2018 Places Offers day

[A_Mum]

Mulling it over, and thinking of what I would do in your situation, I think I would be inclined to accept the place of the HS (if it's a good school, there's no reason why your DS couldn't do just as well there) and, as the above posters have said, ask to go on the waiting list for KEFW (if you know you definitely could not afford the fees for KES) - Whatever the outcome, as long as your DS is motivated and at a school that recognise his abilities, encourage him to reach his full potential and he is happy and fulfilled, you can't ask for more than that as a parent. Good luck!

[um]

Your son will remain on the KEFW waiting list until next Christmas, then if you still want him to remain, you can ring the school to be placed back on.
You are right that at 220, he is very unlikely to receive a place there unless something incredibly dramatic happens to the results this year.

However, occassionally in-year places can become available, and you can be called to take an exam then - your ds has done exceptionally well to receive a KES AP, so should hopefully do well if called to such an exam.

A major part of decision is going to be based on your family's budget - there's some maths to do there, and it's quite a personal decision.
Would you have to sacrifice quite a bit to pay the fees? How would this impact on other children?

Do you know your local school well? Have you asked how they cater for more able pupils? Will your son have friends there and feel comfortable there?
What activities is your son interested in? If sport, art or drama, can your local school also offer opportunities in these?

With regards to transport, what sort of journey would this mean for your ds, and how long would it take? Are you nowhere near a train or bus route to KES?

[Mumov3]

Thanks for your replies. I do wonder whether he would be happier local, but not sure if that's just me that would be happier! It's just the academic side as he isn't that sporty. Lots to think about.

[quasimodo]

Thanks for your replies. I do wonder whether he would be happier local, but not sure if that's just me that would be happier! It's just the academic side as he isn't that sporty. Lots to think about.

I think your son has an incredible opportunity with an offer at KES of an assisted place.The system was designed to help families like yours.No one can predict the future and what schools will be open to your other children.I think being at the school will open doors to your son which will not be readily available at the local high school.

I have been watching the first two documentaries in the generation gifted series and I recognise my own families circumstances a generation ago.I was only able to go to University through the sacrifices of my parents and siblings.I remember being given my first books by my junior school headmaster.My books were from the library.I had no option but to go to the local failing comprehensive.In my day we lived in an area where grammar schools had just been abolished and were ignorant of other options.In those days if there were assisted places we were ignorant of them and certainly there was no such things as pupil premium.

Only you know your family dynamics and your financial situation.Its easy for us middle class parents who have got all the support networks to say the local high school is fine when we can easily provide additional support to overcome any shortcomings if that is are only option.

You can never take an education away from a child when its given to them.Who knows what your son will do in life but if it can't be KEFW because of its lack of fees then I would do everything possible to send him to KES.

[Mumov3]

Thank you all. Quasimodo, I do feel in my heart that I will regret it if I do t give him this opportunity. He just loves learning and at a king edward's school he would be with like minded children. The only lyrics nagging doubt is that he will lose contact with friends already made, and new ones he won't be as close to because realistically we live too far away for him to have 'playdates'. I just don't want him to feel isolated, and lonely.

[LolaD]

Thanks for your replies. I do wonder whether he would be happier local, but not sure if that's just me that would be happier! It's just the academic side as he isn't that sporty. Lots to think about.

I think your son has an incredible opportunity with an offer at KES of an assisted place.The system was designed to help families like yours.No one can predict the future and what schools will be open to your other children.I think being at the school will open doors to your son which will not be readily available at the local high school.

I have been watching the first two documentaries in the generation gifted series and I recognise my own families circumstances a generation ago.I was only able to go to University through the sacrifices of my parents and siblings.I remember being given my first books by my junior school headmaster.My books were from the library.I had no option but to go to the local failing comprehensive.In my day we lived in an area where grammar schools had just been abolished and were ignorant of other options.In those days if there were assisted places we were ignorant of them and certainly there was no such things as pupil premium.

