It will take more than money to get your child into one of the Island's private schools this September.

In fact available places are few and far between and with all the schools boasting sizable waiting lists, there is not much hope for the parent who has not gotten around to trying to reserve a place as yet.

Bermuda High School for Girls, Bermuda Institute, Montessori Academy, Mount Saint Agnes Academy, Saltus and Warwick Academy are currently operating at full capacity and most say they have absolutely no room available for September.

But all of the schools said they have not noticed any marked increase or decrease in interest and have waiting lists much the same size as last year.

Eleanor Kingsbury, principal at Bermuda High School, revealed that a few vacancies have arisen in the "upper'' school, but pointed out that they will be filled "very easily'' from the waiting list.

"There will be three places in year six, ten in year eight and five in year ten,'' she noted.

BHS has the highest fees among the local private schools.

"It is well known that we have the highest fees,'' Mrs. Kingsbury said. "But that's because we have the highest teacher-to-student ratio on the Island.'' But at $8,250 per child, irrespective of age and grade, she said the school received many calls for entrance "especially at the middle school level''.

"There are many who call to go on the wait list, as soon as the child is born,'' Mrs. Kingsbury noted. "And length of time on the list does have some weight in the admissions procedure.'' Sister Judith Rollo at Mount Saint Agnes said the school does not allow children to be wait-listed until they have reached their fourth birthday.

"There would simply be too much paper work if we decided to allow registration at birth,'' she said.

At MSA, about half a dozen places for the first and third years of secondary school will be filled with children on the wait list. All other classes are full.

Close to 100 names are on the waiting list for entrance at various grades.

"The list sees little change,'' Sister Judith explained,"as students seldom leave.'' Fees for September have not yet been set. Current rates are $4,605 at the primary level, $5,490 for grades seven through eight and $6,030 for grades nine to 12.

Spokesperson at Bermuda Institute Janet Smith said the only vacancies they have for the upcoming school year are in their primary school department.

"Grade two or P3 can take another four students, grade four or P5 can accommodate two as can grade five or P6.'' The middle and high school departments at $5,130 and $5,800 per annum respectively, are fully subscribed. Elementary fees are $4,800.

Gwen Fahy at Montessori Academy noted that the way a vacancy normally arises at her school is by a family moving out of the Island. She estimated about ten places become available this way every year.

At the Montessori Academy, there is no room left in the September entering class of three-year-olds. It will cost parents $5,800 per annum to have their three-year-olds attend classes for half a day. Four-year-olds will cost $4,700. Once children are five years old they attend school all day in The Montessori Academy programme, and the fees rise to $7,800. This rate is constant through the remaining grades.

Saltus and Warwick Academy both report they are completely full with no spaces at all.

Admissions Director at Saltus Malcolm Durrant said many people call directly from the hospital.

"There was even one couple that I recall who said they just found out they were pregnant, but we told them no. The child actually has to be born,'' Mr.

Durrant said.

At Warwick Academy, headmaster Robert Lennox explained admissions are based largely on an entrance exam and how well the child does in the exam.

He admitted that time spent on the wait list does have some bearing "but very little''.

Children of alumni and siblings of children already at the school are also factors that are taken into consideration when children apply for Warwick Academy.

Both Saltus and Warwick Academy have a flat fee rate for all grades, $7,275 at Warwick Academy and $7,925 at Saltus. There are three payment plans available at Saltus: the lump sum -- $7,925, by the term which amounts to $8,060 per annum, or $830 monthly for 10 months.