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Secondary education

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Original poster

desperate search for a secondary school

27 replies

NewLondoner1 · 04/03/2018 12:56

We're moving to London in June from another country due to my DH's job and we'll have our residential permit just in May.
Our DD has to attend a secondary school in Sep, 2018.
However, all the application and the admission period will be completed when we arrived.
In the first place we prefer state schools but when we understand that it's really impossible to be able to attend to an outstanding or good school,
we've just started to consider also the independent schools. However,
they also seem to have completed their registry procedures.
We think about another option: our DD was born on the 1st of Sep in 2006.
She's at the 6th year now. Is it possible for her to enroll to 6th year in the UK in Sep 2018
instead of the 7th year and then next year, we'll be able to apply for an outstanding secondary school in our catchment area.
We have to live near Heathrow Airport because of my DH's travel necessity.
What do you recommend us? We feel very much desperate. Thanks a lot.

OP posts:
Original poster
NewLondoner1 · 04/03/2018 19:24

thanks for your guidance. We are aware that our child would not be comfortable with the younger children in case we enrolled her to year 6. The average age difference between our daughter and the others will be 1,5 years which is not easy to manage for her and for us either.

OP posts:
PatriciaHolm · 04/03/2018 15:16

With a birthday of Sep 1, 2006, your child would be the eldest in Year 6 here at the moment and thus the eldest in Year 7 in September.

In reality, you stand zero chance of getting her held back to the year below in any UK state school. Whilst it is becoming easier to hold a summer born 4 year old back into the year below when they start in reception, it very rarely happens at older ages, and is hard enough for children young in their year and with special needs; it isn't going to be approved for your daughter to make it easier for you to get a secondary place.

You may find it easier to negotiate with a private school to do it, but given she is old in the year already I suspect you may struggle unless the education system you are coming from means she will be at a disadvantage coming into secondary.

In reality, you need a provable address here and then the local education authority will find you a place. It may not be at a school of your choice, but you can go on waiting lists, and there is always the option of appealing for a school if you wish.