Only you know your family dynamics and your financial situation.Its easy for us middle class parents who have got all the support networks to say the local high school is fine when we can easily provide additional support to overcome any shortcomings if that is are only option.

You can never take an education away from a child when its given to them.Who knows what your son will do in life but if it can't be KEFW because of its lack of fees then I would do everything possible to send him to KES.

Excellent post!

[kenyancowgirl]

Thank you all. Quasimodo, I do feel in my heart that I will regret it if I do t give him this opportunity. He just loves learning and at a king edward's school he would be with like minded children. The only lyrics nagging doubt is that he will lose contact with friends already made, and new ones he won't be as close to because realistically we live too far away for him to have 'playdates'. I just don't want him to feel isolated, and lonely.

Your worries about new friends living further away are fair - my boys go to their local GS but some of their friends come from the furthest outpoints the other side - it makes it tricky but they tend to meet in town "in the middle". I think very few children who move up with their primary school friends, stay specifically with them. Initially maybe, but secondary is a much bigger pool and children find people who are much "more like them", rather than those in primary who tend to be ones that "live near them". DS2 in particular had a really really tight primary group of friends - he moved to a secondary school where he only knew one boy from his school (and he was more of an acquaintance than a full on mate) - he now has an even tighter group of secondary mates - he will say hi if he bumps into his primary mates but has realised that he has very little in common with them now.

[excitedmumanddad]

Thanks for your replies. I do wonder whether he would be happier local, but not sure if that's just me that would be happier! It's just the academic side as he isn't that sporty. Lots to think about.

I think your son has an incredible opportunity with an offer at KES of an assisted place.The system was designed to help families like yours.No one can predict the future and what schools will be open to your other children.I think being at the school will open doors to your son which will not be readily available at the local high school.

I have been watching the first two documentaries in the generation gifted series and I recognise my own families circumstances a generation ago.I was only able to go to University through the sacrifices of my parents and siblings.I remember being given my first books by my junior school headmaster.My books were from the library.I had no option but to go to the local failing comprehensive.In my day we lived in an area where grammar schools had just been abolished and were ignorant of other options.In those days if there were assisted places we were ignorant of them and certainly there was no such things as pupil premium.

Only you know your family dynamics and your financial situation.Its easy for us middle class parents who have got all the support networks to say the local high school is fine when we can easily provide additional support to overcome any shortcomings if that is are only option.

You can never take an education away from a child when its given to them.Who knows what your son will do in life but if it can't be KEFW because of its lack of fees then I would do everything possible to send him to KES.

This is really valuable advice. Thank you for sharing.

[crazycrofter]

Thank you all. Quasimodo, I do feel in my heart that I will regret it if I do t give him this opportunity. He just loves learning and at a king edward's school he would be with like minded children. The only lyrics nagging doubt is that he will lose contact with friends already made, and new ones he won't be as close to because realistically we live too far away for him to have 'playdates'. I just don't want him to feel isolated, and lonely.

Are you absolutely sure you couldn’t get him to HGS or BV? The latter is well served by the train and HGS is on/near lots of bus routes. They do grow up very quickly in year 7 and it amazing what they can manage!

I wouldn’t worry too much about the local friends aspect. Boys tend to socialise on the Xbox/PS4 anyway!! Also, my daughter meets up in town with friends quite regularly - they all come in by bus or train. And with the homework load and longer school day, they don’t socialise in the week anyway. It’s very different from primary school. My daughter has stayed really good friends with her primary school best friend though, despite us moving across the Midlands. They chat online regularly, have meet ups in town and sleepovers in the holidays

[excitedmumanddad]

Conscious Mar 1 is fast approaching. Would anyone be kind enough to provide some advice about what to expect on the day and the days immediately after? Is the paperwork cumbersome? Do they arrive by post? When can we expect to receive them? What are typical deadlines for submission? Do we need to take a day off from work to get this in order? I know some of these may already be answered in earlier posts but will be grateful if one of you is kind enough to provide a fresh perspective on this.