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

Is it worth chasing Churcher’s after half term? Do schools find waitlist chasing irritating or a positive sign the parent is keen?

They are still trying to hurry up acceptances/declines. I would wait until March 3rd. March 2nd is the deadline for acceptance, in line with the state school offer day.

I take the opposite view. Many independent schools have now made offers and people with eg RGS as top choice will probably decline their Churchers place on Monday/Tuesday. Whilst they may not be in a position to offer you a place from the waitlist there and then if you call on Monday, it serves its purpose of showing that you’re keen and they can probably give you a steer on when they are likely to be looking at wait list offers/when you could expect to hear.
if you were to call every day, that might be irritating, but one call on Monday afternoon? I think that says keen.

I agree with @Wellnowtheresathing - totally fine to call once and check the 'post half term' position.

I spoke to them on Monday and the admissions officer just told me they would let me know of any movement, they wouldn’t give an indication about the waitlist. I’ve heard nothing since then. Is it likely movement will happen next week in line with the state school offers??

Yes - state school offers and then a couple of days to consider may see some movement

Thanks. I’ve contacted a few other schools so I will continue to pursue those if I hear nothing by Friday next week.

Churcher's acceptance deadline is Monday 2nd so they might know they are full by then or they might start contacting the waitlist. I wonder whether they chase up any non-responders first or whether not responding in time is just a massive parenting fail and you lose your place!

Interesting, thanks. My previous comment that I can probably expect to hear by next Friday at the latest seems accurate.

Does anyone know when you are expected to let Churchers know by? Is it end of day today? Are most private schools the same - end of day 2nd March?

Basically I’m wondering, if there is movement, am I likely to hear today?

State school email announcements are at 5pm today, I think - presume Churchers wouldn't set a cut off before that? (and would probably do a chase tomorrow on any they hadn't heard from anyway)

Ok, thank you. I can imagine they would give until the end of the day or perhaps tomorrow. Can you advise on any schools that are likely to have a high rejection rate or who won’t fill Year 7?

No, sorry - I'm north of your area and just commenting generally.

Churchers say 'by 2nd March' so I guess midnight tonight? West Sussex state schools have been sent out early this am.
PGS is very likely to have spaces.

Is there anywhere a bit more local? Will they automatically offer to their waitlist first or can exceptional candidates skip the queue so to speak?

Unless anyone on the thread is in admissions at the school(s) in question, I think you won't get a definitive answer! But someone on the waiting list will have gone through the full set of any tests/interviews and also been actively interested in the school, done the tours etc so those are points in their favour for offers over a late applicant, I would have thought.

That makes sense, thank you. I’ll keep the thread updated regardless for future interested parents.

Churchers are full, not accepting any waitlist.

Sorry you missed out. Good luck with your search.

Can anyone advise how PGS (Portsmouth Grammar School) compares to Churchers? All I can find online are threads a fair few years old saying it’s very pushy and high pressure…

Slightly less good exam results (but still very good in more normal terms!). I think the high pressure part has faded a bit, it is still very strict on behaviour though Ive heard. I know families that really love it but popularity has waned and it is looking to regain favour vs the other private schools. Playing field set up is a bus journey away for them but is very good. Excellent match teas (probably not overly important!). They do well at sports locally.

Edited to add - very much a city school with all the pros and cons of that.

Can anyone comment on Salesian college? I am not sure about the all boys aspect of it or really know anything about this school…

I don't currently live in the area, but grew up around here all my life, and nannied in this area.
I had charges who went to PGS and have friends who currently send their own children to PGS. Back in the days several of my own friends also went to PGS and all have done very well for themselves.

If I moved back to the area, or if (god forbid both myself and DH died) and my sister became the legal guardians of my children, my children would attend PGS.

So long as the trains are running its very accessible from Petersfield.

I have read that PGS is very pushy, how true is that? I’m not sure super pushy is the right environment for my child, I felt Churcher’s had a good balance of academic vs pastoral. @nannyl

I have two at Salesian and highly rate it. The teaching is first class and the pastoral care is authentic and well-intentioned. It’s academic without any pressure I’d say. It’s great for sport and teaches the boys a huge amount through the medium of sport (about respect, diversity, resilience etc) but, quite honestly, it’s poor for drama and abysmal for music.

But overall, it’s a great school with a lot going for it and very happy boys.