Education system in UK - Aussie needs help deciphering!!

[lill72]

Hello,
As an Aussie who grew up with an entirely different education system, I am very confused as to how the UK system works - can you help to explain it to a confused mama! I have a DD who is 20 months - who will enter nursery just after she is two. I have her name down at 2 nurseries but went to visit another one yesterday which was completely different to any I have visited. It seemed extremely academic and really only emphasised this throughout. At the end of the tour, we were given a list of private schools we should be applying for - some of which I would already be too late for. They also said many had admissions policies for 3 year olds - I was stunned. Is it also the case that you have a better chance of getting into a school if you go to a certain nursery?

I found yesterdays experience a little full on. Why? Because the nursery didn't seem like a place to be a child, but more of an educational feeder to a private primary and secondary school. Whilst I want my child to have the best education, I don't want them to feel this crazy pressure at this age. I went to a private school from age 4 in Australia and this was certainly not the case.

We are undecided on state/private school at this stage - I am happy with a state school as long as it is a good one. The only thing is this thing of having to live in a catchment area and the catchment area is so small.

I also have seen on blogs if children go to state schools they need special tutoring to get into a private secondary schools? Goodness.

I am soooo confused as to what nursery to go for, as it seems to affect primary/secondary school.

Could someone please explain to me how it all works??
I would be very appreciative!!

Are you in Scotland, England/Wales or Northern Ireland? The systems are very different.

I'm in London - England. Oh I did not know they were very different!

Hi Lill, I am also an Australian mum, in South London. "Nursery" is a catchall name for something that could equate to an Australian kindy, or to a full on private pre-prep, or almost anything in between. State school nurseries will not usually be full time for little ones. Private nurseries can offer full time care for working parents. It will depend very much on what you want from a nursery, and also which school you want your DD to attend. In some cases, yes, the nursery will have an effect on school entry. But not all. (Helpful, no? )

The State system is very different from the Independent /private system but most settings for under 5s should follow the EYFS regardless of whether state or independent.

London is different from the rest of UK so I hesitate to say too much. Where exactly in London are you (which borough) & would you be willing to move house to get into a school you preferred (people in London especially do this)?

I don't know what your idea of a "good" school is, how you would define & identify that? How much can you afford to pay if you go private?

You could try asking on MN Local for your area for local school gossip.

You might want to tour schools now, state & private, & then make your nursery choices accordingly; for some of the most elite private schools you might have to now make specific choices about which nursery; for most private & local state school choices you don't have to make binding decisions yet.

Do go and visit schools, even state schools are very used to people visiting with 2 year olds or younger (at least in London and SE). It's only after you have visited a variety that you will get a clear idea of what you want and like.

and remember, even if you make the "wrong" decision at first, it is not a disaster. Many children start in one school and then for different circumstances have to move to another. Especially within the private sector you'll find many children that join a school for a couple of years and then move on. Don't get too worked up about having to make a decision for life.

This Wiki entry explains things well.

Sorry but the wiki entry is out of date

What part of London are you in lill72? Sadly, you do need to work backwards from secondary, primary (or prep) to nursery. You need a strategy for keeping your options open so that your child has the chance to get into the kind of secondary schools you want - whether it may be state, independent, boarding etc. PM me if you have further questions.

Hello everyone, I had written a long reply to all your very helpful posts then my computer crashed and lost the lot! So apologies for only now having the chance to reply (again!)

AdvertureswithVoles - I live in the borough of Islington. Does this mean I have to go to a state school in that borough? Even if I am close to another one in the borough of Hackney? I guess we could move to be close to the state school that we want - but wouldn't it be the case that houses near desirable state schools are more expensive?

I am not sure if we will go private or state - definitely state for secondary. I guess I rate a school by comparing it to what I went to. I went to a private school from age 4 to 17. It is the things I liked about the school that I would look for in a school for my DD.Hard to put into words. I will ask my local MN group.

janinlondon and blackwattle- I cannot believe that the nursery you go to affects what schools you can get into. Ahhh so different from Oz!! Blackwattle I will PM you thank you

mummytime - I do agree - visiting schools is the only way to assess what you like and find the right school.

