Hi

[rose26]

Hi , I am moving from Singapore to London in October and I have 2 kids. 11 years and 5 yrs. I dont know anything about London but after a lot of research found the basics of schools, catchment area etc etc. Can you please suggest good grammar secondary school for my daughter who is very bright and a primary school for my son? In Bromley or somewhere else . My hubby will be working in Zone 1. Thanks in advance.

Presumably you already do know you won't automatically get a place at a grammar, or even independent, school at this stage . Entrance tests were sat last Autumn and places confirmed for the September 2014 intake. When is your dd 12? It really would be a case of going on waiting lists and hoping she would qualify academically and be near the top if someone drops out.

Maybe repost in Education asking for suggestions in the Bromley area in the title or the Mumsnet Local page for the area.

You will not get a grammar place for your son now!

Bromley, but this goes for most London boroughs, is very oversubscribed. We live in west Wickham and I commute to the City which is an easy way to do, rains are frequent and fairly ok.

We have a number of public schools and state schools around. There is constant movement, DD had two new classmates since schools re-started in September but it is a waiting game. There are secondary schools, public and state again, around, we have a grammar girls as well but I can imagine this will be full in September.

The council should be able to give you advise how to proceed.

I remember lots of short but heavy rain bouts in Singapore....

Thank you .. I guess things are not going to be easy for me .should I email schools from here or wait till I actually reach London but my hubby was planning to rent a house before we come .

My dd is April 2003 born and son dec 2009. Here she is in class 5 and was suppose to sit for a major exam next year but I guess according to UK she will be a class ahead . I am not worried about the exam as She is one of the top students but it depends on how long the waiting list will be . So shud I compromise and put her in a not so polpular school first and wait for the good schools? Thank you .

So shud I compromise and put her in a not so polpular school first and wait for the good schools? You really won't have much alternative tbh unless you can Home Educate, but bear in mind depending on where you live in relation to the schools, there is a chance that selective places may not come up until 6th form, 5 years away.

Your son would be Reception age and again as an entry point those school places have just been allocated and it will be a waiting game . He is legally obliged to be in education as of next January so you may have some time to wait it out for a more sought after school.

Is private school an option? There may be more flexibility there.

I don't think the council will give you a school place unless you can provide your UK address. Definitely contact the council as soon as possible and see how the process is. There is no obligation for the council to give you a place near your address, they can send you to one at the other end of the borough but you could then keep your son on the waiting list for a local one.

Your daughter would be required to go to school on her own, walk, cycle or use public transport.

Will your husband be in the UK a lot earlier than you?
If he has to commute he needs to see where the stations are serving London. You have several lines with SouthEastern going into Charing Crossand Cannon Street or into Victoria and Blackfriars. The network is pretty good, stations everywhere in the borough.