Registering in person - an advantage?

[Sally223]

Hi everyone,

DD #1 is expected at the end of July and we plan on registering widely across selective + non-selective schools in SW London.

Pretty much all of them have online registration systems now but we are being told by friends to drop the registrations in person since "it makes a difference".

With such turbulent first few days to be expected after birth, I don't really see the point of sending DH to hop from school to school to drop printouts and cheques, even less so with Covid and with schools likely to be closed for the Summer. Hence the question: Does it (still) make a difference?

If the school can recall you after 3-4 years, it's probably because you made the WRONG impression!

I'm sure Private schools are no different to State schools right now with parents of current pupils let alone prospective parents several years in advance NOT being encouraged to wander around school buildings unnecessarily.

No it doesn't. That is ridiculous.

Please calm down. Your daughter hasn’t even been born yet and you are already looking for ways to give her an advantage over other children.

Very very few schools require registration at birth. Give yourself time to get over what can be a physically and emotionally exhausting experience. Far better to have your DH around in those first weeks than trotting around trying to visit schools where you’re not allowed in because of Covid.

I also wouldn’t “register widely”. Apart from the financial aspect you’ll either end up with way too much choice or having you DD sit numerous entrance tests. If you really must then register at a couple of “big name” schools and a couple of local non selectives. Then once she’s been in your lives a few years then chose a school that works for her.

To add that the admissions teams will be cursing you if you drop off forms in person. Completing an online form feeds directly into their admissions database. A paper form means they will have to enter it all themselves.

I can't imagine any school being happy at you trying to turn up in person right now - in fact I would imagine they won't let you in.

And that's even before you get to the madness of the idea that registration at birth is necessary. It isn't.

My experience from 6 years ago for a range of selective and non-selective girls’ preps in Central/West London:

It didn’t matter whether in person or not (and in Covid times I think you’re certainly best staying away!)

Speed after birth was certainly relevant. Some schools and pre-prep nurseries allocated by days registered after birth (three weeks was too late for one school) and others closed the assessment list after X number of registrations. So there’s no downside to registering ASAP, but potential downside to not doing so.

In general, non-selectives were either first come first served or register by a certain date and get put in a ballot, and the selectives you were only registering for assessment (E.g. the one my daughter is now at currently allows registration for assessment up to 9 months post-birth).

Some schools only allowed registrations from parents who had visited, so make sure you identify these and get them booked in now.

Your area may be different, and demand may have fallen with Brexit, Covid etc., but there’s nothing to lose by registering ASAP.