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Secondary education

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Original poster

SW London Private and Grammar Schools Waiting Lists (Y7 2023 entry)

359 replies

Limebasilico · 14/02/2023 09:00

Following the private and grammar school exam threads, I am starting this one for those with waiting list places. May be helpful to hear if and when waiting lists begin to move.

We had some offers and some WL places. We have released the offers we are not taking and waiting for a place on the Reeds WL.

Hoping for movement after offer holder days (next week), national schools offer day (1st March) and offer acceptance dates (circa 9/10th March).

OP posts:
NWmum12 · 03/03/2023 18:40

Lurkingbutinterested · 03/03/2023 18:38

Depends on the terms of the offer. Please don’t assume anything as the schools all differ!

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I understood. Thank you

Yarnie · 03/03/2023 18:45

NWmum12 · 03/03/2023 18:37

I see. It depends on T&C. Thank you for your help.

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It doesn’t depend on T&Cs. It’s governed by legislation and the Distance Selling Regulations. T&Cs are relevant, though. They need to tell you that you can cancel up to 14 days after accepting (if it’s a distance contract). If they don’t, I believe you can cancel at any time in the next 12 months.

NWmum12 · 03/03/2023 18:49

Yarnie · 03/03/2023 18:45

It doesn’t depend on T&Cs. It’s governed by legislation and the Distance Selling Regulations. T&Cs are relevant, though. They need to tell you that you can cancel up to 14 days after accepting (if it’s a distance contract). If they don’t, I believe you can cancel at any time in the next 12 months.

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I must be confused.. Thank you. I need to read the contract carefully.

Tolacar · 03/03/2023 18:58

Yes some schools offer a 14 day cooling off period and it will be in the contract but only at distance (email, post) so not going into the school and handing forms and cheque over (no face to face). Not all offer this and I would check your contracts.

Original poster
Limebasilico · 03/03/2023 19:11

Offers are being made from the Ibstock WL?

OP posts:
QuiteAJourney · 03/03/2023 19:16

Limebasilico · 03/03/2023 19:11

Offers are being made from the Ibstock WL?

I think so. It would not surprise me if they are in trouble - we know of at least 6 kids in my DD's prep with an offer, none of them has taken it.

Groundhogday2021 · 03/03/2023 19:21

QuiteAJourney
Our prep school always had lots of offers (in the teens) each year for Ibstock and only 2 or 3 ever took them. I don’t think the school see that as being ‘in trouble’ as they expect it. It is a reflection of parents using it as a back up school and the school know that so they always go to WL.

QuiteAJourney · 03/03/2023 19:30

@Groundhogday2021 Similar story on at our school historically, ratio is usually 1 offer taken per 4-5 offers made (with fluctuation depending on the year). Difference this year is that they seem to have taken less kids to round 2 and that the only ones that have had offers are those that had it as a fallback (in some case, together with others).

By being 'in trouble' I mean that the combination of getting a higher percentage of rejections than above and having a deadline after most people have settled means that it is more difficult to forecast and increase the risk of not being as full as they expect ... which would explain the direct engagement by HM on a Friday evening for a school that has been quite aloof during the whole process.

PS It has not helped that people got offers with the wrong names on it, or that the comments in the offer letters seems to be identikit... Quite sad, as we really liked IPS and it was one of our favourites at the start of this process.

Groundhogday2021 · 03/03/2023 19:36

I seem to remember a friend told me that the Head (and previous HM) has always made a personal telephone call to offer to waitlist candidates tbh.
it’s a pity they haven’t got it right but I have friends there that love it and it’s a good fit for lots of kids. I hope everyone looking for a place there off the WL are successful.

Original poster
Limebasilico · 03/03/2023 19:43

We know of a few families that were invited back to second round but then received a flat no. No waiting list.

OP posts:
QuiteAJourney · 03/03/2023 19:43

@Groundhogday2021 I agree that it is a good fit for lots of kids and it has many things going for it (as mentioned above, it was a favourite of us for a long time)... that is why I find quite sad that they seem to have got quite a few things wrong with the admissions process.

Groundhogday2021 · 03/03/2023 19:45

I think you should def feed this back to them then QuiteAJourney. 👍

QuiteAJourney · 03/03/2023 19:49

Groundhogday2021 · 03/03/2023 19:45

I think you should def feed this back to them then QuiteAJourney. 👍

We have done via the Head of 11+ at our prep, as have quite a few other families (including two families for which the offer letter had a completely different name for their child).

