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?

@Homelandisending If you run a business and have been through 2009, and 2012, you do get a store of money for the bad times!!!

I went into private schooling with my eyes open, and made sure I could see it through... I have to say right now with them both being on 18k fees come September and no income whatsoever for this year, I do have to take a deep breath!!!

I read some of the threads about "company owners ripping off the taxpayer by taking dividends" and think - but this is what its for - as a director we get tax breaks, the other side of the coin is right now - no income. I know another business owner who is now in deep dodo, as he's spent all his income AND taken a massive mortgage, and now has no income. My business is at least ticking over (although I estimate I'm losing £250k per month)...he's had to shut down entirely.

ticking you must have a very successful business. Good that you have set aside money for schooling. Hopefully the economy will start to pick up following the phased exit from lockdown. I have two friends who receive dividends. They are really stuck currently, although I understand they will be getting help soon

Any updated news on this, wondering now with news on schools going back if any waiting lists are moving?

Nothing recently. Only hearing of a few receiving offers in April, possibly just before liability for autumn term fees

bakeachocolatecaketoday Are you waiting for one school in particular?

@Homelandisending No - happy with what we have.... there appears to be very little movement,,

Yes very little movement and in the prep sector parents moving from state primary to prep schools since schools reopening in June.

Don't you mean the opposite way round ie moving from private preps to state primaries? 🤔

Don't you mean the opposite way round ie moving from private preps to state primaries?

Probably not (although there will be plenty trying to move that way, due to personal financial circumstances - or their DC's school going bust). Apparently, a fair few with the money available have moved in that direction due to frustration with their state schools not keeping their DC glued to Teams or whatever 5 hours a day in the way that some indies have.

due to frustration with their state schools not keeping their DC glued to Teams or whatever 5 hours a day in the way that some indies have.
That's more than a bit unfair.
I'd say I've been frustrated that my state primary (rated good with many outstanding elements) hasn't been providing my child with an education full stop. 2-4 worksheets a day and 12 weeks before any attempt at personal contact from the school is not good enough. And there is a LOT of room between that and 8 hour zoom calls.

In SW London and Surrey it's state primary to private due to parents frustrated with provision and worrying about their dc falling behind and not ready for 7+ or 11+ entrance exams. I have seen examples in SW London and in the latest free copy of Elmbridge magazine 1 of the Surrey prep schools has this mentioned in an article.

Same around here. Spoke to an independent school head over the weekend, and far from the original anticipation of parents withdrawing places ..they have been inundated with queries from parents wanting to move from state.

Whereas DS's state school is laying on another class as they've been inundated with queries from people not taking up their Y7 private places.

@mimbleandlittlemy , I can see that move happening too. In the prep sector it's parents in secure professions like medicine who were always planning to go private at 7 or 11 moving into the sector earlier. But in Year 6 I can see parents is less secure professions wobbling at the thought of 7 years of fees when they have a secondary state school back up place not yet rejected.

Yes that’s us too. Was a tough decision giving up a ‘top of the table’ grammar place. Precarious times and uncertain futures. But we decided to go for it and feel happy with our decision..so far!

Ditto. I know personally of two families with top indie offers who are probably going take the top state schools they’ve held onto

@Homelandisending really? This would be a £6k plus decision at this stage! Bet they end up at the Inde!

Sorry, bakeschocolatecaketoday, I don't understand. £6k? One family has gone for the grammar

I see, they would lose £6k because of needing to pay autumn fees

I know of two families not taking up prep places

Save £££ over the years and not likely to get back into the grammar or even the outstanding comprehensive if the current situation continues

DS1 (yr 5) is expecting 7 new pupils to join the year in Sept and DD1(yr 2) is expecting 4 new pupils. As far as we know no-one in leaving so its a net influx into independent in our case.

Makes sense what people have been saying about primary. Secondary hit more by Covid maybe?

It will be interesting to see whether overseas borders return. Ours is a day school - so far so good.

Primary, especially pre prep age is different from secondary. It is very limited what young children can learn from online learning but it makes huge difference for secondary children. My oldest is Year 6 and she has been offered full time timetable with lots of live lessons during lockdown.

I know a child who is attending at outstanding state primary and had been offered from also an outstanding state secondary but parents called around private schools after lockdown and found a place for him from September.

On the other hand, my youngest will start pre prep and it seems that a couple of family didn't take places. I totally understand the decision. My youngest's nursery offered online session during lockdown and it was just waste of money.