CI Lists

[elby]

Hi - just wondered why would people turn down a place at a school ? for example the Grammars - if you got a place for your son or daughter why would you give it up? I am just trying to understand how far down a CI you can be and still get a place?... I know a small minority may move or decide to go private but surely not that many?? why would you go private if you got a place at a great grammar school? I just feel we may not get a place on the first batch so could be sitting on a CI list....also do sometimes people take their places at their second choice and then get a place at their first choice even later that the start of term? say even in year 7 or 8? can that happen?
anyone got a feel for whether it is a high scoring year this year?
hate this wait!

[Daogroupie]

Many people turn down places to go private. We personally know of some. Some think that their dc will get a much better education and meet lots of contacts to help them get a job. St Albans boys boasts at their open day that whatever job your son is interested in they have a old boy in the network and they will arrange for your son to meet him and use his contacts. Some like to show they are wealthy enough to pay, some think the sports are much better, some think the pastoral care is better, some sit the exam as a mock for the private school they are interested in. This year those people will not apply so the pass mark to get a place on allocation day will be lower. Upto now they had to apply to sit the exam but not any more. QE, HBS and DAO all have waiting lists that usually hit the twenties, this year they wont but those places will be available in March and not later. DG

[WP]

If they're just sitting it as a mock they won't apply this year, but another factor is that several of these private schools have highly competitive entry themselves, and the state schools may be a backup plan.

[Daogroupie]

They will not apply but they would have taken rankings and so the mark to get a place on March 1st will be lower this year because they will already be out of the equation. DG

[Sallyltb]

We actually applied for independent schools as cover for not getting our choice of state school and then ended up being offered an academic place at Parmiter's on the first round and a scholarship at Habs.