can I confirm and pay deposit for conditional on CE place in three secondary schools?

[mikulkin]

My DS (in Y7 currently) got conditional on CE place in day school but now we are also looking at boarding schools. We are very late with applications for boarding schools. One of them confirmed place for us (not our first choice) and the other one (first choice) will only be able to answer in October.
We haven't really decided whether he will go to day or boarding school (it would depend on our personal circumstances). It seems like we will need to pay deposit to day school, the second choice boarding school and if he gets through to our first choice boarding school. It is a lot of money, but I don't really have choice - I want to make sure he has a place in boarding school in case our circumstances change.
Is that allowed to pay deposits to several schools? I know we have to pick one school for sitting Common Entrance but can I pay deposits to three schools and then withdraw the place before CE?

I'm sure you can pay for as many as you like but really it isn't sensible to have more than 1 or 2 and even then you need to nominate only one to mark the papers. Also be careful of giving due notice of not taking up a place or you could end up paying a term's fees too. Are the prep school not giving you any guidance ?

Thank you! I didn't think of term's fees! I haven't checked with our prep school yet - I am a little bit lost now but you are right I should check up with them! We were planning for day school and the whole boarding school issue came up just a month ago and now I am stressed because we are too late to get into a good school and my DS is quite academically strong.

We paid for two schools, one boarding & one a day place. We had to nominate which school we would like to mark the papers shortly before & as DS really loved the ethos of the boarding school, that was the one we/he chose.

Pay as many deposits as you want OP & hedge your bets on places as who knows what your child will feel more comfortable with when the time comes. Hope that helps.

Its fine to pay the registration fee for as many schools as you like but a deposit is usually tied to a contract - and usually (not always) leaves you liable to pay the first terms fees - subject to a terms notice. If you are looking at Spet this year entry - you will have missed the 1 terms notice already and most likely be committed to pay the Autumn terms fees. If its Sept 14 entry you are looking at then you may be OK but read very very carefully the small print and make sure you give adequate notice.

My DC sat CE in the June prior to the September they started at their new school. Scholarships were sat in the Jan or Feb. So bear in mind if CE is being sat in June and you are waiting for results to decide - you will not have a whole term to give notice.

That was a bit gobbledegook - but hope you got the gust of that.

Your prep school will need to make the CE entries by the middle of the Lent term. The senior schools then get to see which children are registered for them and compare to their lists. You need to have made up your mind on one final senior school therefore by the middle of the Lent term. The ISEB reserves the right to charge a £50 amendment fee if you change your mind after the CE entries have been made online by the prep school exam officer.

This will also be the school that the CE Papers get sent to, a senior school will not be cooperative about sharing papers/results with another, especially as they may have wildly different grade boundaries!

Thanks to all for the help! We are looking at Sep 14 entry so we still have time to give 1 terms notice but I will be very carefull with reading the small print!
We will make up our mind by Lent term next academic year which school will check his CE so we should be fine hopefully.
We are just hoping for our first choice boarding school and won't know if we got in before November (since he is late applicant and will be considered separately)
Thanks again!