Decisions!

[inthename]

Ok, so finally getting through the minefield of independent senior schools when you need a bursary and need to make a decision.

One school has made an offer, the other 2 ask for entrance exams before Common Entrance and before giving any indication of what they would be able to offer.

The one schools fees are inbetween the other 2 (so higher than one and lower than the other) but require acceptance before the other 2's entrance exams!

Those of you in the know, does paying the deposit commit you to taking the place or is there still time to change your mind (admittedly assume you would lose deposit but does paying that commit you to first terms fees or something?)

So, would you go with the 'definite offer" or try to kerp options open for as long as possible?
This is for entry in 2015, so is it a standard thing for common entrance schools to be thinking about deposits round about now?

inthename paying a deposit does not bind you to paying a term's fees if you are more than a term away from the start date. It does n't seem abnormal for schools to ask for a deposit for a conditional offer but you remain free to change your mind (but losing the deposit) until you select a school for marking the CE, usually by Easter 2015. If there is a problem with the CE and you go for an alternative, the deposit is usually returned.

Yes, registration fee/deposits about now would be normal . As long as you make a decision a term ahead (which you would have to for CE) you won't have to pay a term's fees in lieu but may forfeit some or all of deposit as a registration and/or admin fee. It is not uncommon to hold more than one school place option until early year 8.

Generally you loose all the registration fee/deposit, that's the standard practice (to discourage parents from paying three or four deposits and hanging on to lots of places), you have an exceptionally good reason to turn the place down normally a letter from the head saying your DC is not suitable for the school i,e won't pass CE. the only thing is as you're waiting to hear about bursary offers from others, so in a slightly different situation, can negotiate something in advance?