Moving to London from LA-- need help with schools.

[lamom]

Help! We are moving to London from Los Angeles Jan 2012-June 2012 with a then 7 y/o and 10y/o. They currently go to a diverse public (state) magnet school. We are open to anything but would prefer a state school. Is this possible? Where do we start? We hope to be located near the London School of Hygeine and Trop Med. Thanks for any help.

All UK schools are regularly inspected and the results available for anyone to view. Schools are usually allocated by catchment - how close you are to the school, though some have specific boundaries to a catchment so someone less close, but inside the catchment boundary, takes precendence. It varies.

The postcode for LSHTM is WC1E 7HT. So if you go to OFSTED's website, you select "reports" and then punch that postcode in, with a 5 mile radius, saying you are looking for primary schools. I did that and got this.

Each report will tell you the social mix of the school as well as the achievements in the eyes of the inspectorate. OFSTED is very imperfect, but teachers I know say they're only out by one rank in either direction, as a rule, so opt for a Good or Outstanding, and rent somewhere in that catchment, and you should be okay. Though IMO nothing is better than a personal visit before you decide. A Satisfactory school I know of is a lovely place to be, and an Outstanding a results factory. Depends on what you want.

You need to be aware that very central London has a sharp split between state and private, so state primaries will have a lot of kids whose English skills are poor and will need a lot of support. While the cultural diversity will be fantastic, you need to make sure they have funding and facilities in place to support that diversity so all the kids learn well. Obviously supporting kids with various special needs takes up time and resources, as it should, so the schools need to be allocated those appropriately. A school with a specialist unit will often be a really good one.

Be wary of any OFSTED reports where the head has recently left. A head can make or break a school.

Thank you, thank you! I wasn't sure where to even start. We could certainly rent in other parts of London if this would guarantee us a spot at a good school. If we rent in a specific catchment are we assured a spot at the local school? Thanks again. It sounds like London schools share many issues with Los Angeles schools...

lamom, I did the opposite. My kids were born in London and I moved to LA when my eldest was school age. They are currently in our LAUSD elementary and eldest will be going to gifted middle school magnet next year. If you'd like to get in touch I'd be happy to give you some ideas on the differences between countries and things to look for.

Renting in a catchment won't guarantee a place at a school, if that school is massively over-subscribed (the best usually are) then all places will have been taken at the 11 year old stage and they simply won'[t be able to squeeze you in. Where I live, a school is so over-subscribed people who live a quarter of a mile away failed to secure a place at 11. If you are changing in the middle of a year, it will depend on whether they have a place or not, which in turn will depend on whether someone has left and freed up a place. The best way to know that is to ring the school you have your eye on, and ask.

Faith schools often have a preference for kids from that faith. If you're religious, that is worth bearing in mind. Catholic schools especially will often take a child who lives miles away if they're Catholic over one who lives locally who isn't, and some Church of England schools work similarly. Personally we don't want DS at a faith school, despite being CoE ourselves.

It is often not possible to actually apply to a state school until you have a UK address (as distance to the school gates is one of the permissible selection criteria when a school is oversubscribed) - waiting lists for ad hoc entries are often arranged by distance of address.

You will need to talk to the school about whether they have vacancies in the right year group, and when/how to apply.

Okay you are only going to be in the UK for six months? If so I wouldn't worry too much about schooling. You could take them out of school altogether and home school, making contact with local home educators. Or you could just put them into any local school which has space for a cultural experience, at primary age I do not know of any London schools which are unsafe, although London mothers can correct me on this.

However this strategy ony works if you are definitely not going to be in London for more than 6 months (BTW the academic year in England doesn't end until July). Actually do also be careful about getting accommodation to rent as June 2012 will be a very busy time in London.

Good luck!
ps. you do know that State schools in the UK can be religious? Some US friends were very surprised that my kids C of E school is state funded.

Have heard good things about Christopher Hatton. You could 'phone/e-mail them to find out what their turn-over of pupils is, and the likelihood of a place/places coming up over Christmas next year.

If you're looking for a state school, it's likely you're looking at places in two separate primaries.

Will your 10 year-old be 11 then? Secondaries are a whole different ball-game. Central London secondaries for boys are tricky if you're not taking the private route. I'm sure I'll be told off for that blanket statement.

Christopher Hatton is OFSTED rated as Outstanding (the highest grade possible).

The website is here.

They have a specialist language unit, it seems, which as mentioned is a very good sign - means they get extra funding to support the range of languages and skills of their intake.

I took it to mean the ages the children would be on arrival, which means in the British system they'll need places in yr 2 and yr 5.

lamom could you clarify if you are arriving between Jan/June and staying, or if you are here for two terms at LSHTM?

Sorry - justcrealised that's not quite right, depending on when DCs' birthdays fall:

6yr old: either yr1 (5-6 yrs) or yr2 (6-7)
10 yr old: either yr5 (9-10) or yr6 (10-11)

OP: give the exact birth months and years for your DC, we don't know what years they'll go into otherwise.

Good website for US Expats in the UK which might help.

