Belmont Mill Hill - sports scholarship

[cantstopstressing]

Has anyone been through the application process for the above? DS sat the exam there in November and we got an email last week saying he has been shortlisted for a sports scholarship trial at the end of February. The email sounded very positive and we thought this meant he had an offer but there is one line in the email which then says, please note that in order to attend the trial, your child will need to receive an offer or be on the waiting list on 12 February (date offers come out).

Seems a bit of an odd and mean approach especially as we know they have the exam results as DS's friend has been called from an academic interview based on the results. Why would they not check the exam results before sending out the scholarship emails? Just seems pointless telling us know that he COULD be in line for a scholarship IF he gets through the exam.

We also received the sports scholarship email and just presumed they sent one to everyone who applied. It's quite clear that it doesn't affect anything and offers will be made on the 12th February.

I know offers will be made on 12th February. That wasn't my point. My point was that they obviously have the results from the entrance exam, references etc now when they sent out the emails which seems a bit mean and misleading given that some of the kids they have emailed may not get through the exam. Why not just wait until 12th Feb and make the offer and then send the invites to the sports trial? What do they gain by sending the emails now other than to let those who don't get through that they've not only not got through the exam but if they had they would have had a chance of a scholarship.

Also, the email says we are pleased to tell you you've been shortlisted for a sports trial, we look forward to seeing you on 28th Feb etc so I assumed, stupidly, that DS was on the short list and that the email wasn't sent to all applicants.

Glad you are so blase about the process

Why not just say, Thank you for your application for a sports scholarship. If you are successful in obtaining a place on 12 Feb we will also let you know if you have been shortlisted for a scholarship trial.

Having been through a similar (music) process with DD, I agree with you it can get your hopes up. I do think that depending on the school and your DC's level of expertise, your performance can impact the admissions outcome.

Unfortunately the performance will be irrelevant, as the offer decision will have already been made.

I agree that the email wasn’t necessary, I think they just wanted to keep to the stated dates.

Northlondondad, did you get an offer? We got 2nd waiting list. Trying to get a feel for what that means. I know quite a few kids on waiting list who got offers but I can't recall if they were on waiting list 1 or 2. At least he gets to do the sports trial though, assuming it's going ahead!

We got WL3, so not great news, especially as Belmont is our only option.

Apparently they had a record number of applicants. Same old story. Do you have a state alternative northlondondad?

State school option is TTA, which whilst it has improved a lot, I personally hate it. The facilities are terrible and on a group tour with the head he didn't even mention sport.

what is TTA?

The Totteridge Academy, previously Ravenscroft. What about your options?

Have you considered other independent schools in the area which may have places left? I heard Mount House have a list for those who want to consider a late application.
Have you considered the Ark in the old Barnet football grounds?

NorthLondondad, our options are either Highgate Wood or Islington Arts & Media. Are you at all hopeful about the Belmont waiting list? I am in two minds. The FAQs gave me some hope but in reality a lot of kids will need to decline for us to be anywhere near the running.

cantstopstressing. I think you have a lot more hope via the waitlist than we do, I think you'll have a better idea in a weeks time when they revise the list and rank the children. I have no experience or knowledge of anyone who's been waitlisted in previous years, so have no idea how much movement normally occurs.