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Original poster

SW/W London Independent Schools thread part two

629 replies

Chillaxalready · 09/02/2015 20:09

There. I've done it and started one.
1001 messages and counting!

OP posts:
Icimoi · 03/03/2015 21:45

It's been the case for years that Twickenham Academy and its predecessor,Whitton, was one of the main default options for people in the a Richmond area who don't get their first choice school. The council's duty is simply to offer a place, and if all the family's first choices are full then they go for the nearest school with places. It used to be the case that Sheen/RPA was a default option, so it's interesting that it now seems to be popular.

Original poster
Chillaxalready · 03/03/2015 22:35

Wow for WHS indeed and feeling extra relieved for Dd. Though interestingly yesterday confirmed she earned a specialist place at our long-shot, out of borough preferred state school!
I had basically forgotten we'd applied because I truly didn't expect an offer. Was expecting to be wait listed for all our listed preferences and end up with local rubbish comp for which we hadn't even applied.

OP posts:
emptycoffeepot · 03/03/2015 22:55

Wheresthebeach

No. Call first. Then letter. Time to think - albeit limited.

wheresthebeach · 03/03/2015 23:16

Thanks emptycoffeepot. Think it's a long shot, and of course she's now sold on her previous second choice so feel in a complete grey world of indecision.

Never anticipated wait list hell being about 'what to do'...always thought we were clear on our preference.

Argh....

Chocfinger · 04/03/2015 07:11

chillaxalready, brilliant news! Are you decided then?
Wheresthrbeach. Grey fog of indecision has now given me a mammoth head cold. I feel for you!! On top of that another day of making sure my phone is always in my back pocket...and yet fully charged. Ergh. Good luck anyone still hoping for waitlist movement.

zubi007 · 04/03/2015 10:08

Just got off the phone with PHS. List will not move today. It might still but not today. Paid deposit to second choice!!

Twickersm0m · 04/03/2015 10:37

zubi007 - Does PHS believe they have had a sufficient numbers of acceptances to have the WL in deadlock mode? Well done on making a decision... we have until tomorrow and are coming to terms with accepting 2nd choice school too.

DarkBlueEyes · 04/03/2015 10:40

PHS a just rang and offered DD a place so the wait list is moving!!!Smile

wheresthebeach · 04/03/2015 11:12

Congrats Dark! Zub and Twicker we paid yesterday. Just decided I couldn't do with the last minute panic if the phone doesn't ring. Also so undecided now I don't know what to do. If the phone doesn't ring then in one way it makes life easier. DD said she didn't want to wait...I don't know if that's because she thinks second choice is better now or because she couldn't stand the stress any more.

If we do get a call be prepared for agonised 'now what do I do' posts. I'm boring myself now!

SonorousBip · 04/03/2015 11:48

God, its bringing it all back. Huge empathy to those of you waiting on waitlists. When we went through it previously, the waitlist school was first choice, we had an offer at second choice. WL school told us the day before that they were expecting/hoping to phone us the next day and offer, that was their expectation, based on their track record and our DC's very high position on WL. We specifically told them we would have to accept second choice the next day - they said, understood; we will phone. (I'm pretty sure they said - don't accept until you have spoken to us - but I may be wrong about that).

Next day. They didn't phone. We phoned them. They said, erm, no cannot offer at this time, sorry - acceptances are now flooding in and we cannot tell if we can go to WL. I had 2 hours to leg it to second place school to accept offer (fortunately we had filled in all the forms, found chequebook etc) and I wasn't in work as I knew we were gonig to need to accept somewhere.

Interestingly, reception at the second choice school was packed to the rafters with parents handing in acceptance forms, so I can quite see how some schools really don't have an idea of whether they can go to WL till the deadline is passed. I was there for about 45 mins (there was a problem - my fault -with some of our paperwork, which had to be sorted) and there must have been 20-30 people there in that time. If a school genuinely doesn't know if that 25 odd will acccept or not, they clearly aren't going to go to WL till they do know.

Just thought I'd share, in case it helps people see what is possibly going on.

Postscript: Ds happy as a little pig in mud at second choice school. First choice school would, in retrospect, not have been the best choice for him (eg further away/ropey journey - we now know it matters. All boys - obv we knew that, but can really see how DS prefers a co-ed environment - partly from the amount of hair-zjussing currently going on, lol)

wheresthebeach · 04/03/2015 12:11

AnotherNewt - wondering if you heard that acceptances for Emanuel were high from 'horses mouth' source...or playground?

