Churcher’s College Rejection - Where Next?

[TreeMeadow]

My son has just been rejected for a place at Churcher’s College (Petersfield). I realise we will now be late applicants, but I’m desperate to find him a private place somewhere. To be honest, I thought it was a given he would gain a place at Churcher’s so foolishly didn’t apply elsewhere. Which other private schools would people recommend in the local area, we have only been here 6 months, so I don’t know it too well. It needs to be good pastorally and be open to late applications e.g. not oversubscribed. I am prepared to travel into Surrey and Hampshire.

TIA

Some people will have sat the assessment but parents will decide to stick with state, others will have offers from more academically selective schools and Churchers is their back up. You could well be OK. Make sure the school know that you are still interested. I don't know how they operate their list but you could ask if you have a set position on that list and how many usually get in from the waitlist. There will be movement in early March if not before as acceptance deadlines arrive and state places come out.

Have you looked at King Edward’s Witley? Not sure exactly where you are but it’s right by a station.

Thank you that sounds very reassuring!

For sporty, go for Seaford. For all rounder St Ed’s. Ditcham is lovely but the road there is a horror show. Also someone mentioned further up that they might be struggling financially? After the Royal closing down I would keep an eye on that.

Other further afield options;
RGS
King Edward’s in Witley
Frensham Heights (not sporty but very arty)

Great, I have quite a lot of schools to consider now, thank you everyone for your help.

Have you considered Portsmouth Grammar School? It’s very good and can be accessed by a train straight through from Petersfield.

I don't know Churchers specifically, but a wait list offer isn't usually a 'soft no'. It's a 'we like you, would love to have you, but can't be sure we've got a space just yet'.

Get on the phone to Churchers tomorrow and tell them that they're your absolute number 1, and that if a space comes up you would accept it immediately and have the deposit in their account within 24 hours.

Admissions staff are very attracted to certainty at this stage in proceedings. As soon as the state school places come out, they will have kids drop out and then have to fill their spots from the wait list, but at this stage in the game that's quite slow and painful - they offer to the person top of the wait list, but have to give them a week to decide, at which point they reject, so they go to number 2 on the list, who has now accepted somewhere else, so they go to number 3 who is not answering the phone, number 4 is sort of interested but needs a week to decide, after which they too reject... and so on. And the longer it goes on, the more likely it is that all the kids on the wait list have settled on an alternative, paid deposits, been to induction days, bought uniform etc. So, if they've got someone who is promising an instant yes, admissions staff like that a lot!

RGS is a lot more selective than Churcher's so maybe discount that one. Currently all boys but going co-ed so there would also be that transition.

Look at the boarding schools if you don’t want to board lots run day buses back.
look at staying for at a prep school for years 7:8 and trying for 13+ with a tutor.
Look for new merges or new senior schools those always have places and desperate for people / cash.

There will be loads of places in not quite top tier schools desperate for cash

You will just need to ring the schools, Unless your child is super bright you are unlikely to get into the more competitive/ more established senior schools

We enquired to seaford recently, were told no spaces. But arranged to visit anyway. Had a one on one with headteacher and the next day were offered a space - no exams taken! Maybe worth trying to arrange a visit?

That’s interesting, thanks. I think I am going to wait a few weeks until March to see if a Churcher’s place becomes available, it seems quite likely from the comments on here. Then early March I will make contact with some of the schools mentioned as it sounds as though they will have a better idea of numbers by then… I really don’t want to be paying deposits or getting my son to sit tests if there are no places and it’s a fruitless endeavour.

@TreeMeadow Between now and March, I would also take the time to do research on state schools to see if you would like to add him to any waiting lists in that sector.

Thank you, I will also do this.

I would very much assume that PGS will have spare places soon as well if Pompey not too far.

I think RGS offers are due out end of next week. Experience says a number of those boys will have Churchers as a back up, so definitely there will be places declined.

However, schools know that not all offers will be taken up and over offer accordingly. It is not therefore a given that they will have to go to the waitlist, or take many from the waitlist if they do. As someone said above, your best strategy currently is to make sure Churchers know you are keen and will accept a place immediately if offered.

You should probably also have a plan B and be willing to do 7/8 at a prep school with a view to moving in year 9. Late applications to 13+ schools are straightforward - although most pre test in year 6, there are always places still available in 7 and even 8.

Does every independent school over offer, and how often do schools such as Churchers actually go to wait list or does it really depend on the year?

This is where I would be looking. It's not a difficult journey at all from Petersfield, either by road or train. I have a bit of inside knowledge of a few local private schools and the teaching at PGS is fantastic, at least at the subjects I know about.

Yes, every independent school will over o offer because most kids apply to more than one school and will have to pick.

The eleven plus forum might have more info
on typical waitlist movement in your area.

Churchers have 135 places at year 7, 55 go to junior school. They typically offer 180 kids places I heard, between that and waitlist they fill them and spaces later in the school are rarer (13+ intake is just a handful).

Our prep asks parents to limit applications to two exams (plus state). Some parents do three (or more) anyway.

Interesting, thanks.

Have you looked at PGS? (Portsmouth Grammar)

Easy to get to on the train and a brilliant school.

Ditcham Park and Beadales are other obvious more local choice

Thanks, I have Bedales on my list to contact in a few weeks once offers have been rejected or accepted by Churcher’s applicants. I’d prefer local but I am prepared to travel.

I shouldn't think that places will be available at Dunhurst at that point.

I think you need to consider what you are looking for in a school. Bedales couldn’t be more different to Churchers. I doubt many people would apply to both of those options.

What attracted you to Churchers (other than location)? PGS is a far more similar school. Perhaps use the next few weeks whilst waiting for Churchers to do some serious research on the various schools being suggested, visit them and work out what will best suit your child.

Good luck!

I think your son will get in in the end . You might not find out until Easter time though. Lots of children with offers will go elsewhere.

What about KES Southampton? Embley? Or are they too far away?