A little confused about indie schools' acceptance/rejection process (surrey)

[papalazaru]

My DS will finish his exams for indie entrance in a few days and hopefully (with good luck, following wind, four leaf clover, black cat crossing rd etc) he might get an interview at a few of them. After that does anyone know what the process/ timescale for offers would be? Is it true there is a 'pecking order' with the more academic making their offers first? And where does it all fit in with the state schools' offer dates? And when does one usually need to have accepted the offer?
I am clueless because we are currently expats and have been out of the uk system for 9 years.
Thanks!

This what I know: in London, indies will make offers around Feb 14th. State schools make offers March 1st. Indies set a deadline: March 4th to accept and pay a deposit.

So that gives you three days after hearing from state to decide between state and private...IYKWIM

OP, I would be wary of schools that do not publish timescales. It is a really important part of the process, and in many areas schools come to an agreement about offer day. It is usually all set out very, very clearly and run very efficiently to those deadlines.

Depends where in Surrey. Most offers around us came out over half term last year with decision to be confirmed shortly after 1st March state school place allocations. In fact I think there is a general agreement among most to cooperate timewise but not in all areas.

My opinion is that there is a pecking order, with the most popular schools having the earliest exams. They will make their offer within a couple of weeks and expect you to accept within a further couple of weeks.

The non-selective schools will have their acceptance dates shortly after the state school allocation day.

You can accept a state school place and then not take it up, withdraw later on, so don't worry about that!

If a school is a member of HMC, very likely it will belong to a local area group of HMC schools.

The group will set a common day for posting the results letters. They may also tell each other who gets an offer, so people cannot old on to several places.

The schools also normally publicise the dates on their website or on the information paperwork as in surrey as far as I can make out they mention belonging to a partucular group who all release their results on the same day.

If you could name the schools in question it should be possible to give some info.

Thanks all for your replies. I've also got some more info from looking at the schools' calendars online. I'm interested in KGS, Hampton, Reeds and Radnor House..... But after helping DS with some of his maths homework tonight I think I'm about to give up hope that he'll get into any!! Where's the gin......?

what school year is he in currently, and what year is he applying for?

He's applying for 11+ entry in 2013.

Hampton is part of the indie group (including Latymer, Emanuel and a lot of the girls' schools) that issues offer letters on 14th February and you are asked to accept after the state school date of 1st March. All the boys sitting Hampton were given a blue booklet at the end of the exam to give to parents explaining exactly what the procedure was following the exam.

Because he's sitting his exams overseas we didn't get any pamphlets sent through to our school. I think I've got a good idea of what to expect now - thanks.

Sorry - missed the expat bit! Good luck with it all. I'll certainly be glad when it's all over!

Acceptance/rejection process? I thought they accepted any child who had parent/s daft enough to pay the extortionate fees.

you obviously don't know very much about them then.

They certainly know all they need to know abut the likes of you Joan

Ok ladies - that's enough. You wanna trade smack talk then take it elsewhere. Don't hijack my GENUINE question.

Papa, we're sitting some of the same exams and most info has said offers will go out mid Feb with a deadline of 4th March for acceptances.

Thanks racingheart. Like I said I have given up hope in the academic ones!! As we haven't actually visited these schools (cos we are overseas) can you give me the skinny on them?? PM me if you like. Thx.

Timetables for those abroad may differ, presumably you are still looking for a day place though ?

LIZS - true. It might be different for us. We are looking for day places as we will be back in the UK by the summer.

Papa, this is just one person's observations of them. I only know two of the schools quite well.

KGS - co-ed, inner city. For some reason it didn't feel right to us, so we didn't look at it. (It's right in the middle of a pretty grubby ring road in inner Kingston whereas the others I've visited are all down leafy lanes or spread out on huge grounds.) Heard lots of mixed reports, including that it's more suited to girls than boys. Everyone says the Head is good.

Hampton - facilities to die for. They seem to invest lots of their income back into the school (new theatre, new sports facilities.) Massive school. Very strong extra-curricular stuff going on. Also seems to be strong on all subjects - great arts, sports and sciences, so suits all different tastes. New Head is ex-deputy. Feels more public school-y to me than the others. Head of Academics told me it reminds him of Eton where he used to work. I admire it tremendously rather than warm to it - there's something about it that makes me feel a boy has to toughen up a bit to thrive there. (Not criticising - DS has sat for it and would be really glad to be offered a place.)

Reeds. Great school. Only 800 pupils, so class sizes are smaller than Hampton, and it has a cosy, friendly feel to it. Less academic but still gets good results. Very strong pastoral care and superb facilities - sports fields and swimming pool on site. Great at getting all boys involved in sport of some sort. Much more expensive but also includes more in the fees. It's set down a leafy lane and feels like a safe haven from the big bad world, which may or may not be a positive. Has an outrageously wonderful new design and technology suite which had DS slavering like a dog. Mixed boarding and day. Head's retiring soon which is a shame as I think he's brilliant.

Both Hampton and Reeds look like they'd be incredibly good fun to be at, and friends with boys at both schools are very enthusiastic. Don't know enough about the others to judge.

Radnor House - never seen this one. It's new and small. Run as a business not charitable status. Friends with a DS there are happy with it.

I spoke to KGS. They seemed quite accommodating of my son's needs, which is always a good sign.

Hampton felt slightly large/intimidating, but strong sen dept here, albeit all extras charged at £40 per lesson or some such. Big extras bill each term I understand. Academically everyone seems to get a*s. Is this done without shenanigans? Have no idea. Impressive facilities, good bus network.

Reeds, for boys who didn't get into a more selective school. Very understanding pastorally. Science seemed good, maths not so great. Will get the brightest into Oxbridge, but they won't have much company at the school. Naicer than Hampton.

Radnor, no idea but a bit suspicious of the boys who would end up at a brand new school needing new pupils.

Hi DD1 did exams overseas and ended up not a million miles from Hampton. All these schools understand and value expat kids.

Know boys who went through KGS and Hampton. Hampton by no means all A* s . It's a big intake, six form entry by year 9? And quite mixed but they do a good job of supporting both ends of ability / motivation spectrum. More importantly the boys love the school. The last Head was impressive. The link with LEH works well, friendship groups end up mixed by sixth form, lots of interaction through drama music etc.

KGS also loved by it's pupils. Very good at focusing on individual potential. New head is young and switched on. On the up.

Radnor, as discussed a business, bankers rather than parents as governors but parents very happy so far, it seems to be really focused on pupils. You can see head/ deputy saying goodbye to everyone at door at end of day.

Reeds , pupils seem to like it but definitely not the most academic of schools around here.