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Secondary education

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Original poster

11+ Interviews - Am I right in thinking...

10 replies

Amaretti · 04/02/2012 21:21

....that if a parent already has one child in the school, and has an interview with the deputy head whilst a second child has their own interview with another staff member, then if there were problems with the second child getting a place, the parent would be warned?

Because DS2 had his interview today and my chat with the deputy head was all about him telling me plans for the future of the school. DS1 is already there and doing well, so surely if they weren't going to take DS2 the deputy head would gave been managing my expectations and talking about the strength of this year's applicants and the unfortunate need to turn down deserving candidates or some such?

I can't help feeling optimistic, but we are relatively new to the independent sector, both boys having gone to state primary, so I'm not sure if I'm reading things right.

OP posts:
MrsDucklips · 05/02/2012 00:05

Hi Amaretti - my DD2 has just sat entrance exam for the school DD1 is already at and I know there is no sibling policy whatsoever as with all the independent secondaries in our area - I don't want to worry/panic you but at the end of the day they're all businesses and need good results to attract new customers (make no mistake that's what we are), which is why your deputy head was giving you the hard sell re the future of the school - he's assuming you're sitting for more than 1 school (we've sat DD2 for 4) and wants your custom should they decide they want your DS! Do I sound cynical at all........

Keeping my fingers crossed that you and I get the results we're hoping for!

Original poster
Amaretti · 05/02/2012 08:44

Fingers crossed indeed!

OP posts:
camptownraces · 06/02/2012 19:06

Turning down a sibling generates a lot of bad feeling with a family - the whole management team will be very well aware of that. They'll only do this if they have a very strong reason: being a sibling of an existing pupil will HELP a borderline candidate.

School doesn't have a sibling policy - do they even publish their admissions policy? (they probably won't if an independent school).

Original poster
Amaretti · 06/02/2012 21:21

That's what I am hoping. It is independent. I doubt he is borderline, tbh, he passed his other exams. They would have told me, they would have told me, they would have told me...... Grin

OP posts:
trixie123 · 07/02/2012 14:08

if he passed the exam, at our place he would almost certainly be in if he has a sibling, even if the sibling is a nightmare.

Original poster
Amaretti · 07/02/2012 15:21

Thank you. (The sibling isn't a nightmare, he is winning prizes.)

OP posts:
Trusting · 10/02/2012 02:28

My DD finds herself without a school - no interviews - all rejections. She only applied for two schools although her current school has automatic entry for secondary. My daughter is intelligent and highly academic and I suspect foul play. She is outgoing and popular and kind to all. We have been advised by the school we cannot see the report they sent out but were shocked to be presented with terrible, bottom of the class results in the schools internal exam which DD had said was so easy. Not surprisingly she wept inconsolably as we all know those are not her rightful grades. I am in complete turmoil and feel helpless.I know the schools talk to each other.

carltonscroop · 10/02/2012 10:18

Oh, trusting that sounds awful!

Have you had a chance to talk to the school about her exam results? When were they? Because they may have been mentioned in a reference (depending on when they were sent out). What were her previous exam results like? Because if this set were an anomalous result, surely the reference should have said so, and indicated her usual level?

Do you now actually want her to stay at her current school? As she didn't make interview at the two you applied for, then there might not be much point in going back to those, but are there others you could approach in an 11th hour scramble?

Trusting · 10/02/2012 11:12

Thanks.- Problem is, the marks were simply reproduced in a letter so we have not had access to the actual electronic version of the test paper itself as proof, and there seems to be some problem with it being submitted to us. Yep - these doubtful results were also presented to the prospective schools in addition to a reference without any further comment on how academic the child is. I know for sure they are not the correct results as one cannot suddenly in a one of test, change from being an A pupil to a D to E pupil, in a very easy exam too.

Trusting · 10/02/2012 11:20

Nope..... didn't want her to stay on at current school. Frantically searching around for last minute places.

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