Prep school has offered a place for DD but not DS

[PhoebeBurbabee]

We applied for a place for DD (5) for year 1 in sept 2012 at a co-ed private primary in London. She was assessed and got a place. They gave us a week to accept and pay £3000 which we did as they assured both myself and DH that this would mean DS age 3 - for pre-reception - would be classed as a sibling and so get a place after his assessment.

Roll on a few weeks after DS's assesment and we get a letter saying DS does not have a place!! What should we do? There is no way we would take DD out of her present school (lovely school but only takes boys up to 7) if DS cant go too as he was the main reason we applied to the new school. We also have another DS 10 months and we'd like them all in the same place.

I feel like we were misled big time. I really believed the admissions sec and the headmistress when they said they had never known a sibling not get a place. They knew we really wanted them to be at the same school.

I am worried they will refuse to refund the money. DH wants to go there tomorrow to speak to the head face to face. Is that a good idea?

Any opinions gratefully received.

Sorry to have alarmed you Lou. Looks like they just messed up the offer letter so I hope you will be absolutely fine.

Very!! What a difference a day makes.

Wow, what a cock up, I'm glad to hear you've got the place but I'd be a bit wary of a school that sent out more than one letter saying a child hadn't got a place when they had.

I wonder what would have happened if you hadn't been articulate enough to ring up and be prepared to fight your corner

I'm really glad it's worked out for you!

I think this was a useful thread as it serves as a reminder to parents who are seeking to move two (or more) children as a job lot, that they should ensure (or negotiate) the date on which deposits are payable so that they can proceed on a family-wide basis.

I do feel a bit wary now - a bit wierd about the whole thing really - but once we get the new letter we will have a week before paying DS's deposit so will have a very long hard think about what we want to do as a family.

Edith you are right but we did try to negotiate that with them - and pay after both assesments but were told they couldn't hold DD's place that long as so many applicants.

If anyone manages two schools and two school runs (without a nanny) please let me know you do it as that is our alternative to moving them.

I e-mailed the school and they confirmed that DS1 was 2nd on the waiting list so was guaranteed one of the extra Junior places so at least I know have it in writing in case of any future issues!

Glad your situation is sorted now Phoebe.

No don't think I know of anyone with your configuration of genders/ages but 'lovely school boys up to 7' seems to be the way everybody describes C. And I do know a lot of parents who wish it would just go fully co ed instead of this rather half arsed co-eddery.

I take back my comment (it was just a comment after all and not part of some devious plan to extract money from enthusiastic parents...)

Hope it all goes well there...