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Original poster

Richmond State Secondary Schools

29 replies

Squarebean · 13/01/2022 10:41

Our family is moving into the Richmond area, from overseas, in June 2022. I am aware that we can only apply for a place for our Year 9 son once he is residing in the area. At that point, we will be offered a place based on space available or distance to school criteria. In the meantime, our eldest is completing his GCSEs and has applied to some Sixth Forms and received conditional offers. Should we accept all the offers, then see which he gets into on August 25th and then hope to get our youngest into that same school, based on sibling priority? Or should we do an in-year application for our youngest when we arrive in June and then take a place for him, depending on what is available? But bearing in mind, if we rent as close as we can to our first choice school for both of them, neither may get in. Has anyone navigated this successfully? Ideally we would like to have both our boys in the same school so they could travel together or I go take them if need be. Thoughts and advice most welcome. Also, what is the feeling about Teddington High and Sixth Form as well as The Kingston Academy, Turing House and Grey Court.

OP posts:
HereBeFuckery · 13/01/2022 15:49

Just a word of warning - check that the LEA where you're moving to will process applications made in June or later. We had a two WEEK delay in getting a school place having applied after we were resident in our new city (as per instructions/rules) and massively fell foul of this. Caused no end of problems.

Toomanyminifigs · 13/01/2022 15:47

You may want to check with Richmond Council but where I live (South East London), sibling priority doesn't extend to sixth form, it ends once oldest child enters Yr11.

3WildOnes · 13/01/2022 15:42

At their ages they definitely won’t want you taking them to school or College and they will both be fine travelling on their own so I wouldnt worry about them going to the same school. Orleans is the best school in the area so I would just rent as close as possible and hope for the best. Have you called to see how long the waiting lists are for different schools?

user1485813778 · 13/01/2022 14:11

Hi Squarebean, I’m not sure all secondary schools have a sibling policy, so that might be worth checking? I would say yes to accepting all 6th form offers - there’s lots of movement once results are announced and final choices are made and you have nothing to lose. As far as I can tell there’s a lot more flexibility for 6th form than in-year places, so might be worth focussing on your younger child in terms of location. Have you also considered Orleans and Esher college (although latter 6th form only snd may be too late?). Public transport for all these schools is good, so most pupils are not driven, I don’t think it would be an issue to have children at different schools. Turing house is moving to Hospital Bridge Road location in February so that might be too far. No externally marked exam results yet, so bit of a leap of faith but all pupils and parents I know are very happy with the school. Ditto Greycourt, which has a great reputation and seems to do very well for 6th formers. A fair number of Teddington school pupils leave for grey court and Esher 6th form but I know many who have stayed and done very well. No direct or indirect knowledge of Kingston academy, but I know it has a good reputation. If you are planning to move near the school, each of these areas has a very different feel. Might be worth posting with area in title and on local board for more responses.

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