Migrating to UK from Australia

[SupaMamma]

Hi All
We are migrating from Australia (back) to the UK.
We have been living in Australia since 2011. Not entirely sure where will settle, but most likely Home counties. We previously lived in Hertfordshire.
We have a girl - going to year 7 in 2023 and a boy, who apparently should go into year 5 in 2023 - which means he will completely skip the whole of year 4 due to our academic system in Australia vs UK and his DOB etc...

So just wanting to put some feelers out there for some advice regarding schools in various locations (Surrey, Herts; Bucks), and any advice from people who've maybe migrated from Australia (back) to the UK and get their views on what it was like especially with the kids etc.
I'm a little nervous that my son completely skips year 4, and would appreciate some feedback on other people experience.

I'd also like some feedback on Schools in and around Chislehurst, (as this is a suburb we're looking at), namely private girls only secondary schools, as well as primary state schools for my son.

Also just feedback on what its likely living in Chislehurst in general.

\Other areas we are interested in: St Albans; Cheam; Banstead; Purley;
Woking; Weybridge; Chertsey;

In terms of where in the home counties - as my husband will likely need to commute to and from the city from time to time, we need good transport networks.

Thank you all...

If you want a private school near Woking or Weybridge for Sept 23 year 7 you need to make contact with the schools now to get a place as the entrance exams are happening shortly.
Options include
Notre Dame in Cobham
Sir williams Perkins in Chertsey
St. George's weybridge
St Teresa's Effingham
The Manor Bookham
LSV Ascot

For both children to be accepted and a bit of support for your ds look at
Hoebridge - new sch
Ewell Castle
Downsend

You will find somewhere esp the last 2 mentioned would take them both but you need to start making contact now and be aware both dc will need to sit an Entrance test remotely etc to assess the dc's needs as much as anything.

hi Hockeygrass
Thank you so so much for the information/recommendation and the heads up about the exams.

When you say exams, is it because these schools are selective?
thank you

No most of the schools on this list aren't that selective which is why they will have places but they need to know who they are taking on so they can advise you if they the right school for your dc. The Manor, Ewell Castle and Downsend aren't selective at all but they will be nurturing and inclusive.
The process is
Register your dc - pay deposit
DC takes a test
DC offered a place once school have seen your passports/visas etc.
You accept the place by paying non refundable deposit. You sign a contract committing to 1 term's notice of full fees if you withdraw after April 2023 (start of summer term).

I meant to add 2 things-
The mixed schools listed are really boy heavy in the senior parts because there are many more girls options in the area so check how many dd are in the current year 7 (excluding St. George's).

If your dc like country / outdoor life I would start with St Teresa's Effingham and its link boys school Cranmore. If you look at their school bus map you will see there are loads of places where you could live and get a quick train to London - ie live by Esher train station but have dc out in Surrey schools with fab facilities. Claygate is a great place to live too.

Best of luck

If you wanted a state school space for year 7 starting September 2023 then the deadline for applications was 31st October 2022. If you need a state space for year 7 or year 5 then you can get a space at any schools with left over spots but it would all be down to luck and there would be no guarantee that it was a walkable distance away. You wouldn't be able to apply for a year 5 state spot until you were in the UK and had an address.

If your DS has a July/August birthday then putting him into year 4 cold be a possibility if you check with the school and future secondary school. DS is May so luckily only skipped half a year of school.

Thank you all for the suggestions and advice.
My DS is 30th Aug!!

so I personally am strongly considering just going into year 4.
However, he is a VERY tall kid - like 99th centile for height and weight, so even by Australian standards, where he is probably in the middle for his peer group - he's like top 5 tallest in the year at his school! So one person (a teacher funny enough), said to just go into year 5, as she feels at primary level, kids catch up very quickly, and it would better if he was age appropriate for his peers in the long run, and also given his size....

He's not top of his class or anything, but he is doing quite well, and hasn't struggled academically at all, so I'm not too concerned about him in that respect.

My DD, is also not top of the class, but extremely conscientious, and well above average. Also vice captain, of her school, and has great leadership qualities. But, also just as important, she's heavily involved in netball, and plays at a high level/selective level for her age group, so we want to find a school that has a strong netball culture, and potentially consider a netball scholarship at some point.
But a school which has a great netball culture would be great, just to support her in that.

so, does this mean that if you are put in a 'left over spot' that maybe that school may not be as good as the more popular ones?

