Senior school places - what if she doesn't get in?

In many areas of the country there is huge pressure on school places at 11+ and parents and daughters may be understandably anxious about whether or not they will be successful in gaining a place at their preferred school. In some cases, the hurdle may be entrance examinations or other selection criteria, in others it may seem more of a lottery. Good schools are very often over-subscribed.

Careful homework and preparation in advance can help to alleviate the potential problem. Do talk to your daughter’s current headteacher about the schools which he or she would recommend as best suited to your daughter. Try to be realistic about her strengths and abilities and make sure that you have a sensible safety net. Deciding that there is only one perfect school for your daughter and that her life will be ruined if she does not achieve a place there may well be a recipe for disaster. If you do your research carefully you should be able to be positive about several schools, with differing intakes, so that your daughter can settle happily in any one of them if necessary. You want her to be happy and not to be overwhelmed by feelings of failure and disappointment.

If she does not reach the necessary standard in entrance tests to gain a place, don’t fight against this. There is no point in going to a school where she will struggle to keep up and spends hours and hours at home working, only to find that she is not succeeding. It is much better for her to be comfortable with the pace of work in a school and to have time to take advantage of extra-curricular activities and to relax. Remember, most schools don’t have a pass mark as such; they have a set number of places and they take those who do best – the standard may vary from year to year. However, if your daughter is on a waiting list, then she will be considered to be good enough to cope with the standard in that school; a head will not offer a place to someone who will not be able to keep up and thrive.

Some groups of schools operate as a consortium, sharing the same entry tests. Such consortia do try to ensure that candidates can find a place in at least one of their schools.

Some parents make inordinately large numbers of applications for places for their daughters. Thirteen applications is the highest number I have encountered – the girl was applying to independent schools, grammar schools and academies all over London. If she were to be offered all 13 places, then she would have to turn 12 of them down – so someone else, perhaps your daughter, would move up the list. Much happens between the initial offer day and the first day of the Autumn Term.

If your daughter has no offers at all, then talk to local headteachers or senior staff about which schools might have vacancies. Some will still have spaces and they may well be good schools. Above all, remain positive and keep encouraging your daughter!