to feel a little aggreived - London schools

[shouldnthavelistened]

I read with interest about London prepreps on this board, started a thread myself once, and was told in no uncertain terms that the "you have to put your name down at birth" rumours were a myth. Was even told that the schools always had places and were desperate for people to go.

So, just rang around anticipating a move later in the year and want to start looking for a property and school... and they are all full. Indeed one of them actually said the words "you have to have your name down at birth as we are oversubscribed".

It is not a myth.

"Another friend took her enrolment forms to hospital with her when she gave birth they filled them in when her daughter was 2 hours old and her husband dropped them off on the way home."
Madness!

A friend of mine did this. She mentioned a few schools and was rather taken aback when I asked whether she'd already registered her child. When she rang Wetherby, they said that there was no chance whatsoever of getting onto their list (I'm sure that they were too polite to laugh though). It's a system that favours the very organised.

Wetherby is notoriously bonkers, OP, they once advised mothers having a C-section to schedule it earlier in the month to stand a chance of getting in, as they only put two boys on the list from birth every month. Other schools will have places. But yes, you were naive to go on the advice of strangers on internet forums.

Wetherby aside what is your plan B. Who have you called today?

Wetherby is notoriously bonkers, OP, they once advised mothers having a C-section to schedule it earlier in the month to stand a chance of getting in,

`tell me this is not true , I am not sure it rings true. Particularly as I am not sure Wetherby is a particularly good school ( or is it ? ) I may not know.

Certain schools are more sought after, not necessarily better.
Grand daughter only made it onto the Garden House wait list at 6 months. 3 years on did not get called for an assessment, so not much movement on the list I presume.

You will be better organised for your second and subsequent children

I think Wetherby is an excellent school, it is one of, if not the most, sought after for a reason!

But everyone knows that Wetherby is the only west London school that you do have to be down for before leaving hospital. Really. The only one.

Is Wetherby so great ? I would not have thought so .........but I may be wrong

Wetherby is about the only prep in London where birth registration is still an absolute requirement (though there are - few other sought-after non-selectives who operate on a first-come-first-served basis and very early registration is highly advisable, and then all the other non-selective where ipthe sooner the better).

And I think you were unlucky with which threads you read

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/education/2833910-wetherby-school-opinions

makes it clear what this specific school asks for. I am sorry I did not see the thread youbstarted where you got duff advice about Wetherby.

I am further on than this than now ( i.e. with DC) but I would probably advise looking at Newton Prep - maybe not the best but a decent call IMHO. No name at birth thing.

Oh - I see - no royals went there but a pretty good school. Some v good teachers. Less glamorous uniform than e.g. Garden House,

Newton Prep is selective, so as long as you register before the deadline for assessments, your DC will be considered. Same for all selectives, as long as younregister before the deadline, you have a chance. But many people whomtry this route like to have a non-selective as a back up.

But as OP is looking at schools which are full and with lengthy waiting lists already, it's quite possible she isn't interested in a selective.

And hang on in their OP. People often put in more than one registration, as they have no idea what their DC will be like. So people really do get places from the WLs (at pre-prep and prep age - whole different game for secondary). Longest I knew was opsomeone who started at 212th (I think) on WL st the start of the year, but had reception place by September.

Hill House was first choice for a few at my grand daughters nursery and was my dd and son in law's back up.

The reason for the snark is probably because the OP started a thread which is exclusively about private schools but titled it "London schools," which does rather give the impression of living in a bubble where private schools are the only option considered feasible and the only alternative is to send your child to live with wolves.

If she had said "private preprep schools" or whatever, I don't think she would have got the snippy comments.

I think English system is bonkers.
I was chatting to the neighbour when my ds was 16 month old, and she asked me if I have registered him for nursery/pre-school place. It's not even selective private. 2 nearest to us already had huge waiting list for my ds's age.

it is a myth, really only true for Wetherby and very few others. Just be a bit more open minded! There are so many other schools nearby. If you call Hawkesdown etc, I am sure you will get a different response.

OP, you don't sound like Wetherby material (and I don't mean that negatively).
A friend of mine lives just round the corner from the school, put her DC's name down from birth (on the way home from hospital) and sent him to one of the 'feeder' nurseries. He STILL didn't get in! Too many children born that month perhaps?

It depends on which school you are looking at and where you go. Wetherby is difficult because alumni has priority. so even if you put down your name at birth, you are already waitlised, as the places would have been filled up by old Wetherby boy's children.

But not all schools are like that, you can search by distance on good school guide. TBH, I don't see a huge amount of difference in pre prep education. choose the right location, and the right exam path for your plan (7+8+11+13+, etc)

If your DS is already 4, does that mean you've also missed the state school application process?

Why is Wetherby school not in Wetherby?

Why is your thread title not

"Feeling aggrieved about application to Wetherby school"?

By the way, I've lived in London since 1985 and have never even heard of this school. The hysteria and madness over private education on Mumsnet never ceases to amaze me.

To be fair, the OP has said that she has a son and that she wants to enter the school at age 4. I don't think her son is 4 yet.

I would recommend getting hold of a copy of the Good Schools Guide for North London and having a look at this website and this one.