Second choice Indie school wants acceptance before first choice has made offer. Help?

[TheWomanOnTheBus]

11+ for indies. School A is our preferred school. School B is our second choice. Ever the optomist - we hope our DC will get offers from both.

School A tests first but interviews second.

But School B will test, interview and make an offer within about 2 weeks and certainly before School A has interviewed (and of course before an offer comes).

School B publish that they give one week to accept the offer (with one terms money). But that week will have expired before School A has made an offer . Clearly we can ask School A to speed it up (and I imagine if DC is a dead cert following the intereview they would be happy to do that).

However, how would a school in School B's position normally react to a request of "we need another 2 weeks to make up our minds?" Of course, DC would have been super keen and led them to believe in the interview that was his first choice . And it is not that consistent to then fess up to preferring something else and would they mind waiting.

How have others handled this issue.

Just thinking ahead to a few weeks time.

The schools will known about the other dates, and will set their deliberately. Some schools offer together (there is a distinct overlap for eg south London schools) so parents make the one choice they really want in the light of all offers they receive (and I always suspected that lists settle faster when this is done). They have so many candidates that all the schools can be sure they will all fill all their places.

But others, like yours, don't; and it won't be an oversight. They want the school filled with pupils whose families really want them to be there, and may be concerned about places being unfilled if they cannot make a second round of offers promptly.

It's always worth asking, but be prepared that the answer may be a straight 'no' or a move onto a waiting list.

A week to accept? And is that before state schools offers March 1st? I don't think any private school should be allowed to set a deadline and make parents pay fees before March 1st, frankly. But if that's the case, it may be that you have to ask school A to speed things up given the circumstances...?

Can you be 'out of the country'?

Loops, do you want to be my lawyer?

Thank you, all.
Actually a little error in my OP. Its in fact 10+ (hence, perhaps, the lack of deliberate coordination between the school and certainly no need to worry about state offer day)...
Being "out of the country" sounds like a plan ..... or some other like excuse.

I think you need to be frank with the school that has given you the offer, and tell them you either need to have more time or decline. They will understand, although may withdraw the offer and go to their waiting list.

Do you know how oversubscribed this school is?