Londonsummer · 03/03/2023 20:52

I also think Ibstock ran the worst exam / interview experience this year. As covered in this thread previously, first stage computerised exam was unnecessarily harsh on the children (my DC who ended up getting an academic scholarship offer from Ibstcok was almost in tears coming out), group activities were not considered that interesting by children and they did not do one-on-one interviews (huge missed opportunity again). No wonder there wasn't much enthusiasm left in the end for poeple who started outnl quite positive...

I agree with comments that Ibstock is a fantastic school, badly let down by their admissions process this year. I am not sure how open go feedback they are though - when we turned down other offers, each school politely asked which school we chose instead (which we were happy to inform) with the exception of Ibstock. Again, another missed opportunity for them to get insight into their offer pool and try and do something different next year.

Daydreamscometrue · 03/03/2023 20:58

@Londonsummer amazing achievement on the academic scholarship front considering the exam process at Ibstock. What school did you go for in the end?

Londonsummer · 03/03/2023 21:20

Thank you. I appreciate this is a waitlist thread and wish the very best of luck to everyone... we were lucky enough to have multiple offers and chose Emanuel after turning down Ibstock and LU.

Daydreamscometrue · 03/03/2023 21:32

Emanuel is a lovely school. Their admissions process was definitely one of the best. I'm not surprised they've been successful in filling their places.

Stopsnowing · 03/03/2023 22:12

A smooth and kind admissions process makes such a difference even if a child doesn’t get in.

momomamiko · 03/03/2023 22:20

Daydreamscometrue · 03/03/2023 21:32

Emanuel is a lovely school. Their admissions process was definitely one of the best. I'm not surprised they've been successful in filling their places.

Fully agree - my DC found it difficult to release Emanuel offer, saying "it is like letting down a friend". Shows what a great job they did connecting to the kids.

SamPoodle123 · 03/03/2023 22:27

Daydreamscometrue · 03/03/2023 21:32

Emanuel is a lovely school. Their admissions process was definitely one of the best. I'm not surprised they've been successful in filling their places.

Yes, I agree. They were amazing throughout.

Daydreamscometrue · 03/03/2023 22:33

@momomamiko yes it was an email that I didn't enjoy sending. They sent a lovely, thoughtful reply back.

Wishingitwasover · 03/03/2023 23:13

Sounds as if most of you on this chat have accepted schools that you want and are not waiting for WL’s to move? I wish everyone else who is still waiting for their preferred school all the best of luck. It is truly a brutal experience to be on WL but it all works out for a reason.

for what it’s worth, schools that have a great admission process don’t always deliver on the day to day and vice verse. Don’t always be fooled by a great marketing team! All of the schools mentioned on this thread are great and you are all lucky to have that choice. At the end of the day, children will do the same at GCSE and A level at any of these schools.

momomamiko · 03/03/2023 23:16

Daydreamscometrue · 03/03/2023 22:33

@momomamiko yes it was an email that I didn't enjoy sending. They sent a lovely, thoughtful reply back.

I wonder if any of these schools send a survey once the dust settles to seek feedback.

I have much to say about IPS, UCS and LU (despite LU being our ultimate pick) in the red zone and praise to share for Emanuel and KCS in terms of how they managed the process/comms etc..

momomamiko · 03/03/2023 23:20

Wishingitwasover · 03/03/2023 23:13

Sounds as if most of you on this chat have accepted schools that you want and are not waiting for WL’s to move? I wish everyone else who is still waiting for their preferred school all the best of luck. It is truly a brutal experience to be on WL but it all works out for a reason.

for what it’s worth, schools that have a great admission process don’t always deliver on the day to day and vice verse. Don’t always be fooled by a great marketing team! All of the schools mentioned on this thread are great and you are all lucky to have that choice. At the end of the day, children will do the same at GCSE and A level at any of these schools.

Yes - the reason why we picked LU despite weak admissions/exam day/comms performance and had to release Emanuel despite a good connection.

Re the same GCSES point - well the exams are the same but the faculty, peers, guidance, fit, overall experience imho do make a vast difference.

Shiningsun · 04/03/2023 16:57

Did anyone hear from G&L today regarding wait list movement?