'Connections to the school' - what (if anything) shall I write on the form?

[FatalFlowerGarden]

Have nc'd for this because I feel a bit embarrassed asking tbh but here goes...

Am currently writing out application form for independent school for ds (to take exam in Jan 2013). The form has a space which says 'Connections to school (if any'.

Does this mean current connections only? Would I look like a total idiot if I put family members who are ex-pupils? Ds's great-grandfather was a governor there (back in the Middle Ages) - is this stretching things a bit or is it worth chucking it down?! It is quite a traditional, history-conscious school but at the same time I don't want to look completely desperate

Or does it just mean current siblings who are pupils/family members who are teachers etc?

Sorry if this is really obvious to everyone - I loathe filling out these forms!

We are just doing applications to independent schools and a couple of the schools had this on the form. I think they are probably most interested in connecting up siblings. My DH had attended one of the schools we applied for years ago and we noted that and the years he was there, but I certainly don't expect it to have a persuasive effect.

If I were you i would note the connection - it is factually true - but I don't think you need to do more than that or try and make anything out of it.

The only other thing I could think of was that it may come up in an interview - just in a "in what ways do you think the school is different from when your father was here?" type way, or even an ice-breaking "did your dad tell you any funny stories about being at school here"?

(I wish it was determinative because the school is now significantly harder to get into than when DH went there, but I really don't think it is, and in fact in reality I would be cross if it were).

Any connection, so may be worth mentioning ggf. There may be a tie to a particular house or eligibility for specifically funded scholarships/bursaries attached to that sort of link.

At the dcs school they try and put new children whose parents are old girls/boys in the same house as their parents were etc

They often talk in newsletters about old boys/girls now having children there and family connections so I'd put anything really.

Thanks Sonorous - I'm edging towards putting it down in a 'what the hell' kind of way. I definitely don't think it's determinative (and agree, it shouldn't be!) but at the same time, from our pov, part of the reason we're applying is because we 'know' the school, iyswim. It does feel like part of our family history, even if that would mean bugger-all to the current admissions panel!

I might draw the line at telling them that my mum was the Matron in charge of the eponymous charitable hospital in their grounds, though (or that I spent a large proportion of my schooldays hanging out there flirting with the 6th-formers)

Thanks LIZS and pictures - I'll go for it. Glad I asked now!

Definitely include everything. i think these school like to know that you have a history and you never know it might swing it if there are 2 pupils in competition for one place. It show loalty to the school and an understanding of its ethos.

I thought it meant - did you attend the school, or teach at it, or does the applicant have siblings here?

If it's a school that's hard to get into and you need an edge I'd put down everything you can think of. Ime private schools love all the alumni connections and it certainly can't do any harm.

I'd put in your historic connections. At my children's school, as has been mentioned, they make a big deal of keeping families in the same houses down the generations. They refer to Former Pupils and Former Parents quite often in the school magazine. Schools love family loyalty- PLU and all that. Go for it.

This is on our schools form , just put down any connections ,family members who have been at school etc .

Bung it down.

It may affect which House or similar. It won't affect admissions I would think (or only as a tie-breaker!), or only in sense that school may think you more likely ao accept place if offered, which could alter the total number of places they offer.

I think they ask to get a sense of who is applying and why - presumably they wants a healthy mixture of old hands who know the school and new blood to keep things fresh. If the applications stats don't reflect that, they can change their approach.

Do not worry about this. Just put the bald facts briefly and make sure the form goes in in time with all the bits and bobs needed.

Put it down. When we applied to a school we wrote dd's grandmother, first name, maiden name, was headgirl of this school in 1951. Her experiences of school meant she chose a career in teaching and she taught for most of her adult life at .............................

I said "yes, child's uncle + dates" on the form for one school we've applied to. My brother went there about 600 years ago, and the school certainly didn't need to know it was the unhappiest time of his life plus all teachers there then would be long gone in every possible sense so they couldn't ask anyone if mimble's brother was a fiend and whether this will have been inherited by mimble's child .