Private primary schools in London - how far in advance to you need to register?

[Blondeinlondon]

Is it true that to get my DS in to certain private primaries in London that I need to put his name now asap?
He is only 8 mths
When do I need to be looking at this??

Depends on how competitive the schools you want are. Others may disagree, but I'd say you'd want to have it done within the next 9-12 months for the most in-demand schools. Others don't require that sort of lead time.

Crickey the boy can't even crawl and I have to think about schools
How do you find out about them? Do I need to buy a guidebook?

Yes, get The Good Schools Guide. It's available in bookstores, and is updated every year. I think you can also pay a fee and have access to it online if you prefer that method.

It is a crazy system. I think alot of people register with half a dozen schools just to ensure options (an expensive way of doing it as registration forms are sent in with a cheque of around £50), and then narrow it down after school tours and of course, assessment results. But you will have choices in the very good, but not so competitive places too, so don't panic!

Bump

Which schools are you looking at? I know at some of the very posh West London schools you have to register (and pay the registration fee, natch) by the time your child is 6 weeks (yes, weeks) old.

I phoned one school to get a prospectus when ds was about 12 months and got a very snotty response. But not all schools are like that. Why not phone the schools you're considering and ask?

Don't know what schools we are looking at yet - I guess I need to buy the book

Our DSes are down for St Paul's Cathedral School, in the City. I think, when we put DS1 down, you needed to be down by 12 months or so. We just looked at what independant schools were near us, I think we used a website. Then did tours, then decided.