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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Secondary State School London

70 replies

FromIndia · 06/06/2022 12:29

Hi. We are moving to London from India this August and will be looking for in year admission to Secondary State schools (year 9 for DD and year 7 for DS). I need to be in commuting distance from London and, as I’m a single mum, I need an area which is safe and where I can find after school care for my children. I understand that grammar schools are out of the question because we have missed all entrance exams and I cannot afford independent school fees so wanted to see if my chance of getting DD and DS into “good” or “outstanding” state schools is higher in Wimbledon or Barnett…. Accordingly, we will find a place to rent and apply to the LA. Or any other area…. My rent budget is about 2,500 pcm but could stretch it a bit. DD plays cello and DS plays cricket.

OP posts:
Maireas · 06/06/2022 18:43

Exactly. June is too late.

NewIdeasToday · 06/06/2022 18:39

Unfortunately it seems unrealistic to expect to move here and get places for both kids immediately in good or outstanding schools. Surely all the places at such schools will be filled through the normal allocation process which has already happened.

Maireas · 06/06/2022 18:23

Poyyu23 · 06/06/2022 18:13

Fortismere in Muswell Hill and APS at Alexander Park

Do they have spaces for September?

Poyyu23 · 06/06/2022 18:13

Fortismere in Muswell Hill and APS at Alexander Park

Original poster
FromIndia · 06/06/2022 18:11

Thank you, that’s v helpful. DD will not be 14 before Aug 31 this year. So it’s Year 9 for sure.

OP posts:
BorisJohnsonsvomitbucket · 06/06/2022 16:06

After-school clubs may alleviate some of your worries about the kids not being supervised at home. But yes, generally wrap-around care ends in Y6.

What about St Neots? It's about an hour from Liverpool Street, and near Cambridge too. Lovely town.

clary · 06/06/2022 16:00

Op that depends when she is 14 - if it is before 31 August then she will go into yr 10

Original poster
FromIndia · 06/06/2022 15:58

Thank you for that insight. She’s 13 so I thought she will be going into Year 9 in September.

OP posts:
OhCrumbsWhereNow · 06/06/2022 14:05

If your Y9 child is currently in Y9 and would be going into Y10 in September, make sure you look for schools with a 2 year GCSE system not a 3 year one.

Some schools select options in Y8, so a child going in in Y10 will have missed a year of the syllabus.

Original poster
FromIndia · 06/06/2022 13:07

Yes, that is my understanding too…

OP posts:
Lunificent · 06/06/2022 12:52

I know someone whose daughter went to Rickards Lodge in Wimbledon. Looks like a nice girls school.
Some Wimbledon school pupils get to be Ball girls and boys at Wimbledon. Something to aim for if they’re sporty.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 06/06/2022 12:45

Then nearest you get to after school care for Secondary children is the school library being open for an hour or so, or a sports club or an orchestra sort of thing once a week. They generally take themselves to and from school, including by public transport.

www.gov.uk/school-performance-tables

This the official website for comparing school data... although it hasn't been updated since the 2019 exam season.

Good luck. Out of the normal admissions round, school applications are unfortunately a lottery.

Maireas · 06/06/2022 12:44

Sorry, I've missed where you said you can't afford independent. You can look at the schools in Barnet, once you're resident you can be put on the waiting list.

hashtagjubilee · 06/06/2022 12:43

I would go up the line from Liverpool Street
Great schools in broxbourne
Bishops stortford

Maireas · 06/06/2022 12:42

You can arrange care for them, you can pay a sitter who will supervise them.
Where do you plan to live?
State school places have been allocated for September. Could you pay for a private school?.

clary · 06/06/2022 12:42

I would check commute times from Wimbledon Op as that’s a long way away (commute may be ok tho, I’ve not lived in London lately). Is your older child going into yr 9 in September or yr 10 (ie yr 9 in August?) as this may make a difference.

Yy no after school care considered necessary for a 13yo.

If you can narrow down an area posters will be able to recommend schools but of course no guarantee that they will have spaces.

Original poster
FromIndia · 06/06/2022 12:39

Really? I’m moving from India and the idea that my 13 YO and 11 YO would be alone at home post school comes as a bit of a shock to me. I suppose I and they have a lot to learn!

OP posts:
Original poster
FromIndia · 06/06/2022 12:37

True! Sorry, I should have been clearer. I meant the City. I have to get to Liverpool St or in that general area every day.

OP posts:
12Thorns · 06/06/2022 12:33

You talk about commuting from London as if London was one place, not a conglomeration of approximately 9 cities attached to each other.

befire you do anything else, look at commuting times and prices and draw a circle on a map of the area you could reach your work from i

Seeline · 06/06/2022 12:32

You won't find after school care for Y7 and Y9 children. It doesn't happen.