Three girls, possibly changing schools in London?

[Wander333]

Hello,

We have 3 daughters and we’re considering changing independent schools for September 2019 for Year 5, Year 3, and Year 1. We are open to any location in London. Preferably all girls but are open to coed. Can be primary or age 4 -18.

Will this be incredibly difficulty or even impossible? Guessing they would all need to test in? Any recommendations would be really helpful.

Thank you

[Michaelahpurple]

Given the schools shut in 3 weeks and you need three places, extremely difficult. You just need to get on the phone and call call call to see if anyone has spaces.

[Bekabeech]

As you have a year to do this - it should be possible. But will probably take a lot of phoning around etc.

[Michaelahpurple]

Oh sorry / thought it was this September! Much more manageable ! Places tend to come free in lent term but do your spade work in winter term

[TJsAunt]

need more info really?

Why are you wanting to change - if you're not happy where they are then you need to make sure you avoid that next time? And if you're not happy then why are you waiting an academic year to move them?

What kind of kids are they - what facilities are you looking for? Sporty? Arty? Academic? Is there going to be one kind of school that would suit all 3 of them?

And... location wise what are your priorities? Green space/easy commute/near friends?

year 3 is a standard time to move schools (the 7+) - year 5 can be (some schools have a 9+ entry) but year 1 is quite unusual and will be harder to get a spot for.

[Mary19]

Putney High? Surbiton High, Nottinghill and Ealing High are all through schools.
Any particular requirements. Area of London. Academic level etc. Religious affinity

[Wander333]

Thank you for responding!

We would like to move to West London. We are Christians so parochial schools are fine. We’re hoping for a more city feel. We’d like to be closer to everything. Green space is nice but not too important. One of them is sporty, others are probably more into the arts. We do want a school with good academics.

The reason for the change in September 2019 is because we think it’s too late for the upcoming academic year. Am I wrong?

Thank you.

[Wander333]

Which schools are worth looking into?

I’m assuming the girls will need to take a test?

Putney high school? Notting Hill?

🙏🏻

[Michaelahpurple]

Have private messaged you

[Avebury]

I wouldn't want to move the Y5 twice in a short space of time so I would definitely be looking at a 4-18 school. Ibstock Place is right next to Richmond Park so very green and you could live in Putney/Barnes/Sheen/Richmond and still get to school easily.

If I were you I would shortlist the schools you like the look of and call them for a chat in the next week before they break up. You might even get lucky and find spaces for this September if that is what you would prefer ideally as they will know by now who is leaving at the end of this term and which spaces they still have to fill.

[nordicwannabe]

The Good Schools guide would be a good place to start (either paper version or available online). There's a description for each of the schools they cover, which gives things like number of students, single-sex/mixed, ages, religious outlook, and a description of the school's aims, strengths and weaknesses.

The schools are also shown on a map, so you can find some you might not have known about.

I don't know how they choose which schools to include, but it seemed to me that they made good choices: the ones in there do seem to be the ones which get recommended by word of mouth locally. There are state schools in there as well, although more private.

[SquirmOfEels]

It'll be quite an upheaval for your eldest, to be changing schools at year 5 and again in year 6. Do you need a through school, or does she thrive on change?

[farangatang]

OP, try www.isc.co.uk/schools/ which has a 'school finder' function as a start.

Also, www.indschools.co.uk/

If I were you, I'd narrow down an area you'd like to live and look at commutable schools, rather than base your home location on the school chosen. You may wish to change the school in future - your girls are still young.

[Wander333]

Thank you for your responses. A through school would be ideal, I guess. My husband would like to live in Chelsea, South Kensington. How is Queensgate school?

[AgathaMystery]

If you want an all the way through girls school I'd look on the GDST web site.

[QGMum]

@Wander333 I sent you a PM