Leading girls’ school criticised for first-come, first-served offer system

A leading girls' school has been criticised by parents for its 'first come first serve' offer system.

The 17,000-a-year City of London School for Girls sent letters offering more youngsters places than it actually had.

Those who failed to accept their place swiftly were surprised to learn that the place no longer existed despite it saying the deadline was March 6.

One mother wrote on parenting site Mumsnet: "[The letter] gave no indication that they had applied airline-style overbooking.

"They seem not to appreciate that they are dealing with children. Their system is badly flawed and their handling of the situation has been callous."

The school sent out offers a week ago but the places were filled up within days.

Another parent wrote: "Daughter is absolutely shattered by the abrupt withdrawal of the offer just a few days after the lovely personalised letter: 'My future is over' and 'They've ruined my life'."

The school accepts 75 youngsters every year.

The girls must pass an entrance exam and interview.

If they are offered a place, their paperwork must be hand delivered to the school with a £1,500 deposit.

A spokesperson for CLSG said: "The school operates a transparent admissions process which is clearly explained in our documentation. We are fortunate to be a very oversubscribed school operating from a relatively small site."

Some parents said they had been waiting to find out where they had been offered a state school place first.

The school said the offer email sent out had details on about the first come first serve policy.

Those who have been unsuccessful will be placed on its waiting list.

Last month the school received criticism over plans to build a "prison-like" preparatory school for children in an underground car park beneath London's Barbican estate in a bid to expand.

Retired architect Terry Trickett, who lives near the site, said: "The idea is to put children in this, what I can only describe as prison-like, environment. It's extraordinary. I haven't got any four-to seven-year-old's any more, but if I had, I sure would not send them to a place like that. Not in my wildest dreams."

CLSG is one of the highest performing schools in the country and charges fees of £5,727 a term.

It was established by the Corporation of the City of London in 1894 and moved to its Barbican site in 1969.

A City of London Corporation says the plans are at a "very early stage".