Should DD write a personal hand written letter to school she really wants but is on waiting list?

[Amsr]

DD is on the waiting list for the school she really wants to go to (Alleyn's). I have already written to the school telling them that it's her first choice. A friend has suggested that DD should hand write a letter to the headmaster herself. Just wondered what people's opinions on this are and if so, what should she write?

I know from New York friends that the private school entrance system
that and having your parents, grandparents and great grandparents among the alumni who cough up each year

thank goodness the UK has not yet come to the
"how much tax do your grandparents want to forego to get you a place"
that is common in US private schools and colleges

with one of my grandfathers, his college were peeved not to get a bequest
FFS I got no money, why should they have done?

Oh yes - had forgotten the "legacy" side of NYC admissions.

It's another world.

I suppose that it might be suggested that coming from a long line of old boys in uk may sway admissions. I think I've probably fallen for good PR but I don't get the impression it's like that any more, or maybe not to the same degree. Or maybe it's closeted and secret rather than being out in the open. I dunno.

I used to go out with Alleyns boys.
THe posts are NOT super mean.

Oh God, please don't.

I applied to Westminster when I was 15 for the sixth form and didn't get in. I was at a very academic girls' school in Manchester and honestly thought I was a dead cert. I'd got through the entrance exams okay, but I fell apart in the interviews because I was an awkward country mouse in a room full of slick city kids.

I begged. FFS I quoted poetry. They must have laughed and laughed. Of course they were right to reject me, I was an awkward country mouse, moving to London on my own aged 16 would have crushed me. Twenty years later still flush with shame at my indignation.

It did me no harm and I got into THAT university that all OWs go to anyway .

No don't do it. Don't put that pressure on your dd to "persuade " them, she's done all she can. Now it's a waiting game. I hope she/you can be positive about your other options.

Yes getting her to write a letter is over-the-top - relax a bit you must have other options if this one doesn't come off? Why so dead set on this school? And wouldn't you prefer to send her to a school which has chosen her rather than putting her on a wait list? It maybe that she will be happier and do better there ... Best of luck to you and your dd anyway

How neat is her handwriting? A letter from DD, then or even now, would have guaranteed she did not get a place.

More seriously an email from.you saying you are still very interested with a brief explanation of why your DD and the school would be a good fit, ideally showing appreciation of the school's strengths. A phone call a day or so after deadline day asking if there is any movement and where you stand. Then perhaps if you are really prepared to go the distance and lose a deposit or a terms fees at another school a letter/email telling them this.

After that follow up every couple of weeks or so confirming this especially towards the end of the Easter holidays when people sitting on the fence (or on a good state school offer) might withdraw. The registrar will want to keep one or two candidates in reserve and should give you some indication of where things stand.

They have already decided your daughter is of the right standard. They just don't have enough places. It is now about the numbers.

If your child is at a school that regularly feeds into Alleyns you might ask them to lobby but with Alleyns in particular they are likely to say it is a numbers problem and there wont be much they can do.

I don't think it will make any difference whatsoever except your dd could end up feeling doubly rejected. Because she's written a lovely letter, taken a lot of time and effort over it, and still didn't get in. That could be extra hurtful.

I don't think you need any more advice not to do this, OP, so I'm not going to repeat what others have said ^^.

Waiting lists apparently do move after 5 March, so I wish you luck, but in the meantime do you have an offer from another school that you can try to discuss with your daughter so that she gets more enthusiastic about it/ less disappointed by the lack of an Alleyn's place?

You wrote to the school telling them this was your first choice yours and many others I would have thought. Why did you think this would meet the entrance criteria?
You want your dd to write to the head
Again where did you get the idea that this meets the entrance criteria?
For what its worth I have no idea of the entrance criteria, ds1 was wait list for his first choice grammar so I understand the feelings but this would not have helped him. We bigged up his second choice. He also had documented evidence that he was not performing well on the day( death of gp 2days before the test) had this not happened I think he would have aced it
Unfortunately wait list means you wait and it is hard. There is little else you can do for now. helps.

Drummergirl she is talking about a private school. Entrance criteria are opaque at best. Alleyns, in particular, is horribly over-subscribed and they effectively take who they want.

Oh, and if that makes your DD feel better about the waitlist, Alleyn's has a very strong siblings policy. this year 60 applied, 40 got offers and criteria for therm are lower (you could be 430-450 in exam and still make it) so reassure your DD that she did very, very well, there are things beyond your control and certain idiosyncrasies like sibling policy and just wait and follow the advice that has already been given, so won't repeat.

yikes...no...they would know you had put her up to it ...if your DD is at prep school, it should be for your head to lobby moving off the waiting list and get an insight as to when the list will move and your DD's position.

So no criteria then. Now I understand why you might think that this is a good idea.
Glad it wasn't something I had to worry about.
Have and

Can I be nosy and ask how you know about the siblings numbers, irisha?

I know someone who did this to a highly selective girls London day school a couple of years ago....and shockingly...she was offered a place! Don't know how. Money not involved. Just head saw something she liked I guess but it was a massive gamble.