Independent school waiting list

[Imstillsitting]

We are on a waiting list for a bursary at an independent secondary school. Does anybody know when admissions teams let parents know if their child has been successful in moving from the waiting list to an actual place? (FYI we know we are not entitled to a place, I’m just asking out of interest. I have been in touch with the admissions people at the school, I’m just asking for other peoples’ experiences.)

For 16+ I expect it to be either during the Easter holidays or beginning of Summer Term, the reason being they will have then received the one term's notice from pupils who are not staying there for Sixth Form.

For lower years it can be up to or even after the start of the Michaelmas Term. ( this happened to a friend - they got a phone call 3 weeks before term started and thankfully before they had bought uniform).

One of the schools my DD applied to for 16+ has her on a waiting list and I am expecting them to contact her in the Easter hols. Although I think she has now changed her mind about going there!

Thank you - that’s really helpful. It’s for an 11+ place so I will just sit tight in the meantime.

Does that mean a waiting list separate for people needing bursaries? So someone who they have offered a bursary to, needs to decline their place?

Yes, exactly that

Have you gotten a response from the school? we are the same, he got a place on the waiting list for s1 at an independent school, we also applied for a scholarship, every day that passes I see it more impossible

I think it will depend on the level of support generally offered by the school in question. Some schools offer a few high value bursaries so the likelihood of them being turned down is slim.

Did you manage to secure a bursary place in the end from wait list?

No, sadly not. I won’t lie, I was pretty devastated. However, my DC is absolutely flying academically and socially at the state school they were allocated which, at 1700 pupils is over twice the size of the bursary school. They are getting great opportunities, have got into a national music group and generally loving life. So, on one hand, the bursary school has really missed out! But on the other, life is what you make it and grasp every opportunity! I know how stressful this time can be but it can work out for the best either way.