London's expatriate in september, need help for the school

[chancyril]

Hi everybody
First I apologize for my very bad english... I promise i'll take classes as soon as possible.
We learned recently that we are going to be expatriate in London in september. We were very happy. We have three kids girl 6 years old, boys 9 and 10 years old. My husband is in London this week to find a school and an house. But everything seems worst and worst. The relocator told us there's no more open spaces in private school (only in the expensive one we can't afford) and that it will be impossible to have a state school at this period... My husband will work in Marylebone, we were thinking to search in Hampstead or near that and now the relocator told us that we have to go in Wimbledon or in Hendon to find schools with open space.... Is that true that we won't be able to have states schools now? do you know about school with open spaces (and not the most expensive ones)? I would really appreciate any comments... We are completely lost... and I feel terribly sorry to have my husband alone and not able to know what he can do.
Thank you for your help

Chantal

Hi Chantal,

I have been in this situation many times as we move country every 2-3 years due to work so I know how you are feeling. Don't despair though.
The first thing I do is research Education Consultants in the area we are moving to. Look at reviews for them and contact a couple. This has saved me so much stress in the past.
I have never moved to London so can't give you any names I'm afraid for this area but it should be easy to google.

Good luck with the move, It will work out in the end x

Hi! I've name changed because I don't really want to be recognized. My DC go to a lovely state school in Wimbledon which I know would have spaces for all your children. It is The Priory is Queens Road. Wimbledon is a lovely place to live, commute to Marylebone would be reasonable. HTH and good luck!

Chantal, I have sent you a private message about schools.

Hi Chantal

This link shows you which schools in Merton (which covers Wimbledon) have spaces in higher years.
Is your oldest son going to be 11 before 1st September? If so, he would need to go into secondary school rather than primary school

www.merton.gov.uk/learning/schools/changingschool/admissions/school-applications-and-transfers/vacancy-information.htm

There is a good schools guide you may find useful. If you go to the website, (see link below) i am sure that they advertise consultants who may be able to help you.

www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk/

Good luck

Hi,
Thank you so much to answer so quickly. My oldest son will turn ten at the end of this week, so I think my three kids will be in primary. You encouraged me I thank you so much for that. WorldWideWords could you tell me how long it takes to go from Wimbledon to Marylebone? it seems far but I don't know London.
The relocator is the consultant too for the school, but he told us that the only way is Hendon or Wimbledon with only one independant school in each place. You told me that there's spaces in Wimbledon's state school I'll check... Thank you so much!!!!

Hi Chantal, I have pm'd you.

Wimbledon to Marylebone would take about 35 minutes. You take the district line from wimbledon to paddington and change there for the bakerloo line. It's quite straight forward really.

Are your kids all boys or do you also have girls? I'm asking because Willington school in Wimbledon, which is private, might have spaces too, but it's an all boy school.

Wimbledon is a really international community, something you might want to consider. Lots of French, Spanish, Australians, etc. Not sure about Hendon...

Lots of excellent statebschools have spaces as the children go up the school because some parents take children out for private schools at age 7. Also, a lot of people leave London as their families grow. Often as they start to worry about secondary school options if they can't afford private.

Secondary schools in Wimbledon are poor but the primaries are usually excellent. You can phone schools directto ask about availability. I'd suggest calling Bishop Gilpin first. Dundonald is also good, as is Hollymount closer to raynes park.

You could also place your older children in one school and then your daughter would get immediate priority when a place comes up in her year group.

Thank you WorldWideWords, I have 2 boys and 1 girl. It's very nice to have you, the relocators thinks that Wimbledon is the best option for us... Do you know Wimbledon? is it a nice place to live?

Thank you mypersonalfavourite, you give me a lot of informations, I was thinking Wimbledon was far from Marylebone, but 35mn is good... My husband will go there this afternoon or tomorrow morning to check the school I think. Thank you

Wimbledon is a great place to live. Open green spaces, a village like atmosphere at the top o the hill but good transport links and very useful shopping at the bottom of the hill. And no aeroplane problems unlike other area of south west london. Very important!

Are you used to living in a big city or more of a smaller town? That might help you choose what kind of place to move to in London.

I love Wimbledon! We've left because school catchment areas are so tight and we were worried about not getting into a decent school but the older children should be fine for the reasons I've given.

It's also much easier to get out of London than other areas because it's close to the a3 where the traffic is fine. Great access to the airports and Waterloo too. Good luck!

Living in Wimbledon is wonderful. You're surrounded by parks, there's lots of activities for children, there's 2 theatres, 2 cinemas, great public transport links into London, I mean, you're in Waterloo within 15 minutes... May I ask what nationality are you?

FriskyBivalves, mypersonalfavourite, and WorlWideWords, you make my day... I was anxious about Wimbledon because we didn't know anything... you are so enthusiastic about it, that I feel better. My husband went there and he told me it's very pretty, he seems to be better... and your comments are in the same way... I prefer to live in cities, but after my children birth we made the choice to live in a small town near a big town to have both... maybe it's a little bit the same with Wimbledon?...
Thank you again

I forgot to answer, I'm french nationality and we are in USA (two years and unfortunately the economy is not good, we have to leave), you can't imagine, I was not able to speak when I arrived, and my level today is low, but I make a lot of progress ;-)

chancyril you'll be happy in Wimbledon I'm sure. It has everything a big city has to offer but you can walk everywhere! Large European community amongst others, seriously, you'll love it.

You need to talk to Merton council to apply for schools but you can also try the schools directly as they can tell you if they have spaces. Try The Priory, Holy Trinity, Bishop Gilpin, Pelham and Dundonald. As for finding property, if you go to RightMove and enter SW19, you can get started that way.

I know nothing of school places available in London, but i think your English is very good

Good luck with your search

Chantal, hi

I grew up near Wimbledon and it is a lovely place for a child to grow up. If you are close to a tube (underground metro) station, London is very quick and easy to get around.

Are you French/ French speaking? Have you considered the French Lycée? It was all in South Kensington when I went there, but I think there is a primary school in Clapham now.

Chantal, your English is very good indeed!

Chantal, j'habite à Paris maintenant. Est-ce que votre enfants parlent l'anglais? Si non c'est très facile à prendre le métro à South kensington pour aller au lycée français. Désolée pour mon français terrible...!

You're all so nice!!! FriskyBivalves your french is better than my english, first I didn't understand why you said that because I supposed you were french. For the french lycee it seems to be full a long time ago... and we are pleased to try a local school, in USA my kids were in an american school and they find it the best ever!!!! with many different activities, i think that it's the same in UK....

Not true. I am determined to improve my French - if it could be as good as your English I would be très contente. There are indeed many activities at an English school that we don't seem to have in our daughters French school. Drama classes, music, sports etc etc. À ce moment nous faisons toutes les choses comme ca le mercredi. C'est dur...

I hope you find somewhere good to live. Have you checked the websites such as Rightmove and Zoopla? Up around the Common you will find many apartments and some seriously expensive houses! There are more houses down towards Southfields and Wimbledon Park where property tends to be a bit cheaper too. The code postale est SW18 egalement SW19.

I believe the French lycee is opening a satellite school in Kentish Town and they are probably not that full. The South Ken is impossible to get into (unless you are Sarkozy's ex or Madonna) but the Ealing one is easier and has a good rep

There is Abercorn in St Johns Wood (close to Marylebone) which normally has spaces

Good luck