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Original poster

Help!! Moving to UK: good website for school entrance exams?

90 replies

NewUKmum · 18/06/2020 15:48

Hi, we are (hopefully!!) moving to the UK permanently later this summer. I want to start preparing my children for school entrance exams. (son 11, daughter 10 and son 8) and, as an educator, have found real exams the best way to prepare. Also, I can't buy any of the "bond books" as it's ruinously expensive to send here. I don't know which schools my kids will apply so I want to look at different schools' past papers. Are there any websites anyone recommends to see these? Thanks from Trenton, NJ!!

OP posts:
Schmedz · 19/08/2020 23:05

Good luck OP - enjoy London! You should have good weather for a few days before the rain kicks in again Smile

Hargao · 19/08/2020 20:00

Good luck and enjoy!

It was the UK tax I was thinking of not the US tax but PWC will have covered both. I agree US non-resident tax liability sucks!

Original poster
NewUKmum · 19/08/2020 19:37

Thank you all (and thank you but no thank you to all the consultants who pm'd me) for your advice so far.

We are leaving TOMORROW and each of my kids has done over 25 past exams for various schools so they are as ready as they can be for the exams we will be set with for the "occassional place."

@Hargao thank you we have discussed this with PWC and it is extensive. When the organization pays the fees that's taxable income to us, but they pay the tax on that, which is also taxable income, so they will pay the tax on the tax. I don't know why it ends there but it does. Being an American has incredible benefits but comes at some tax costs.

We are all looking forward to this adventure in your "four countries"; see you on the other side!!!!

OP posts:
Hargao · 14/08/2020 05:59

Not using a consultant seems an odd false economy on the salary levels you're talking about to get the type of package you're describing.

I'm sure you've already done this but make sure you've had tax advice on the extent to which you need to pay PAYE on the school fees. Paying the best part of 50% tax on Westminster fees is not a small hit 😀

PipaJJ · 14/08/2020 05:01

@NewUKmum

North London for September - is tricky......
Arnold House is great very academic, Heathside (Dukes Education) also great - non selective, so perhaps an easier first choice for September start?? I know the new Head, happy to pass on contact details - if you message me privately....

KangarooLady · 05/08/2020 18:14

Why not have a look at good state schools in London too? They have no fees, uniform is often a lot cheaper too. If you don't want to go for a state school, the state grammars also have very good academic reputation, they have their own 11+ exams not too dissimilar to the private and independent school's 11+. Hope this helps Smile

alexdgr8 · 05/08/2020 00:03

@mumto3little

England+Wales+Scotland=Great Britain England+Wales+Scotland+Northern Ireland=United Kingdom
to be fair, i think very few uk nationals could recite this correctly. it is not widely known. perhaps people who have been naturalized have had to learn it.
orangeblosssom · 02/08/2020 14:59

www.elevenplusexams.co.uk

Check this website out and the forum that goes with it.

pippa289 · 01/08/2020 15:04

Hi, I recommend to visit all the schools you are interested in if it is possible. Even though the website looks good, you might get different impression when you visit and talk with the staff.

I hope they will resume open day from September. Good luck!

Original poster
NewUKmum · 01/08/2020 13:59

Good Day UK!

Thank you all for the recommendations on school consultants, but while the company will pay for rent and schooling they do not pay for this, which is why we’re trying to do as much as we can ourselves.

I’ve had the kids do 2-3 of the admissions tests per day and this has been VERY helpful. Gets them used to UK money, your “metric system”, English history and so on.

From the exams we’ve done it looks like the kids in the UK are about a year ahead of us here, so this has been great preparation for my kids.

Right now we have interviews at Arnold House and a few places in Swiss Cottage. I do like the looks of HABS and Alleyn’s. Any other thoughts most appreciated. We land in mid-August so I hope to be more responsive then. Getting the house packed has been a nightmare. Thank you and good day ahead.

OP posts:
Ukoneday · 27/07/2020 21:43

@ newUKMum how is it all going? I’m in a similar position. Im finding it amazing how far behind US kids are.

BasiliskStare · 22/07/2020 06:30

Even if you live near Bond st to have e.g. one child at Westminster under one at Colet Court ( or whatever they call it now - i.e. St Paul's junior school ) and one at Alleyn's- that is logistically not great.

I would hone down the schools - preferably getting 2 out of three in the same direction .

Also & as you are experienced in education , check what level etc your children are, coming from a very different system - I am sure they are all as bright as buttons , but are they au fait with what UK children would have been expected to learn for those entrance exams.

You said in first post you were thinking about boarding schools - if so then not quite so important where you live - day schools perhaps more so.

I think the main thing is to read about the schools but more important in the first instance rather than buying practice papers is to go and visit the schools and see which one or ones your children would be happy at and thrive - and visiting will obviously whittle down the list as obvs. impossible to see dozens of schools

But as others have said - all best wishes - do let us know what you think !