I'm clearly obsessing Smile

zubi007 · 04/03/2015 12:14

Not sure what's going on in PHS.... perhaps has to do with DD position on the WL..
Registrar said list will not move today but likely to move in the next few days / weeks.
At my DD school there were 3 offers and 6 on WL (so WL might be long...)
Anyway, decision made.
Game over! till / if they call....

mertonmama · 04/03/2015 13:20

Dark Blue - did you accept? Congrats either way.

Elibean · 04/03/2015 13:58

SonorousBip, that's a great description of deadline mayhem Grin

I'm also curious to know what the truth of Emanuel's wait list situation is. Not for us (dd already accepted Kew) but for someone else.

DarkBlueEyes · 04/03/2015 14:36

I drove to Surbiton yesterday with my form and cheque. Unfortunately not in a financial position to wave goodbye to £1000 so immediately declined on the phone. Hopefully some other little girl is now very happy because of this!!! Lady on the phone was lovely and said DD had done really, really well, and actually that is the most important thing as she'd felt that it was her best exam - and certainly the only one she actually finished!!! Such a boost for her confidence. She didn't have PHS as a favourite as she felt it was too academic and pressured for her but in fact I know she'd have been happy and successful there.

So feel like crying tears of happiness for my girl, she worked so hard. EnvyEnvyEnvyEnvyEnvy

busygirl70 · 04/03/2015 14:41

SonorousBip, I almost became one of those moms. Luckily I learned to use modern technology, scanning our acceptance and making online transfer, to meet the short deadline after we received the offer off a wl.

DarkBlueEyes · 04/03/2015 14:52

Electronic transfer does not always go through in the time frame they promise, however, as I have learned to my cost. This is why I decided to drive with a cheque (having accepted by email earlier so there could be no doubt).

Not sure if you were intending to be sarcastic or not....

wheresthebeach · 04/03/2015 15:41

That's great that she got the call Dark. Surbiton is a lovely school.

lottiebear69 · 04/03/2015 18:06

Been watching this for a while and know people are watching wait lists. We've accepted emanuel which we're really happy with but were on Ibstock wait list (didn't realise this as thought you had to respond to the letter to go on wait list?) . Anyway had e mail saying Ibstock has filled its places and notgoing to wait list . Thought might help some that are holding off making decisions.

Original poster
Chillaxalready · 04/03/2015 18:53

choc it has really thrown a spanner in the works! The idea of being free from school fees for the rest of her education is hugely appealing. The state is rated 'outstanding' across the board and of course, part of the deal is that her music lessons are paid for, which is basically paying for her to do something she loves! Will definitely be making a visit to see it again (we didn't really expect to be offered a place so didn't even look around on the open evening). I am loth to lose a deposit and term's fees at WHS but this is obviously far less expensive than the 7 years of fees if we stay with WHS.
Problem is WHS is super convenient for home (and we love it!) and the state school is a bit of a journey....

OP posts:
DarkBlueEyes · 04/03/2015 19:37

Heads up to those of you waiting for NHE wait list. I got a phone call today. Not an offer of a place, but sounding me out as they have a couple of offers they are not completely sure of, so there may be a couple of places coming up. She said it would be tomorrow if it did eventuate. BlushBlushBlushBlushBlushBlushBlush

wheresthebeach · 04/03/2015 20:37

Sounding you out? How odd! Funny how some schools are moving and others are shut down. Never heard of no wait list movement but it seems like WHS and Ibstock have no give this year.

Chocfinger · 04/03/2015 22:28

Chillaxalready I don't envy you. We have decided after a torturous few days to go with KGS and give up the great state option. I am really excited one minute and then panicked the next- I feel it's the right choice for DD but I mourn losing the guarantee of those sibling places when every year the numbers seem to go up and up and up. One child at a time I guess, and pity me ladies I don't get a breather this year as DC2 in year 5. Hopefully I will be older and wiser this time around!

dark- after an utterly horrendous January and February it looks like your DD might have a near clean sweep of offers! Well done to her?? and lucky Surbiton!

sonorous, I wonder if my cheque delivery at KGS tomorrow will be similarly packed! dD really relieved to be going coed. DH sad she is not going all girls but it's the right decision for DD. Phewf. What an unexpectedly stressful journey. Found up to and including exams just fine for both DD and I but had not given one thought to the waitlist nightmare and the endless weeks of not knowing the final options - which I suppose we still don't but now confident in what was 2nd choice being a truly happy fit....but will always wish it wasn't on that awful roundabout!!!!!

emptycoffeepot · 04/03/2015 23:17

Dropping in deposit tomorrow for DS offer at KGS. Will be letting a Hampton place go. Good luck all.

ealingwestmum · 04/03/2015 23:19

Well done choc, go deliver that cheque tomorrow and then celebrate with your DD.

And to all of you for getting through this, hope those of you still waiting for that special phone call or face that last minute decision, good luck with it all!