Year 6 private school places - South London area

[poppydopolous]

We shall be returning to UK in Summer 2010 and looking for a year 6 place for our ds. We know from colleagues it is impossible to get a place in a (good) state school from abroad as they refuse to consider your application until you are resident in the area. Seems that despite all the rhetoric on choice places are still allocated on the basis of distance from the school. We do not want to move to an area and then find we do not get a place at the school of our choice and have to bus the poor boy miles in the opposite direction. So - we are thinking about the private sector. Reading these pages I get the impression that London preps are only intersted in junior Einsteins. Now DS is not daft, but not in the genius category either. He is sporty and does speak French and German though in addition to English. What are our chances of getting a place at a South London prep eg Thomas', Dulwich College Prep, or similar. Are some easier to get into than others?

[LuluBaLulu]

Thank DrChar for your comments about Hurlingham! My son is about to enter reception at Hurlingham and i was very nervous when I read the previous comments. It's good to learn about the school from people who have experienced it.
I hope your children are still happy.

[Blu]

Not sure why you are so indignant about choice etc - surely no school can keep a few places unfilled on the off chance that a family will arrive back and need a place in Yr 6!

[DrChar]

My daughter has recently started reception year at the Hurlingham and I would totally disagree with the comments made previously . I have found it excellent and feel that the education it provides is outstanding. It is nurturing and caring and certainly does not focus on 'computer games and fashion' . It may not suit the 'high fliers' who want their children to be more competitive, but is ideal for those who would like a well rounded and contented child.

Sometimes the perception that you have of a school may be different before you actually experience the reality of having a child attend it!

[MommyG]

Thanks Lizs

[merrymonsters]

Our state primary in SW London is extremely oversubscribed in reception, but the current Year 6 has about 17 children in it. In previous years, there are usually about 25 kids in Year 6.

Year 6 is usually easy to get places in even in popular schools. Quite a few people move their kids to private schools or they move out of London by that age.

[mebaasmum]

Hi What about Hill house in Knightbridge ???

Or State move to Richmond Where vitually all the state primaries are good but make sure you are in line for one of the better secodaries

[LIZS]

mg yes Jan 2011 exams/interviews for Sept 2011 entry

[MrsVincentPrice]

It's all about your plans for secondary. I would second everybody else in saying that you have a good chance of getting a place at a good state secondary (and if it's only for one year then it doesn't have to be perfect, just not crap). DCs "outstanding" school is significantly oversubscribed at reception but several kids have left over the years that DD has been there (mostly because parents moved overseas) and although new ones keep joining each class is running at 28/29 AFAIK.

[MommyG]

For 10+, do they sit in Jan of Yr 5 for getting into Yr6 in September?

[LivinInThe80s]

I think you really need to decide on the area and then contact the schools directly to see if they have places available firstly. From my experience of state schools in central London, lots of children leave at 8 and 9 to go to prep school, leaving smaller classes in years 4-6 (4 children left DS1's class last July at the end of year 3)

[LIZS]

Whitgift Fodunation schools are usually early January but applications may have already closed. Prep schools will consider throughout the year if there is likely to be a space.

[MommyG]

When would a kid normally write entrance test for 10+? Is it beginning of Year 5?

[Needmoresleep]

There should not be too nmuch of a problem getting a place in one of the 13+ preps. Ty Thomas (Clapham and Battersea) Eaton House, Newton Prep, Hill HOuse, Garden House (the latter two north of the river) and a number further south (Finton House, Hornsby House etc. The Good Schools Guide will have a map showing preps.

The mixed schools in particular thin out dramatically at the end of Year 6 and so schools are keen to maintain critical mass. There will be a contingent aiming for the very competitive schools, eg Westminster, St Pauls and KCS, but also others who may have struggled at 11+ and so are considering other options. A prep would not be a bad place to start as you should get a wide academic range and some small class sizes, especially if your DS has come from a different system. It is not unusual for boys to transfer in from the state sector at this point as well.

Alternatively there are a number of schools who start before 11 and go all the way through. (Dulwich is one.) Worth a phone round to see if anyone has an occasional place, but suspect you may get a more enthusiastic response from a Prep.

If you are looking to go Private for secondary anyway, you might as well start straight away. The 13+ Common Entrance syllabus is heavy on learning, and state schools come nowhere near covering it. (Different if you are aiming for 11+ where the exam is mainly VR and non-VR.

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

Kingston grammar takes a 10+ intake too, then goes throught to 18

[merrymonsters]

Singersgirl is right. State schools often have places in yr 6. Our outstanding primary school usually has about 4-5 places in year 6. Families move out of London or move their children to private school and there are usually spaces.

[deaddei]

There have been lots of head changes at Hurlingham in the last 5 years.

[NKffffffffdfeeaefcX12803e8311d]

Whatever you do,avoid Hurlingham School in Putney!
It is a money making organisation!Originally set up by a property devoloper.
They make most of their profit from deposits.
Just down the Road,a little nursery called Tiggers pulls parents into their nursery claiming they can get your child into Hurlingham as "the husband" is a teacher there.
I had my chance to send my children to Hurlingham but pulled out last minute to send them to Roche School.And I am very very happy.They concentrate more on Education rather than the latest PC games and fashion.Hurlingham has a nice uniform and that is it...
I know parents pulled out their children from that school.

[Singstar]

Have a look at Eltham College as well - its got a junior section as well as a senior school and its got a good reputation. St Olaves in New Eltham is a good private junior school which I think has a couple of places (in the current climate there are more spaces are becoming available. Look at St Dunstans in Catford as well (although not sure if this has junior school). I know that Eltham has great scholarship scheme too especially for sport.

[daisysue2]

There are quite a few school in Surrey which do buses from Wimbledon who I know would have places in year 6.

[snorkle]

but that was a while ago - perhaps the rules have changed. Definitely don't take anything for granted.

[snorkle]

a relative of mine did.

[MollieO]

snorkle is that true about RGS? Everything I've read has said that boarding pupils can't transfer to day.

[snorkle]

Not quite S London, but RGS High Wycombe (state grammar) probably would accept applications whereever in the world you lived as they have a small boarding section. Boarding pupils can then become day pupils.

[karise]

How about somewhere with a grammar system like Bexley or Bromley?

[PortAndLemon]

I didn't mean Hurlingham [d'oh], I meant Harrodian.

Hurlingham is a good school, mind you, but only draws pupils from Wandsworth and possibly the southern bits of Fulham because they are big on being part of the local community.