Grammar School question plus place to rent

[shelly2017]

Hi,

I am new to London with 2 kids (12 and 4) and have to look for the right location to live so that kids get admission into good schools without facing "over-subscribed" problem. I am open to live outside London (like within 30-35 miles). Someone suggested Canterbury or Ashford since that area has good grammar schools for girls but he did not know about over-subscription there or not. Can you suggest if I want my elder daughter to get admission in a good Grammar school with relative ease, what will be a good place to live? Is there a site or list that will let me know which grammar schools were not oversubscribed in or around London in 2016? I checked about Bromley also but it seems grammar schools there will be tough to get admission into.

Please share your thoughts.

Thanks
Shelly

You would be relying on her passing a selective test and there being an occasional vacancy come up at a school for which she is first on waiting list , as she has already missed year 7/11+ intake. Speak to Kent county council admissions department regarding the In Year application process.

Grammar schools are selective so she will need to pass an exam to get in.
Then if she passes you will need to find a school that has a place in her year. You will need to speak to all the councils you are thinking of and ask if what schools (if any) have spare places.

Thanks for reply. So grammar schools take the test before school is found? I mean once my daughter passes the test after that we have to find the school? So passing the test makes her eligible for any grammar school? Who will take the test and whom to approach for this? Apologies for too many questions.

You need to speak to the relevant county admissions office about the test and how it works after the 11+ intake. Assuming she passed there would be no obligation to find her a grammar place, just a secondary with vacancies. There may well be others who "passed" the test at 11+ but did n't get a place at one of the grammars they requested, who are still on the waiting list. You really also need to consider how good the non-grammar options might be or look in non-selective areas.

Thanks for the info. I will contact Kent admissions office.

Each school will run their own tests. They are done before applications have to be submitted at the end of October.