moving to London; no idea where to begin looking for schools. Please help.

[CassandrafromNYC]

Our children are 11 (going into US 7th grade), 9 (going into 5th) and 7 (going into 2nd grade next year). We at first thought to apply to ASL, but are worried the curriculum may not be as rigorous as in British schools...but as to how to go about finding the right schools for us and how to apply to them, we have no clue...is there some book/consultant/website to refer to?

We don't know how long we may be staying; DH will be commuting all over Europe for job so we are not particularly limited to where we can live, but proximity to school is important.

Any and all guidance will be much appreciated; happy to reciprocate for any UK types moving to NYC.

If you aren't sure how long you will be staying, you may find that schools like the ASL and Southbank are better able to cope with a more transient pupil population.

I recommend that you check out the blog Londonpreprep and get a copy of the Good Schools Guide.

Obviously, there are many good state schools. However, you won't be able to apply for those until you have moved in and it isn't certain that they will all have spaces.

Where, I would presume the ASL would have an advantage is if you wanted to re enter the US school system after a couple of years.

I think the practical point is the sheer size of London and the length of commutes that one can have. So for example if you did go to the ASL -is your husband's firm paying the fees? - then getting somewhere to live close to it would make sense. Otherwise, assuming you have the budget/the firm is paying you could have a look at Highgate, Crouch End, Muswell Hill which is the little bit of London I know and often has ex pats from the states around..... Well regarded fee paying schools AND well regarded state schools.

If you are not going to be staying in London long term and I assume are having school fees as part of your package (or on a high salary), then I'd probably start by looking at International schools. As well as ASL you might want to look at ASC and or TASIS, which tend to be in nicer places to live, and more convenient for the airports - and fast trains into London.

I'd be happy putting the younger ones into a UK state school, but at 11 the more serious study tends to start. However I have known American Children go into highly selective Private schools at that kind of age and thrive for the few years they were in the UK. But if you are moving an IB school might be better.

Girls or boys? I believe that the USA school system is a bit behind the English one and you should be aware that children in London are heavily tutored to get into private schools at 7, 11 and 13.

If girls you could consider St. Margaret's in Hampstead (Kidderpore Gardens), it is small and has a bit more flexibility than other schools as they are happy to have, for example, one less child in year 5 but one more in year 8, as long as the overall numbers are right. The head, Mark Webster, is a really nice man and I'm sure he'd chat to you on the phone. It goes to 16 and has a good reputation for getting them into sixth forms at that point. If you like an alternative school with no uniform, consider King Alfred's which isn't far from there and is mixed.

If your husband is going to be zipping around Europe, you may wish to consider living west of London in striking distance of Heathrow. My dh spent a few years making lots of long day trips around W Europe or going early one day, back late the next and being within 30 mins of Heathrow was important to us.

The London borough of Richmond on Thames has excellent schooling, both state and independent, lots of US ex-pats in the area and is close to the airport. Richmond and Bushy park will provide lots of sports and outdoor opportunities for your family.

I understand (but have no personal experience) that Claremont Fan School in Cobham, Surrey (also within easy striking distance of Heathrow airport) has a sizable transient US population, so that might be worth investigating. In Surrey you will get the bigger US-style properties and more outside space too, but still be within 30-40 mins of central London. Families with children of your age tend to step outside the inner London core to areas like these.

Or you may wish to embrace central London living - which will also provide a worthwhile experience if it's not for ever.

lots of great advice here. this is the blog CruCru mentioned:
Overview of London international schools
list of London prep schools

there's a new school Halcyon International School near Marble Arch with lower fees than ASL/Southbank (if that's a consideration), looks like a great school.

are you determined to be IN London? Otherwise you could look at places West of London like Wokingham or Guildford. Both near Heathrow and with good schools. In Wokingham, I know that Holme Grange has regularly American families who come for a couple of years and then move on.

This website has useful geo-data on it.

locrating.com/

@jiinbag has a really good point regarding your Husband needing good access, for example to am airport if he is "zipping around" So Richmond near Heathrow as she suggests, but actually Guildford is near Heathrow also.

If you had the budget for actual central london then somewhere between Paddington (Heathrow express, takes 15 minutes) and St Pancras (Eurostar for Central Paris, faster door to door than flying.) could be considered. Also dont forget City airport...

we moved into London last year & spent a lot of time looking up schools. My advice would be

sign up to the good schools guide website - it has lots of useful info.

if you want a private school, contact them SOON. we contacted schools in Jan for a September start and were too late for some.

a 2nd grade child from New York just joined my daughters class at a north london private school, and found she was a long way behind academically and was happier moving down a year. the school systems are very different, and it is not easy to chop and change. if you are only going to be in the UK for a few years and can afford it, an international school would be a good option.