Ginfordinner · 21/07/2020 23:30

I have just had a look at some school fee costs. Three children in private school in London at £75,000+ a year Shock

This is another world compared to mine.

TempestHayes · 21/07/2020 23:06

It really is. I honestly don't think I've ever communicated with anyone so wealthy as to have 3 kids in a London private. Most celebs would probably wonder which one to send to the comp :D

eurochick · 21/07/2020 17:28

Three kids in London independent schools is going to be a stonking monthly bill. But if you will be living near Bond Street perhaps that won't be an issue...

TempestHayes · 21/07/2020 17:12

Why private school?

The system here isn't like the US, where you go private because there isn't a public school at all, or the public school's been defunded and all the kids funnelled into a private one.

Save your money and move near a good London comprehensive. Give your kids an actual "UK" lifestyle and not an elite bubble.

As mentioned. If you can't afford some books in the post, where's the five-figure-a-term sums going to come from for London school fees?

Schmedz · 20/07/2020 17:32

Invest in an educational consultant if your company will fork out for one, especially as you are moving later this summer so your children will all be taking exams for 'occasional vacancies'. There are potentially more last-minute vacancies than usual as independent schools have lost some international students or those who can no longer afford fees due to the pandemic.

www.isc.co.uk/schools/ is a good search engine for location-based information and www.isi.net/ is great to read the most recent inspection reports on various schools. There are a lot of small, quirky prep schools around Bond St area. St Pauls and Westminster are highly competitive - your kids would need to be top 1-5% of their cohort to have a realistic chance of acceptance. Thomas' Prep schools go to 13 and are mixed so all your children could go to the same one (and if they want to travel to the Battersea would be at school with Prince George and Princess Charlotte). Kensington Prep is a GDST school with a great reputation for your daughter. City of London School for Girls and City of London School for boys are through-schools. St James' schools for girls and boys (single sex) are also through schools.

If you choose a school they can attend to transition between junior and senior this may allow them to settle better.

The tube (London underground train system - which is overground for many stations, but that's England for you!) can be a great way to get around but is also very crowded - London bus routes are plentiful and transport for school children is free with a Zip card. Of course, walking is always excellent if you can find a good local school!

Good luck and enjoy living in London - it's a great city!

Lucinda76 · 18/07/2020 11:42

Morning @NewUKMum

Sounds like an all through independent school would be best to start with. So all of your children could start and then be supported to achieve their various routes at 11+ and 13+ etc....

There are some good all through, non selective, independent schools in NW London. Not sure whether they would have spaces for September though..... worth getting in contact directly with admissions teams.

Good luck!

trinity0097 · 16/07/2020 18:04

What about Southbank International? Or are you dead set on not having an American education?

After8itsgrownuptime · 15/07/2020 07:09

We use this one - most of the major London schools are on here

nickdale.me

Bakeachocolatecaketoday · 14/07/2020 10:19

I would employ a consultant www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk/education-consultants?gclid=EAIaIQobChMItpDW1bPM6gIVzbTtCh0dygTEEAAYASAEEgLzv_D_BwE

It's about £1000 (although this is possibly per child) and they will help you navigate the system here.

As people have said it's mostly 11+, very few do 10+ and 8+ (usually internally in feeder prep schools) . Some girls schools do the 7+.

Have you looked at prep schools - I don't think you want to be in the London state system! very few places and very mixed.

AxelFoley333 · 09/07/2020 09:17

To the OP: agree that the best thing to do is to take actual past entrance exams and that site should have every school you’d be looking at.

Regarding Bond books, I find them quite repetitive and not targeted. Try the CGP books, they have everything by age and are much better. Safe travels.

Original poster
NewUKmum · 30/06/2020 12:56

Good morning UK!

@LondonJJ Thank you we plan on being in London long term.

We have signed on a place within walking distance to Bond Street subway station; it looks centrally located so we can go to schools North, South, East West. Thanks for all the input so far. Any other schools to consider most appreciated.

OP posts:
CJamie · 29/06/2020 20:44

@glass2014

For past exam papers we have always used this site, which has over 800 free exam papers:

metalrockseducation.co.uk/elevenplus-thirteenplus-past-exam-specimen-papers/

Our DS applied to seven schools and all of the schools were on here so that made it easy. Our second is applying to a few other schools and we just went here and downloaded the exams. There are a few other sites as well, but this one we found had the most free ones. Good luck on the move!

Really great site. They have more HABS old exams than the school has on their own website. Good luck.
Needmoresleep · 26/06/2020 11:24

then it may be better for them to stay in the US system and attend the American School in St Johns Wood

Lovely idea. However as I suggested up thread, it is really difficult to get a place. It’s not just new arrivals. Many London based Americans will select this as one of their 11+ options. It is a real lottery and the chances of getting three kids in at the same time are not great. South Bank and American School Cobham are more predictable options. And there are others.

OP, I would use a consultant.