up with us. But what on earth do we say? All seems a bit silly

DS is just 2, he isn't starting school until 2022.

We're choosing the school because it is small, has small class sizes, and is nurturing. DS probably has some form of mild ASD, but no diagnosis yet, so small, quiet classes and plenty of individual help may well be necessary.

We aren't interested in the old school tie aspects and no we aren't old students and no we didn't pick it on its religion... we picked it because it's the only school in town that's remotely likely to work for DS.

Argh...

Then just say that. What's the issue here?

Can you just say that? Or do you have to demonstrate that your entire life's interestes and values are aligned with the school's?

The school do talk a lot about how hard it is to get a place - and reputedly it is very hard unless you are a child of a former student.

I've never done this kind of thing before... the only personal statement type cover letters I've done in my own career were for insanely competitive positions where you tried to find any possible thing that might get you longlisted, so perhaps I'm assuming too much about what the school wants to see.

Could it be more that the school are assessing you as parents and whether you'll have shared values and goals that you and the school can work together to achieve? (I'm guessing here as we've not been in this position). Something about your aspirations for him, and how you see the school's setting and values getting the best out of him, and that you'll work in supporting school with his education?

I'm pretty sure that I found advice on how to do this online - it was pretty scary US stuff, on how to create a 'brand' for your family, so the school would remember you as 'the family who volunteer for the Red Cross/United Nations' etc.

Yeah, so we we have nothing like that going for us! 😂 So I just wrote about wanting the best for the dc, liking xyz about the school and how I thought that'd be amazing because dc are interested in... Then about how I was looking forward to supporting the school in any way possible throughout my dc's time there. HTHs.

Do they cater for ASD properly or is it just the small class sizes etc that have attracted you? Usually the personal statement is a way of screening families. If they can choose a family with an NT child whose values/ethos align with the school they will tAke that child. I wouldn't mention the ASD since you don't have a diagnosis. I'd talk about what you like about the school and how you think that will benefit DS. I'd also talk about how you want a school with a strong sense of community that you can be involved in .....in other words you'll volunteer!

Personally I'd avoid a school that screens based on parents like the plague. This seems to suggest they want children that conform to a square peg mould, and it sound very much as though your DC might not ...

@PigeonFromHell and @leeloo1 yes I think that's more or less what they're looking for.

@Gonzoo on learning support they're as good as the best state schools, which honestly isn't saying much when I know what some of the best prep schools in the UK are like... however, moving back to the UK isn't an option at the moment. We won't mention the ASD - it could all turn out fine. It's definitely not so marked at the moment that i am certain, more an accumulating series of things that make me think that while he would pass M-CHAT-R/F now, I suspect he's going to be an outlier anywhere other than a class full of kids with ASD traits.

@RedSkyLastNight they're the one school here that is likely to be ok with a kid who just wants to read a book or go and play the piano by himself. He's saved by his interests clearly being academic enough for their fairly narrow views - and they are nurturing enough to probably not force him into things he doesn't want to do.
Other schools here are all about everyone participating in their great big chaotic classes and loud school productions and school discos and everyone cheering loudly for the sports teams...

Throw in a charming comment about something you saw on your tour - Thr class we saw was so captivated by xyz (chosen to align to something thrbschool clearly prides itself in) and I realised that this was the environment that we hoped for at our son’s school..... type thing

On no account speculate about your child’s NT status (I speak with a v similar child). And ignore anyone who says “do t send him to a school where you feel you can’t be totally open etc”. You have looked at the school provision and identified this as the school that best suits his preferred environment - don’t make it hard for him to be accepted.

I would probably describe DS in a positive light. e.g. DS is a happy, curious boy who thrives in quiet, well structured environments. He has a passion for trains and all things related to transport. At the weekend his favourite day out is to go to steam train museum etc. As a family we value education and feel the X school would provide DS the opportunity to reach his potential academically while offering a range of other sporting/musical etc opportunities.

I would keep it positive don't say "we don't care about the old school tie" it comes across like you have a chip on your shoulder. Talk about what the school offers that you feel is important.

We talked about what we liked about the facilities, the fact that it was close to our home so we could fully participate in school life and mentioned that having numerous teachers in the family we respected the importance of a good relationship between parents - teachers etc etc. It was a bit sickening but we made the cut.