Gaining entry to primary schools aged 6/7

[Halster]

Does anyone have any experience of getting into a 'good' primary when their child was aged 6 or 7? (i.e. a few years after the others have started?) We currently live abroad and will probably not return to the UK until our dd is about 6 or so. It worries me that all the places in the good schools may have gone by then. Getting her into a good school will be particularly important as she will be considerably behind her UK class mates as here in Switzerland she will not start school until she is 7! Whereas if we were in the UK she would start when she had just turned 4 (another worry but I guess thats a subject for another post!). Would greatly appreciate any advice. Thanks.

[JanH]

People do leave even good schools, halster! If they have to move or something...it can be easier to get into a popular school later on than at Reception age.

[Slinky]

At our school, it's far harder to get in Reception (age 4/5) as they limit the places available. However, from chatting to friends at the school who moved their children in later, it was slightly easier - in DD1s Year 3 class last night (age 7/8) they had 4 new entrants during the year.

[Slinky]

sorry, meant DD1s Year 3 class last YEAR - not night!!

[Carla]

Halster, they're always packing 'em in at dds school. It already has 33 in dd1s class, and when we returned there was another little girl who's obviously from abroad as dd says she can't speak any English (bless). It is considered to be a very good primary school, but it's RC so I think packing 'em in has something to do with their funding. I really wouldn't worry about it - people are always starting/leaving here, but then it's full of visiting academics so that may be why. Do you know when you're coming back and where you'll be coming back to? You could always start making enquiries ....

[LIZS]

Halster

We have done just that for Sept 2005 - we're also in Switzerland atm and were able to apply to local schools in UK as in our area there is an Infant and Junior school intake separately (4+ and 7+) and we still have a house there. Our kids (currently 3 and 6) therefore had as much chance as any other child in the area. If your circumstances are different you could speak directly to the schools of your choice - some may have individual admissions policies anyway and families move all the time, but others on any "waiting lists" may be more reluctant to move their kids by the time the opportunity comes up. We actually accepted a Reception place when ds was 4 and whilst we weren't able to officially defer it, were assured that it was unlikely to be a problem had he started a year later.

Is your dd in Swiss Kindergarten ? ds is in an International School and we still face potential difficulties with him being behind in certain areas.

[Halster]

Thanks all - you have put my over-anxious mind to rest.