Richmond Area & Independent Schools

[user1475511290]

Hi Everyone,
Looking for some advice/ reassurance here. We currently live in the city and are looking to move to the Richmond/Barnes/ Kew / Chiswick area sometime next year primarily considering our commute to the city/Wharf. DS starts school in 2019 and we have applied to a number of schools in the area including Kew College, Kings House, Falcon etc. Love the area and the schools....
Having visited the schools recently, it felt like the schools are predominantly white British and I am now beginning to worry if DS (and indeed we ourselves) will find it easy to assimilate. We are French but look more Middle Eastern. DS is dark-ish skinned.
Am I right to worry about integration at all ? I'm wondering whether we will find it difficult to make friends in the local community, set up playdates etc. DH and I both work, so we do have less time to help him settle at school. Should I be at all concerned about bullying at school or that DS might stand out in his class ? It seems like an absurd thought on the face of it . I should add that we are friendly, social people ( I would like to think so at least!) and have never faced any challenges adjusting in new places (we have moved a lot (!); moved to London from Canada a couple of years ago)
I guess I'm looking for some reassurance that these are just irrational post Brexit fears and the children (and the parents!) get on just fine.We could alternately look at other locations but not knowing London very well, its difficult to zero down on the right neighbourhoods(and schools!)
Appreciate any thoughts or comments to help us decide.

[Hebenon]

I don't know anything about the schools you mention but Richmond is a very international area and voted heavily against Brexit. I know lots of European, American and other expat families (tons at our school) and as far as I am aware this kind of thing has not been a problem for them. Good luck with your move!

[keely79]

We live in the area - both children go to school in Putney (Merlin and Putney High). I'm mixed race. In my childrens' classes there are people whose parents come from Turkey, America, Croatia, Poland, Russia, China, India, Australia, South Africa, Germany, the US, France, etc.

You'll be absolutely fine.

[Cazz81]

Agree with the above comments. Richmond is a very international. We have been living in London for over 10 years and this is the one place we feel like home due to the expat feel. There are plenty of young professional families and i am glad my child is exposed to so many kids from different nationality with rich background (just like yourself quite a lot of parents here have moved,lived and worked in different countries)

[ClaraVine66]

I am a Kew College parent and it is extremely diverse in terms of nationality - lots of families from overseas. Also lots of Asian families. I think you will be fine.