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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Has anyone been offered an independent school place after rejection letter?

35 replies

Eighthour · 07/02/2023 13:00

Have heard of one instance of this happening before, surprisingly with a very academic school.

Our son has had no offers (and we are unlikely to get a nearby state school on 1st March) so I'm weighing up whether I should continue to call around Admissions Departments or am I wasting everyone's time?

They have Waiting List to offer before they even consider offering further down the list.

The feedback I've had so far is that he has a spiky profile with brilliant results interviews and NVR but English in particular lets him down.

Has anyone had this happen and if so at which schools? We are SW London.

OP posts:
WeCome1 · 07/02/2023 13:02

Do you have a date where people have to accept places by? Ours all have movement after that and offer more places.

Original poster
Eighthour · 07/02/2023 13:06

I think they are majority early March - around the 9th.

State school / grammars will offer 1st March I think.

OP posts:
LIZS · 07/02/2023 13:06

But they will work through a wl first. Those on wl may be suited elsewhere but I doubt they will then go to those they rejected without reassessing. You could ask if there maybe another sitting this year but it would not be before March once deposits are due to confirm places. If the schools also intake at 12/13 they may well just wait to fill any gaps.

2023usernameNew · 07/02/2023 13:06

I known of someone whose son didn’t get any offers either and managed to find him a place at Ewell Castle, I believe they’re very happy.

maybe Hall school in wimbledon will have spaces too.

Original poster
Eighthour · 07/02/2023 13:08

Thanks. There are other schools we can now approach - Portland Place, London Place in Clapham - however I'm interested to know whether anyone has heard of a school making an offer to an applicant they have initially sent a rejection letter to.

OP posts:
WeCome1 · 07/02/2023 13:15

I suppose in theory it’s possible that they totally underestimate the number from the offers and waiting list who go on to want a place, but it would be really rare.

Ilovechoc12 · 07/02/2023 13:34

Op - Which school did you want?

Last year my son got on 2 wait list places - (independent - well known schools - sw) We still haven't had a call 🥲 he went to the back up school - I'm still hoping / praying they might ring one day 🤞

So much competition- it's crazy.

Sorry.

Can your son stay on in prep yr 7/8 at his current school

wigwoowig · 07/02/2023 13:37

We are waiting on one more school; we had one rejection today and I'm waiting for the feedback.

I'm gutted tbh. The local state schools here are dire.

We won't find out about the last school until Friday by post! It's going to be a long wait...

Unsure if there's any point me asking about the likelihood of dc being accepted after waiting lists etc have been filled. It's a very selective school.

Notanotherone2 · 07/02/2023 13:51

Sorry to hear this. I do know if someone rejected from a top girls school and then offered a place in the end but it was about 20 years ago! I think the parents approached the schools she sat and asked for feedback. One school said English fine but maths not and another school the other way round. They then took the feedback to the schools and they accepted her. It might be worth asking for feedback on the weaker areas to see if there’s any discrepancies. Good luck!

Digimoor · 07/02/2023 14:02

I know someone who got a NO but one parent argued or bribed his way into a YES alongside a sports scholarship - quite shocking!

@Eighthour are you coming from state primary or private?

Original poster
Eighthour · 07/02/2023 14:02

Thanks - I won't mention the school name but it's mid tier. Not super academic - sits around the same level at Ibstock or a little higher.

OP posts:
Original poster
Eighthour · 07/02/2023 14:03

Unfortunately we can't stretch to a new library or sports hall!

OP posts:
RedDogBlueDog · 07/02/2023 14:14

This reply has been withdrawn

The OP has privacy concerns and so we've agreed to take this down.

Original poster
Eighthour · 07/02/2023 14:17

We are at a prep that goes to 13+ and I am hoping to speak to the head this week. Where would you say St Johns sits academically - above Ibstock but below Hampton?

OP posts:
LIZS · 07/02/2023 14:22

Has your head not advocated for your ds already? Most prep heads will do so if they feel a child has underperformed or are particularly well suited for a school. Were the ones you applied to and have been rejected by those the school advised?

SamPoodle123 · 07/02/2023 14:26

I would be in touch with admissions and try to find out more about the spikey results....did he make it to the interview round but it was a no in the end? If it was only because of English, could you perhaps argue his case? For example, is English his second language? My dd is stronger in math and less so in English/verbal because she goes to a bilingual school, so is taught completely in a different language half the time. I assume dc coming from families that have one or two other languages might have similar. But schools would not know about this, unless you tell them.

Original poster
Eighthour · 07/02/2023 14:33

No intervention from Head so far. We applied to schools the prep were in agreement with - quite a range academically - a couple were a stretch but worth applying to. I'm not sure we have any grounds for arguing his case

OP posts:
Digimoor · 07/02/2023 14:51

If you are at a prep you need to call the Head - otherwise he/she may assume you are happy to stay and try again at 11+

You are paying for them to call round schools and help solve your problem!

Digimoor · 07/02/2023 14:52

13+ not 11+ - I'm sure you know what I meant!

RedDogBlueDog · 07/02/2023 15:11

This reply has been withdrawn

The OP has privacy concerns and so we've agreed to take this down.

HawaiiWake · 07/02/2023 15:28

Other schools to add to your list - Fulham Senior, Knightsbridge School. They do IGCSE, so your DS can do 13+ or move afterwards for Sixth Form A levels.

You can ask if there are movement on WL but last year there were hardly any.

Nevermindthesquirrels · 07/02/2023 16:17

Your head needs to be helping with this. That's what you're paying for. If he can stay till 13 that at least that's something.

Original poster
Eighthour · 07/02/2023 22:57

The head is speaking to schools and very supportive

OP posts:
Digimoor · 08/02/2023 06:51

Has your head suggested any other schools?
London Park School Clapham is opening on it's new site in 2023
Is Thomas' secondary school in Putney Vale full?

user1465390476 · 08/02/2023 07:01

I’ve no advice about the schools you are talking about but a spiky profile suggests there could be a specific learning difficulty. I would definitely have him tested if you haven’t already.

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