Applying to state and private schools

[Dawsonforehead]

Hi, I'm quite new to how the system works and looking for info on the timescales for applying to schools. We have an outstanding primary state school in the area that we would love DD to go to, but it is just outside our catchment area. If she didn't get in there we would consider a local private school.

When it comes to the timing of the allocations, is it possible to wait and see if the preferred state school has accepted DD before giving private school a decision? Or do private schools set a deadline before the state school allocations are given so that they don't lose you?!

DD is only 2 at the moment but just trying to see how it works. The private school do ask for a deposit which we don't mind losing if she gets a place at the state school. But I also just wanted to see if any of you had experience in this, I'm sure its not uncommon. Thank you!

You'll usually have to pay something at the time of acceptance of an offer at the private school yes and that is likely to be before the state school places are allocated. I'd be talking to the private schools now if you are serious about a possible place as some are very oversubscribed and when you apply may make a difference depending upon how they allocate their places.

It is normal to pay a registration fee on application and a non-returnable deposit when accepting a private school place. State school allocations are normally second/third week April. You would usually have to tell the private school in writing before their summer term started, which, depending on Easter dates, may fall before then, or you pay a term's fees in lieu.

Bear in mind that while Reception fees may seem affordable , especially if they accept Early Years Funding, the rate rises rapidly as children progress up the school plus annual increases well above inflation.

It depends on the school. Pretty much all the private schools near me (north London) send out their offers by the February half term. If you accept, you sign a load of forms, including the terms and conditions and pay a deposit.

They usually require at least a term's notice to withdraw your child so it is possible that you will have to pay a term's fees as the state primary schools send out their offers on or around 16 April (which could easily be at the start of the summer term, depending on when Easter is).

It very much depends on the school. We live in an area with a number of good, but non-selective, independent schools. They all ask for a deposit at registration which is refundable only in the final term of the final year (i.e. you get it back if you stay the full way through). They also all ask for a term's notice, or a term's fees in lieu of such notice. This means that you will lose the registration deposit and, depending on when they define the start of summer term, you may lose a term's fees too. The school we selected actually asked for a definitive answer on whether parents were staying (almost all were already in the preschool) by the day after National Offer Day. I imagine the situation may be different in super-selective type prep schools though.

Do remember however, that if you lose the deposit and a term's fees this really does pale in comparison to the cost of a minimum of seven years of private schooling at primary level. If you withdraw because you have a good state offer that you are happy with, you will be saving yourself tens of thousands of pounds in fees over the following years! If there is a private school you like and it is likely to become full, then get your child on the list. If you can't afford the loss of those sums of money, you probably can't afford private education.

My Ds is starting a private secondary in September, mainly because he didn't get in to the local state school. We had to pay a registration fee. He sat an exam in January & was offered a place by the end of January. We had to accept that place about 10 days after we found out about state school places. So thankfully, if he'd got into state, all we'd have lost would've been the deposit.

It's probably worth checking with the lea when you'd find out about state allocations & asking the private school when they'd need to know if you're accepting the place. Maybe they'd be more lenient if they're under subscribed.

Thank you all for your replies so much. Its really helpful to know that its different in different areas but actually the registration fees and deposits seem to be universal!

The dates are really important then...and I need to know from the school when their offers need to be accepted and then find out when state school offers are made. Worth mentioning that I haven't visited this outstanding state school yet, and maybe I won't think as much of it once I have seen it.

Also found out that this school offers scholarships in Year 3, only to external candidates. So even if we chose to start off in the state system there is always flexibility if we aren't happy with it (although as a child I was moved around schools so many times, that idea makes me a but sad!)