Which private school ISL or ICS? and where to live?

[arbit23]

Hello, My family is moving to London from Singapore this summer. I have 2 kids: daughter (age 13) and son (age 9), both currently in American IB school. Work will be near Canary Wharf, so looking for schools that are not too far from there as we plan to live close to the school.

Getting into State schools seems hard as it depends on catchment area, and one needs to be there and there are long waiting list. So decided on Private, but looks like private schools are also hard to get into as they dont always have openings. That kind of narrowed it down to IB, also since I felt that a change to the british system so late in the game atleast for my daughter who is entering high school next year would be tough.

Now with IB - we are looking at ISL (gunnersbury) and ICS (Star Street). Prefer to keep both kids in the same school, so tilting towards ISL.

Wanted to get your thoughts on these schools - ISL vs ICS?
What areas would you recommend to live?
Would that be an OK commute to Canary Wharf?
Any other schools you recommend?

Thank you!

[LIZS]

Do you have to be so near CW? Commuting into the city is very normal. There is a large expat community around the American Schools in Cobham, Egham and West London. Will you be moving on again in the next 5 years , otherwise the transition to British system is still possible at their ages.

[arbit23]

Thank you Lizs. I was thinking by living close to the school, it might be easier to make friends from school.
About moving again, not really sure. I dont mind transitioning to the British system but getting into good schools seems to be very hard. Any schools that you recommend?

[Mary19]

As both your children would be arriving in the UK at non standard entry times schools may well have places as people in London move. If you are planning to move again staying in the international system makes sense. I don’t know the schools you mention other taken the buildings. Also considering is Southbank. I know someone at ACS Hillingdon who is very happy with it.
If you want both kids at the same school and are happy to consider UK private maybe enquire at Ibstock Place, Harrodian , Fulham Prep /Fulham schooland Northbridge House,
State school wise, the Local authority does need to find your children school places but you are correct you need to be in the UK. They will be at different schools. Primary and Secodary and it doesn’t have to be your closest school . It’s one with space

[Mary19]

Maybe also consider the East London schools such as Forest.
And international school Dwight for a shorter commute 45 mins rather than an hour+

[Lonecatwithkitten]

Trains from Cobham go into Waterloo then it is a short hop on the tube to Canary Wharf.
Two of DPs colleagues moved from US a year ago and their kids go to ACS Cobham and they live nearby. Everyone has settled well.

[MariaNovella]

Avoid ICS.

[Skimmedmilk1]

Everyone I know who works in Canary Wharf moves away from the area when their kids approach school age.

[AaronBest]

Dulwich prep vs Hampton Court School? + A job in Old Coulsdon - vs - where to live
Hello, I also have a similar issue. My DS(28months) and I just moved from Canada. I have a job in Coulsdon. DS has been attending montessori daycare in Ottawa and since there aren’t so many around surrey, so I opted for private prep schools / nurseries. I’ve been reading about both Dulwich Prep and Hampton Court School. Any suggestions on which school is academically stronger plus steering my boy into sports, as he’s so energetic. Also, which places would you recommend for us to live that will not take a toll on me driving him to school in addition to running back to work in Old Coulsdon.
Many thanks

[LIZS]

Aaron you would be best starting a new thread. Tbh that sounds like a nightmare round trip, London roads are congested at the best of times and either HC or Dulwich to Old Coulsdon could easily take an hour or more by public transport. There are plenty of smaller preps in the Coulsdon area.

[AaronBest]

Thanks Lizs. Funny I wanted to started a new thread but I miserably failed 😬. Anyways am trying to look for preps that are in the same cat as DP or HC. Going by their academic scores. Any suggestions! Many thanks

[Poppyred25]

@AaronBest @ you need to start a new thread but if you mean Hampton Court House School in Hampton Court next to Bushy Park it's a unique school and not comparable to other more main stream preps. Also the traffic is unbelievably bad in the area (although I know children do travel down the A3 from London to go there). Start looking at preps where you want to live/work.

[LIZS]

I don't see how you can compare preps on academic scores alone to be honest. They do not have to take sats or report outcomes in the same way as state schools. Standalone preps ( ie. Those not feeders to a specific secondary) tend to have a wider range of leaver destinations at 11/13+ and can be more academically rigorous. Look for those affiliated to IAPS and their ISI reports ( as Ofsted are not usually involved after Early Years). In the Coulsdon area Cumnor House would be worth looking at , perhaps, Warlingham Park, or Caterham School if you want a prep/secondary. Alternatively Reigate area offers Reigate St Marys/Chinthurst which feed Reigate Grammar, although their 11+ joiners also come from state schools and preps like Micklefield and Banstead. You definitely do not need to be living in London boroughs to have access to a good independent school.

[AaronBest]

Much appreciated @Poppeyred25 and @Lizs. Will definitively look into preps local to Coulsdon. Alternatively we may be going for dulwich prep. It’s about 40mins drive from Coulsdon.
Thanks

[LIZS]

No way would it take 40 minutes on a typical day especially at rush hour. Maybe on a Sunday!

[PatriciaHolm]

LIZs is right - old cousldon to dulwich prep is going to take you at least an hour around school pickup/dropoff times. That's insane.