help please! French mum arriving in Islington

[mamaflo]

We are moving to Islington in May.
I have 2 sons. One of them is 4. How does the school work? Any specific to recommend? Is there any French one? We'll be in N1 4NB...
Any info welcome! Merci!

Hi Mama Flo. I'm not in N1 but am in same educational authority area - so same schools. What are you looking for? A state school (no fees)? Or private (big fees)? Can definitely help you with info on the state schools; know of some private ones but can't give you more than just names....

Bonjour Mamaflo

If your son is 4 already, you need to start thinking about a place in a Reception class for this September. Are you thinking of a state school or private school?

If you are looking for a state school, it would be worth finding out which is the school in your local area. You can find this out from the local education authority. Phone the school, find out if they still have places and ask them to send you some information, look on the OFSTED website to see a report about the school, and when you get here in May, arrange to go and see it. You need to get going quite quickly as school places for September are just being allocated around the country.

I'm sure someone will be around who knows more about schools in London.

mamaflo, we're in N1. Where specifically are you -- I'm not that much of a postcode nerd!

There are good primary schools in Islington, but if your child is 4 already, you probably do need to put him down for Reception asap. Have you looked at the \link{http://www.islingtonschools.net/Admissions/primaryadmissions/\Islington Primary Schools Admissions website}? You can download the brochure in pdf format, which includes info on whether schools were oversubscribed last years, and what the cut-off distance was. That way you should be able to work out whether you'd be likely to get a place. It will also tell you what the cut-off dates are for particular year groups.

The schools that have a largish middle-class intake (FWIW) include Hanover, Canonbury and William Tyndale; good Catholic schools are St Peter & St Paul (EC1), St Joan of Arc (Highbury) and St John Evangelist. But you do need to be practising Catholic and have a priest's reference for those.

Good private schools in the area are Dallington and St Paul's (in the City). Charterhouse Square has a reputation as an exam factory. But you would need to talk to them asap, as most people put their child's name down quite early so they do get full up.

Hi Mamaflo - think that postcode is Mildmay? Think you are half-way between Newington Green and the Balls Pond Road?

Mildmay library is just down the road from you. Pop in and ask to have a look at the list of local schools. The staff there will prob. be able to tell you where your nearest schools are.

Mamaflo, \link{http://www.familiesonline.co.uk/article/static/304\look} here!

Also, here is link to the London \link{http://www.lyceefrancais.org.uk\Lycee}

Merci beaucoup to all of you juliab, littlefish,frogs,goldenoldie and Bink!!! who replied so quickly to my "s.o.s questions".
I understand I have to make decisions now...
We will be on Mildmay Park.

juliab: Yes! i'm interested on info you could give me on the state schools of that area. Obviously I'm looking for a good environment (good teachers AND no violence!).
After your recommendations, I'll check ofsted site in details.

frogs: what does FWIW mean? I downloaded the file and want to read it with my husband over the WE. Thanks for all the school names.

to all: does the school we choose now determine a future admission in another school?

a bientot!

Mamaflo-- in Mildmay you're quite close to us, and not immediately in the catchment area of the 'popular' Islington schools (except possibly Canonbury). That doesn't mean you wouldn't get a place eventually, though, if you stayed on the waiting list.

You might be closer to some of the Hackney schools Grasmere is a popular one, quite close to Newington Green. Betty Layward also has a good reputation. Here is the page for \link{http://www.learningtrust.co.uk/schools/primary_schools/\The Learning Trust} which controls education in Hackney admissions is done on distance rather than borough or LEA, so the fact that you're actually in Islington doesn't affect an application to Hackney schools.

The closest schools to you would be Newington Green or De Beauvoir (both Hackney) but really you would need to come and visit before you tell whether they would suit your needs.