Advice on schools for American expat

[JLR0829]

I'll be relocating to London with my husband and two children (daughter, 4, currently in preschool and son, 7, currently in first grade) in January.

We've been researching schools online and there's a lot to take in. I'm hoping any fellow American expats on here can give me a bit of advice.

My son is a bit sensitive and struggling with reading (we have a tutor helping). A lot of the British schools look very academically rigorous, and I'm not sure that would necessarily be a good fit for him. I'm also worried about if we can even get him in to most schools mid-year.

We were looking at international schools and Southbank piqued my interest, but then I read that story from last year and must admit it was very off-putting. The American International School looks great, but I hear it's very oversubscribed.

If any expats on here have any thoughts on schools that you would recommend, I would love to hear it. I've read so many school websites that I'm honestly having a difficult time sorting through it all.

Thank you very much and apologies for the very open-ended question. My head is spinning.

[patrickmang]

Well of course there is always state school. If you go private all the focus as you say is on school exams and academic selection. My children go to a very hot house school. If you can cope it's fine but many children have left because they can't take the pressure.

I've heard good things about Thomas and Fulham prep school. These are both co-ed I think. That's another feature of English schools. There is a tradition of single sex schools.