independent school deposits

[thewaiting isagony]

I wonder if you can help me.

We found out this morning that our son has been fortunate enough to be offered a place at a sought after independent school. He has also sat the 11plus and although there are 3 grammar schools in our area, there is only one that we believe suits him. We do live 'in area' but unfortunatley we are on the outskirts and are not likly to get a place in the first round (perhaps on appeal). Hence the Over subscribed Independent school exam.
On offering us the place the Independent school have asked of a deposit of £700 and told us that we must accept our place by next week or his place will be given to someone on the waiting list.

Any advice would be gratefully recieved as £700 is a considerable amount of money to lose should we get our first choice!

[medwaymum]

This is familiar - I know of at least two independent schools in our area that do this. I can't offer you any inside information just an opinion.
Are you happy with the independent? If so, if it were me I would pay the £700 for the deposit on the independent school. If your child does not get their grammar choice you will get a good school you like.
If your child does get offered the grammar place, you can decide to take it and yes lose your deposit but really when compared to years and years of fees, its a drop in the ocean!
Good luck making your decision.

[Warks mum]

This sounds a slightly unethical way of making money! Fortunately, although the schools round here ask us to repond as soon as possible - so they can offer places elsewhere - they give a date after 3 March as the final date.

I would be tempted to call the school and explain the situation. The only thing you can lose is a little pride if they say no - when you will have to decided whether to cough up £700 speculatively.

[thewaiting isagony]

Good advice, thanks. It also happens to be my husbands opinion!

I think the problem for me is that I know that it is the sensible thing to do but it somehow it makes me feel like I am accepting that are very unlikely to get the grammar school that we want and I don't feel ready to face that reality yet.

[redapple]

Hi
We are in the same position, but we told our school and they were fine and said to call them on 3rd March. Give it a go

[teacher]

I would definitely call the independent school. They know the systems that are in operation and most will be flexible if they are in a grammar cachment area.

[teacher]

I would definitely call the independent school. They know the systems that are in operation and most will be flexible if they are in a grammar catchment area.

[KES Parent]

I would agree that paying it is the only option, if they won't wait until the 11+ results come out (a lot of schools are willing to wait if they are in a grammar school area). You may lose the £700 if he doesn't need the place, but that is nothing compared to 7 years of school fees. It would be much worse to end up with no acceptable school place for him in September.

[Enter Dad...]

I concur with 'medwaymum' and 'KES Parent'.

We are in the same boat as 'thewaiting isagony' with our Dd. She wants to go to HBS. The independents want us to respond my 3rd March; we are unlikely to get the letter fom the council until 4th March.

The independents' offers come on 22nd February - so rather than jeopardising her career, we shall wait for the offer letters to come before calling the school and discussing her case. Worst case is we'll pay the deposit - hope that she gets HBS - and forego the drop in the ocean deposit.

[zorro]

Hi. Is HBS Henrietta Barnett? I thought that the independent schools let you get state results first. We are waiting an independent result on 22nd Feb but don't have to let them know until 7th March by which time we will have state results. Where are you and which cshools are involved? Seems really unfair to me.