WowI posted this question unsure if I would get a response I just found the website last night and it is similar to our US website called urban baby but not as snarky! I'm so grateful! I am the motivating force behind the 6 months in London and my husband is a bit resistant due to the "hassle" factor. He fears he'd be home schooling the kids and not getting his own work done! But all of your responses and links have given me a good start on the school issue. I would love the kids to have the cultural exposure of London but just wanted a sense of what is possible. I will start exploring the "outstanding" schools and also look at the "good" ones. I just want them to meet other kids and feel safe and stimulated for 6 months. I sense the British system is ahead of the US so I'm sure they will be challenged.
BTW- DS dob: Nov, 01 and nov 04.
Re: LA mom-- I would LOVE to chat and actually get your advice on LAUSD magnets! IT is grt to meet another public school mom in California. I'll try to figure out the private messaging.
Finally-- had no idea some state schools are religious! wow.

Your DS2 would be in the same school year as my DS, so in Year 2 in January 2012. And your DS1 would be Year 5. So you're looking at primary schools for both.

Not only are some state schools religious (i.e. affiliated to a particular church), they are all (unless they have a specific exception) supposed to be religious to an extent -- i.e. to have a daily act of worship of a broadly Christian character. Schools vary hugely in how they interpret that so if it's something that concerns you it's worth looking into it. Religious education is also a compulsory part of the curriculum and although it covers a range of religions at primary level does tend to involve a lot of bible stories and focus on Christianity. The more diverse the makeup of the school's catchment area the less that's likely to be true, though. You can opt your children out of religious elements if you are uncomfortable with them but that does tend to make them stand out as different.

And in spite of the religious teaching in schools the UK is overwhelmingly a very secular (not religious society).

Satisfactory rated schools can be fine, too, btw. I don't know about the British pupils being "ahead", I really don't think so (have been making a lot of comparisons lately).

(I attended a grade school "Gifted" programme in SoCal in the 1970s and it was a load of s, but I hope that's ancient history, now).

It's an odd thing, but a country with a state sponsored religion - our head of state is also head of the church and all schools are supposed to have a religious element - is as mentioned almost totally secular. Whereas a country like the US, with legal separation of chuch and state, seems far more concerned with faith.

DH has a theory that the association of religion with the Establishment has meant people have developed a cynicism towards it. It's an interesting theory, I think.

If you want the kids to stay in the US system I'm pretty sure there will be US International schools in London. No clue how to locate them, but in case the familiar might be reassuring to them I suppose you could look into that as another option?

You have to understand that the school system in the UK is very diverse. But if you are talking about a state school then when the school gets to what is called the published admission level (PAN) in a year group the school cannot admit any more pupils. Further pupils can only be admitted by going to an independant appeal panel and arguing your case for admission.
A further complication for you is that there is legislation called the infant class size regulations which refers to all classes for reception, year 1 and year 2 pupils. This states that you cannot have more than 30 pupils in any one class with one school teacher. it is very difficult to get admission to any infant class which has reached 30 pupils.
These two issues mean that a successful school is likely to be full and is likely not to be able to admit any more pupils other than through an admission appeal process. So simply living in the catchement area of the school is not enough to get a place, nor is lving close to the school.
I know that this is not the information you really want to hear but you need to be realistic on what could be available, especially for your younger child.

Yeah, it's essential to call them and ask what the situation is. If they have kids moving out, you may be lucky. But to have 2 kids in a popular school leave in different years, you'd need to be really lucky. You may need to think about their going to different schools, if you can manage 2 school runs and the separation wouldn't distress them.

Outstanding schools are always over-subscribed. But in a city I used to live, one was used by a lot of PhD students' and academic's kids, so turnover of the pupil body was swift as a direct result. I'd call the schools you are looking at and see how the land lies.

There is always a lot of churn in London schools.

The difficulty will come if the school has a waiting list that includes distance from the school as a criteria. Until you have an address, they cannot add you in the right place in the list.

Do you know where you will be living? University provided accommodation? If you have an address and a letter from LSHTM to show the dates you'll be there, then this might work for ad hoc places. If a school requires more proof of residency, then I doubt you'll manage to sort out a place before it's time to be off again!

They're making it sound more complicated than it is; people move in and out of London all the time, with their kids, and they overwhelmingly do find reasonable state schools within a reasonable travel distance. OP is only thinking of 6 months of their lives, so can think beyond academic results & Ofsted reports.

You think that was a lot of fast replies, LAMum? This is almost moribund by Mumsnet standards. MN has been a graveyard this past week. Says she who needs to get a life.

Hey- thanks. I'm probably making a mtn out of a mole hill-- it is just 6 months! But my husband is convinced the whole thing will be too complicated. So, I'm hoping to arm myself with the school info.

Not to open another can of worms but anyone have suggestions on London independent schools that may take 2 visitors for 6 months?

The American School In London would be geared up for you, I would imagine. They take short stay students and they'd be teaching to the curriculum your kids are used to, too. Might provide a bit of comforting sameness amidst change? Plus reassure your husband.

My mate worked (as a secretary) at one in NottingHill (I think) that was especially oriented towards Americans; damnit can't remember the name, but it was very good workplace (great atmosphere, she thought it was a well-run school, and would be a decent choice for someone in your situation). Someone else may know it, especially on that American's ex-pat site I linked to earlier.

You should just put them in the local state school and let them explore. It's only 6 months and they are young!!! They will not be having the full adventure if they are in the American School.

But that depends on their temperament. Some kids thrive on such adventures - others don't. I know kids in the reverse move (again, academic parents) who didn't thrive at all when thrown into the deep end that way. Others have a whale of a time.

The OP will know which hers are, and options are always good.