11 Plus Exams Forum

kenyancowgirl wrote:KatyLees, there are very few people who honestly apply to a private school alone - most apply alongside state schools (usually the GS), as a back up, in case their child does not get a place. And, if their child does get a place at GS, regardless of whether they have been offered an AP by the private school, in any form (bearing in mind that scholarships are very low level and bursaries only offered to very high scorers from very low means) then in the vast majority of cases, parents are sensible enough to take the "free" option that gives them the academic push with slightly less glamorous facilities (half of which may not be used by the child anyway). Private schools know they are expensive to 99% of families, so expect that families will make a sensible choice and over offer accordingly. It is the same as some airlines routinely overbooking by 30% as experience tells them that this number are likely to not turn up - and if they do, they deal with the additional numbers accordingly.