@SupaMamma , the entrance exams for the selective schools are taking place at the moment (plus at some of the schools I mentioned). Spend some time on the Admissions pages of Surbiton High, Kingston Grammar and Claremont Fan Court. These schools have 100's of applicants and operate a waiting list up until first day of term in September 23 so won't be interested in your dd. The dc sitting the exams this month have been prepped for the exam process since age of 9/10. Kingston grammar has a sample paper on its website.
FYI a sports scholarship for a dd at county/national level in netball is worth 5-10% max of the school fees. Schools put the help into the bursary system.

Also I would suggest subscribing to The Good Schools guide if in the long term you want a selective private school, you can always move to a more selective school in year 9 but start at a more nurturing school in Year 7 to get use to the U.K. schooling system. You can also go on a waiting list for a state secondary school once you have a U.K. address.

You could look at prep schools which go up to year 8 , although you would need to have your eye on a destination for your dd from the outset as pretests and entrance exam is already on the horizon. You tend to find a smaller girl cohort as many move at 11 so lots of sport team opportunities, but do look at fixture lists to ensure they are playing competitively. The IAPS website should show which schools have strong teams in their tournaments.

And you will find private schools more likely to consider your ds starting year 4 although it may still have implications for secondary transfer.

Chislehurst has some excellent schools, Bullers Wood girls and Bullers Wood boys are not private but single sex split site. Catchment is tight, very tight though.

Then private you would be looking at Bromley High a GDST school. There have been mumbling a of unhappy teachers in GDST schools, and lots leaving.

Most of the others here are co-Ed

I can only help on the St Albans side. As previous posters have said, I would get in touch with independent secondaries for your daughter NOW as the entrance tests are taking place as we speak. Even those schools which aren’t particularly selective have entrance tests and interviews.

Sporty schools with great netball are Berkhamsted (their netball is some of the best you will ever find) and Queenswood. If she is bright then St Albans High School. Other coed schools are St Columba’s College, Aldenham and St Margarets (Bushey). All have transport from St Albans.

I would actually worry less about your son if you are considering private. Berkhamsted, St Columba’s, Aldenham and St Margaret’s are all through schools so if they take him on then there is no pressure of 11+ so he has time to catch up as he needs.

Alternatively, choose a standalone prep that goes to 13 which again gives him time to catch up. Schools to look at: Aldwickbury, Beechwood Park, Edge Grove, Westbrook Hay and York House.

thank you so much - very helpful🙏

I see people have mentioned state secondaries . Bullers Wood girls and boys in Chislehurst and Bromley High private. There is also Babington and Eltham College - both co-Ed. For state primary schools you will have minimal choice as you will be applying ‘in-year’ but Bromley Council will find a place. Some from Chislehurst and Petts Wood also go further into London (Alleyns, JAGS, Dulwich etc) or further out (Sevenoaks school etc).

Bear in mind Chislehurst is on the edge of a number of grammar areas so lots take the 11+ for Bexley, Kent and Olaves/Newstead. That skews the intake at both private and state.

I think you may need a school search agency with the tight turnaround. The Good School Guide has links to some.

I live in Bromley (next borough to Chislehurst) and have a year 5. The school system is very complex here due to location on London/Kent borders. And I'm a teacher! Herts is slightly more straightforward as the state schools are non selective (except by postcode).

thank you to everyone for all the suggestions and ideas. i’ve actually put in an application for Queenswood as we were quite impressed with the school.
move also since discovered i made a mistake with my daughter. she’s actually going into year 8. due to her DOB. that complicates things a little bit as it’s an unusual entry year.
how does a school search agency help me?
I hear they’re not cheap…

If your daughter's going into year 8 it's simpler as you can only choose from schools with spaces. That's a lot easier for schools to answer than 'would my child be likely to get in in year 7 in X scenario'.

I don't know what school search agencies cost. Haven't used one.

But you were talking private school fees plus areas where family houses cost a million quid upwards...

Farringtons?

@SupaMamma , yes Year 8 is much more simple as you ring the school and they tell you if there is space. Plus they can often squeeze in another dc if they really want your dd to join which they can't do with the entry process for year 7.
It's worth remembering that anyone currently in year 7 who is planning to leave due to a house move etc at end of year 7 has to give notice to a private school by last day of Easter holidays so any schools you contact in late April 2023 will be pretty sure if they can offer to your dd by then.

@SupaMamma my daughter is at Queenswood - feel free to DM with any questions.

Good schools guide can help - they (were) £1000 a couple of years ago now.

One thing I think you need to urgently pin down is where you are going to live.....Chertsey is very different from Weybridge and different again from Purley and St Albans. You can't pin schools down until you know where you are going to be living.

You don't want to be making too many school applications -it tends to be £100-£200 per application.