Where to move for good schools in London?

[KDP]

My family is returning to London from many years living in America and I have two primary school aged daughters who will need to find a good school. Private school not an option financially and we want to live in London, not the country. Any advice on areas with good overall school standards in which we are likely to be able to transfer our daughters? Looking at Richmond Upon Thames (though wishing Hampstead would seem an option.) Any advice on schools or paths to take? Areas to consider that might not be the obvious choices? Want to be on a tube line and in an area that has overall good schools so SOMETHING will be possible. Help!

The problem is with moving into an area with grammar schools is if you don't get in the other state schools tend to be not great. You do need a back up and if you don't intend to use the private system think very hard before committing yourself.

Agree Kingston is good.
It DOES have 2 non- paying grammar schools, but very difficult to get into as many apply from all over the south.
Has always had negative comments re boys secondaries, but I am pleased to be sending my ds to the local boys in September.

Agree lots of good primaries in Richmond. If you are planning on staying in the area till secodary also be aware of secondary schools as the primaries are linked to the secondaries and it can be hard to get into the better secondaries if you are not at a linked primary even if you live next door to it. The exception is Waldegrave an all girls secodary in Twickenham which has no links so admissions are mainly on proximity (for most pupils anyway)

Anyone else got any experience of Camden School for Girls.
We are in the catchment area but are considering private schools instead. Am I mad?

deaddei - which school did your DS go to? How is he getting on?

KDP,

I don't want to be too down but it could be very very difficult for you to get your children into the school of your choice, especially both of them.

I'm not sure of the ages of your girls, but the the infants (equivalent of Pre-k to Grade 1) are quite full in London at the moment so there's not much spare capacity in general.

The problem is that however close you may live to a school (or whatever other criteria you may fill), that will only put you at the top of the waiting list - you may just have to sit tight and accept a school that's either far away or not very good (or not perceived to be good)- or both.

We moved from the US two years ago and that's what happened to us. We did eventually get a place at the school we wanted, but dd1 has moved schools twice since we came here. Not great considering she was dealing with the whole move from the US to the UK as well.

NOW we have a school that we're happy with - but it's really not been easy. The system here is awful for people moving from outside the area and even worse for people moving from abroad.

Another BIG difference between the US and the UK is that faith schools are also state schools. I don't know what religion you are, if at all, but if you want one of the faith schools then possibly get in touch with the school now to see how you can fulfil their religious practice requirements from the US before you move (when it may be too late).

Good luck!!!

Waldegrave girls school is an outstanding girls state secondary in Twickenham. I would move to be in that catchment area which is getting smaller by the year. One of the local primary schools (all good) will have places as there is alot of movement in the area. Only downside is that if you are near the school you are not that near the station, a cycle ride or a long walk.

I think you have to identify really good secondaries that you think your girls will realistically stand a chance of getting into and work backwards from there. In and around London there seems to be a huge amount of movement in primaries and once you get one child in, probably the eldest first, I'm sure the younger will be pushed higher up the admissions list. Certainly at my dc's primary only between 10 and 15 of the original cohort were left in Y6 and it was regarded as an oustanding London church school.

As everyone has said, primaries are far less of a problem than secondaries, so if you don't want to move twice, I'd look at Teddington/Twickenham (Richmond) as there are two pretty good secondaries: Teddington School (mixed) and Waldegrave (girls), but you need to get in touch with Richmond council to make sure that you are either a) bang in the catchment for Waldegrave, which allocatse places purely on distance (and then obviously live close to a good primary in that catchment), or b) at one of Teddington's link primary schools (most of which are excellent).

Then if your children turn out to be amazingly brainy, there's nothing to stop you from doing a bit of tutoring and having a go at getting into the girls' or boys' grammars (Tiffin), but you've got an excellent fallback in either Teddington or Waldegrave.

By the way, can't remember who said it but Kingston Grammar (private) isn't for boys only, it's mixed - used to be boys only about 10 years ago.

Kingston

thread is a few years old. Would be interested to know what OP did though - we are moving back to London this month - to Camden as suggested in this thread!

agree with all the good things said about Camden girls. I was an inner London teacher for years. Fab place to live as well!

it's funny we are in the same boat. We're thinking of leaving streatham to get our girls into good secondary schools when the time comes, they are only 3 and 1 at the moment but we don't know where to go! we're in the catchment area for Dunraven but i wouldn't send my dog there

Dear All, I'm relocating to UK this year. I'm planning to stay either in Slough and Hounslow. Can you please suggest a few best public schools in these areas? I'm looking for admission for my daughter for 12+ class. If grammer school option is available (if admisaion is possible), please let me know that too.

Any information on this will be highly appreciated.

You would better setting up your own thread as previous posts are much older.

Why those areas, neither are particularly sought after? You will find secondaries start at 11 and there may well be waiting lists for the few occasional grammar places which may arise subsequently, so 12+ occasional place unlikely. You would make an In Year application to Local Authority and they offer whereever a place is available. Hounslow is a London Borough and does not have selective state schools afaik.

I think you'll find Sutton is your place to go. You get more housing wise for your bucks than you would in most other parts of SW London AND it has some brilliant primary schools plus virtually the best state school GCSE/A Level results in the UK (five super-selective grammars and very good comprehensive provision generally too).