NORTH LONDON PREP SCHOOLS - am i too late?

[rosemom]

hello everyone! so DD1 is over a year old and i've barely started looking into schools... reading various posts here i'm worried i may be way too late for schools that offer places on a first-come first-serve basis for nursery and/or reception.

the schools i was thinking of are:

• the village school
• st christina's
• st mary's
• northbridge
• devonshire house

does anyone have any experience getting into these schools? if so, how long after your child's birth did you apply? any advice would be greatly appreciated! and of course, if i have missed the boat i would be grateful for suggestions of other schools that accept later admissions

thank you in advance!

relax! I doubt if there would be a problem with any of those. I know the last three and as long as you apply a year in advance you'll be fine.

hey Justchanged, thanks for your reply!

have now done a bit more research and really like broadhurst school... unfortunately i got in touch with them and was informed that the 5 places for DD1's birth month have already been allocated and that we can only be added to the waiting list - sigh

does anyone know how much mouvement i can hope for on the waiting list and how likely we are to eventually get a place?

i'm being told that we would only know 3 months before DD1's start date which is not convenient at all - by then we'll have likely paid a deposit elsewhere and it'll be too late (or is it fairly common for people to lose a deposit if they're offered a later place in a preferred school?)

any insight would be much appreciate

Broadhurst you pretty much have to ring at conception! Try Hampstead Hill, really nice little pre-prep, goes to 7 and prepares for the 7+. Ditto Golders Hill which is in Golders Green. You'll be in plenty of time for either of those.

thanks letsplayscrabble - i think golders hill will be a bit too much of a commute but will add hampstead hill to my list!