Are Independent school waiting lists moving at all...?

[ticking]

Mostly curious (based in surrey/west London area), we have our place and are happy with it, but was wondering are people dropping their places due to money issues, or whether they are hanging on to them?

It seems to have been a particularly tough year to get into certain schools, and I'm just curious if after all people are hanging on to places or ditching them for the state sector with all the financial uncertainty?

Haven't heard of anyone not taking up their independent school place. Anyone?

We are not ditching the state school place yet

Suspect there will be a flurry of places coming available in both at the end of the summer

I was wondering the same thing but have heard parents may be holding out until the last minute to make a decision whilst already having a place at both a private and a state school (despite fees for September being payable).

I know a few people who have state and private offers and are holding both till they see what happens - some got surprise places at state schools they didn't think they'd get into and are hoping to go and have a look round before they make a decision.

Interesting, so in a bit of a "do nothing" phase at the moment then?

SW London here- most people I know had already rejected their state place pre COVID if they were going to an independent school and are sticking with their choice. Haven’t heard of any wait list moving other than grammar schools ( we got a WL place). Bit of a bubble round here though- everyone seems to be working very hard from home and not overly worried about jobs- v lucky.

Sounds like heads in the sand. Businesses need workers now to make sure things are ready for when things get back to normal. The next few years will be very very different

Maybe, maybe not- every family has different financial situations and will make a judgement call. Just pointing out that I haven’t heard of any lists moving.

I would suggest families who have more than one child in the independent school system and rely only on monthly salaries to pay the fees (ie don't have savings, lots of equity in their homes, inheritance or big city bonuses, for example) may run into problems over the next few years.

Over on the elevenplusforum there are people giving up independent places in favour of a grammar option.

People always weigh up the likes of Tiffin etc against Independent schools but many SW London families won't be giving up Independent places in favour of the local comprehensive- it just wouldn't occur to them. There simply wouldn't be enough places anyway- will be interesting to see what happens.

PettsWoodParadise interesting. Which thread?

An example here, hope posting the link is ok MNHQ! www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum/11plus/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=60348&start=20.

It doesn't work. Are you able to state which location and thread? Thank you!

It's St Olaves in the Bexley thread.

Yes, thanks @sw199999

Thank you. I would not be surprised if there weren't more families thinking like this

We've just given up a St. Olave's place 3 weeks ago. I had wanted to hold on to it for longer, but DH said no. We have a scholarship at an independent sch, for which DS will be unable to attend without the scholarship. Due to the COVID -19 situation and it's impact on independent schools, I was really weary letting go of the Olave's place just in case the independent struggles financially and is unable to honour the scholarship (I know this is unlikely), but DS insisted another family will be happy with the waiting list space which I agree it. If we were paying for the independent, I would certainly have insisted on holding on to Olave's for longer.

What a fortunate position for you to be in Iamgrateful. Your DC must be very clever to get a scholarship. What a relief.

Sorry I meant iamthankful.

3 friends in Surrey all accepted their independent place at an all girls school and refused their state place, quite early.

I'm surprised to hear on this thread of so many not turning down their state place.

That's not good. Two of my friends are on state waiting lists and would have wished to be notified by now.

Similar situation to @iamthankful. Scholarship at an independent and a good grammar place too. But we are keeping both options open, as it’s far too uncertain for us at the moment. Whilst the scholarship is a generous percentage, it will still be a substantial outlay. We would never have done this otherwise, and I know other parents who are keeping state options open too. I think any movement will be later on in the process.

@iamthankful - my DH also didn't want to hold onto a grammar and independent place so we let the grammar go. I was tempted to keep them both but realistically I know that in (less than) 4 months when we would have had to made a final decision we probably wouldn't know much more about what's likely to happen in the future job wise than we do now.
I'm also keen for my Y6 DC to know where they are definitely (virtually or otherwise...) going in September- there's enough uncertainty with everything else as it is.

Thanks all for the insight - I we more curious as it had seemed like a really "big" year for school places (any comments on that??) - Lots of kids at the Prep didn't get places at senior schools they were expected to as numbers very high.

It was my thought that people were still going ahead - not too worried about the money (which is good!!)

I posted as I'm worried about my business, and wondering if there is still money out there, and private school type parents are our perfect customer!

Even with no (current) income, I have plenty of backup for school fees as long as the recession isn't too long or deep.

Schools are a good indication!

ticking that's good you have back up for fees. There will always be families with plenty of money in London and the surrounding areas but things will certainly get harder for the next few years. Taxes are bound to rise, house prices will fall and pensions will go down in value, meaning families will cut back on the non essentials.