Any easy to get in to primaries in London?

[SwedishK]

Hi all,

We just found out we are moving to London this summer. We have a daughter born November-06 and we are in need of finding a private primary school for her. Our plan is to live in Islington but could also move nearer any school she gets in to. My problem is just that, finding a school that will take her in. She is on waiting lists for three schools but since we applied very late it isn't looking very good for her.

Are there any private primary schools that are fairly easy to get in to for year 1, preferably within zone 1? Perhaps one with big turnover? I have tried to google for new schools thinking that they might not have filled up yet but I can't find any.

The three schools we have applied to are very different. One small and extremely popular new-ish school, one half-big and less popular one and one huge (1000 pupils) and very good school.

We will aslo contact the local counsel but they will not accept our application until we actually live in London which won't be until July, so I don't think we will have any chance in getting her in to any of the schools in the local area (Barnsbury) and I prefer her to go to a decent private than a crap state school.

Any input/ideas would be much appreciated. This school jungle is stressing me out

TIA

[PollyParanoia]

Hi we're in this area and there is a lot of movement in London and there is every chance you'll be offered a place in one of your preferred state primaries (am presuming you might be thinking of Thornhill or William Tyndale?). Lots of people move out of London in those early years so in y1 and y2 places come up all the time, nail biting though that may sound.
I presume that the same would be true of private primary schools but I'd be wary of some of them, especially those that may have lots of places. The ones that are central struck me (only a personal opinion) as very business minded with poor facilities. I'm only going on my own instinct on seeing them, not on anything more concrete than that.

[SwedishK]

Thank you very, very much PollyParanoia!

I feel a bit better now after reading your reply. Thornhill and WT are indeed the two schools I am hoping for. Really happy to hear there might be at least a chance of getting in. I will contact the counsil again and ask if there is absolutely no way I could apply already now. I would love for her to be in a school in our area but the only other one that we have applied to in the area is the small and very popular private one.

[IndigoBell]

Seeing as you're not applying for a reception place, admissions to a state school is easy.

If a school has a place they have to take you, if they don't have a place they can't take you.

So all you need to know from the LEA is which state schools have places in her year group.

[EdithWeston]

You asked about private primary schools in zone one with high turnover.

The one that springs to mind is Hill House (various sites behind Harrods and off the Kings Road, and with very - um - distinctive uniform). It's an international school, and the high turn over is because of the numbers of pupils whose parents have peripatetic international careers. It's a strength, especially if coming from abroad, as it is very good at integrating children from other educational systems (both academically and socially).

[SwedishK]

Thank you IndigoBell and EdithWeston!

IndigoBell, what is LEA?

EdithWeston, Hill House is the huge school where she is on the waiting list. It's not in our area at all but I am quite likely to work around there so it might work anyway. The uniform is definitely not easy to digest but I would just have to tell my daughter to close her eyes whilst getting dressed:o There are two reasons behind applying there and the first is that I have a friend who's kids go to that school and she loves it and the second is that their French education seems to be very good. We are relocating from a French speaking country so I would prefer to send my daughter to a school where the languages can be developed further.

[EdithWeston]

When I lived in London, I knew a few families with children at Hill House, and they were very happy with it (perhaps they were colour blind? Or just liked knickerbockers?)

I don't remember anyone commenting on the French, so cannot help you on that one. I do remember that it has a 4 term system and so holidays are often out of step with other schools (not a problem if you have one DC, and indeed an advantage as you can get off-peak holidays); it's not as expensive as other central London preps; lessons finish early on Fridays; and Prince Charles went there.

[IndigoBell]

Sorry, by LEA I meant local council.

[SwedishK]

Thanks again Indigo and Edith! I am feeling more and more optimistic.

[sugarfoot]

Have you tried St Nicholas Prep in Kensington? Has an option of dual French/English curriculum so lots of French families.

[Mominatrix]

Have you thought about the option of bilingual schools? There are several in London which are excellent. The closest to you would be Ecole Bilangue in Little Venice.

[Mominatrix]

Meant Bilingue!

[SwedishK]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! I have now contacted the schools. They look perfect!

[PollyParanoia]

Isn't there a Lycée open in Kentish Town now?

[SwedishK]

PollyParanoia, it is open but I have decided not to apply there. It's too much French and too little English. Even though my daughter speak French it is not as good as her English and she already a bit behind due to the different education systems they have where we currently are.