Returning from overseas - any clues re SW London schools for Yr 9 to be DD ?

Friends have been offered surbiton high and St. George's weybridge for year 10. I have also known quite a lot of girls getting occasional places at Waldegrave in year 9 and 10.
From richmond you could also get up to Ealing schools such as St Benedicts or into London to More House.
Quite a few schools are starting some of their GCSE courses in year 9 rather than year 10. Just something to be aware of

Just to throw one more into the mix op - Sir William Perkins school in Chertsey. Has a good reputation locally (not in the LEH type league but gets good results) and is right next to the train station so would potentially be accessible depending on the trains from Richmond.

I was about to say St Catherines, Radnor, Claremont Fan in Esher. You say Richmond-ish... are you likely to be in catchment for top girls state school, Waldegrave? I know a family who moved into the area and got their dd into year 9 a few years back.

Yes, Notre Dame is a very happy school. St Theresa's is also supposed to be brilliant for the arts, but maybe too difficult to get to.

Selamat sore! I'm going to throw Notre Dame in Cobham into the mix. Just recently had an excellent ISI Report and has a wonderful theatre plus lots of drama opportunities. New sports facilities too. A wide range of girls and very nurturing.

It's worth checking out to be sure but what I have heard from parents weighing it up vs private school offers for yr7.

Apparently "it doesn't make any difference to the results". Maybe so but it must be pretty unpleasant for those at the top and bottom of those classes imo.

The head is also now overseeing other schools - Teddington & Hampton High and/or Twickenham Academy. Again not sure what impact if any that will have, I am sure the senior leadership team is pretty strong at Waldegrave. Sixth form results also very impressive last year.

Waldegrave is getting amazing results, BUT I hear for the new year 7 intake the class size is going up to 28 (from 25) and they are no longer streaming, at all, even in maths.

Castles (much easier to remember!):

I think your timing is excellent, not just because spaces appear in many schools by year 9 (as other posters pointed out), but also because schools typically have a 1 term notice period, and summer is a popular time to move. This means notice will be given by families at some (many?) schools over the next week or two. You therefore might want to contact the registrars immediately, and perhaps again just after the Easter holiday (mid April) in case they just received some surprise notices. So even if they tell you "no spaces for year 9" now, that answer might change after Easter!

Kew House showed a slide at an open morning a few weeks ago where they had a space for a girl (but not boy) in a couple of year groups, but I can't recall which ones. They take a broader range of ability.

You need to think about when you will be able to commit to a place, if offered, as the schools are unlikely to give you a long time to respond if offered. (April? May? June?). The less uncertainty (about the whole UK move, not just school choice!) the better.

Ibstock is actually very easy from Richmond- train to Barnes, free school shuttle bus from Barnes station - just to contradict the previous poster.

Tidak nama sound more bahasa than French.

Email all of them! Avoid the very academic ones if you don't think they would be right for your child. Explain your situation and ask whether it would be possible to register for an occasional place. You really don't know where that place might turn up. If they are not interested they will tell you.

A few years ago I ended up in a PM conversation with someone in a similar position. Their DC got places at Ibstock (who were encouraging from the start) but quite late in the day heard from KGS.

Are you not interested in the Lycee? Its really hard to get places initially but movement then seems to be mainly outwards.

Hi Castles! I was 'wheresthebeach' when you were last around.

Try St Catherines Twickenham. DD is there and loves it. Pop over the road and look at Radnor House as well while you're there.

Kew House is increasingly popular as well.

From Richmond, it's probably worth enquiring at Kew House.

I don't know anyone at the school, and it's newish (so not much track record), but I've read positive things about it.

Ibstock in Roehampton not easy to get to unless you drive her through Richmond Park every day.

PHSG is an easy train trip from Richmond

Schools which have a designated 13+ entry point (like Emanuel, whose lists close because full about a year before exam) are less likely to have places in September. And offers/acceptance deadlines have just been and gone, and some will have waiting lists for those set entry points.

But there will other schools who are interested in filling ad hoc places and who are much more flexible. So yes, I think the girls schools such as PHS would be more realistic.

I think you're just going to have to hit the phones/emails and ask every school you even half-way like to look of what their situation is. And stress you'd be interested in taking up a place at short notice if someone drops out.

Do you know where you will be living. Because don't overlook schools further out in Surrey if you are near a railway station (eg Woldingham)

from richmond the world is your oyster
the SW London schools are easily accessible
the W London schools are easy on the train

i've been amazed how much movement there's been since DD started. Same at other independents I hear.

Yr9 also a good entry point as many schools have a 13+ entry. I'm sure the coeds like KGS will be keen to have girls too to maintain the ratios and not be too boy heavy.

Yes because 11+ is a one off and anything can happen on the day, over/underperform etc. Also because you are returning from overseas and are not caught up in the 11+ frenzy entry point they will be looking at an individual and where they are and why, not just one child's results from a long list of 11+ results.

Defo give Putney a call. The more central the school the more movement.

I have also heard Ibstock good for drama, plus Emanuel and I think Surbiton.

PHS worth a go.