SoldeInvierno - thank you for your comment. As I am already too late for certain schools, this does make me feel better!

Thanks all again -it has given me lots to think about and schools to go and visit!

LIke you I (and my children) went to private schools from age 4+ and that is the system you will know. I am more in outer London than you and 4 and 5+ entry and 7+ entry to fee paying schools is not about how soon you get a name put down but how well the child does in the entrance play test (or at 7 written test). Certainly my daughter's very academic school from 5+ was perfectly happy with chilren who had been to part time Montessori schools or just been at home. It didn't matter at all where they were before. It was how they did when they were tested that mattered and acquired learning was not what they were after either at 5.

State schools do not have feeder nurseries and the nursery your child attends will not affect their chance of getting a place at any particular state school. Private is different IIRC - they may give priority to who they like (whereas the local education authority assigns state school places, not the school itself).

Catchment areas are not necessarily based on how close you are to a school, it can be quite illogical in some cases. Your LEA will have a list of schools and catchment areas, or sometimes they are on the school's website.

Welcome to the UK educations system! The good news in London is at there is immense churn, so evenif you don't get the schoolyou what first off, there is a good chance of securing a place yo like later. The bad news is there are increasing numbers of children, and not enough places (so bulge classes or long bussed journeys may be needed) and there isn't muc sign of improvement.

State sector: choice of nursery is totally unconnected to application for a reception place (there are a few exceptions, but very rare and the only one I've heard of is a Jewish school). You need to apply the autumn of the school year before you want your DC to join. The applications window opens around the start of the autumn term, and closes on a set date mid-January. You need to look out for this - it will be well advertised, but you won't be individually notified. Reception - year 2 classes have a strict limit of 30 children per teacher.

Each school must publish its admissions criteria: typically SEN, looked after, (faith siblings, faith places if school has a quota of them, or indeed all as faith), siblings, other. Tie-breaker is usualy distance from school when number of applicants exceed number of places. Most London boroughs do not operate a catchment system (in sense of a formal priority admissions area), so what you need to look at is greatest distance admitted. This should give you some idea which schools you stand a chance of getting in to. If you are close to a boundary, your nearest schools may be in the next borough and you can apply to this on an equal footing.

Private: each school does its own thing! You do need to enquire at every school you are interested in. They may well prioritise children from their own nursery and siblings of children in the school. But they essentially do their own thing. Very few expect registration shortly after birth these days, but non-selective ones often deal with over-subscription on a first-come-first-served basis. So it may be worth an early registration at such a one as your backstop.

Yes, you also get academically selective ones even at reception age. Early registration is less important for these. The assessment may be individual or in a group, and you may even feel that you as parents are getting the once over. You'll have to see what the school says it does (the nuts and bolts of admissions will be on the website), plus when you've visited a few and decided which if any younlike, ask around locally or put a shout out here for any tips.

Just to add to EdithWeston's comments...

You do not have to choose a school in Islington. However, most schools use distance as one of their admission criteria. The further away the school, the less likely you are to get a place. If you want your child to go to a school in Hackney you simply list that as one of your preferences when you apply to Islington. Islington will pass on your application and let you know whether or not it has been successful.

Yes, moving close to a popular state school could be expensive. However, some unpopular schools are actually very good. Take a good look at the schools before deciding.

Ah I meant I will definitely go private/public for secondary! Just reading the rest of your comments now!

Don't predetermine State or Private yet. We started out aiming to send my eldest to private for secondary. However, discovering his SEN, he is dyslexic, meant he was unlikely to get into the only close boys private school. So then we had to look at a lengthy commute or State. We are close to a fabulous Comprehensive (no academic selection), which was the best school for him.

Not sending him private, or the younger siblings; means my husband's redundancy was far less stressful, also he has been able to take the job he really wanted and improve his quality of life. We now see more of him, rather than the less that would have happened if he'd been forced to take another high powered city job. We can also afford to save for University for all our kids.