Moving back to Barnes - help please!!

[Cherryonthetop1114]

Help!! After a few years in the countryside we have decided to move back to SW London. We used to live in Putney but would likely move back to Barnes. I am struggling to get my thoughts clear on the schooling front. If you are able to comment on or clarify any of the following I would be hugely grateful:

• Barnes Primary School - it seems we would need to live in Little Chelsea to have any hope of getting a place. Does anyone have any experience of whether it is possible to move during a school year?
• Is Lowther as hard to get into as BPS?
• Harrodian - it seems unless their name is down at birth there is no hope of getting them into the pre-prep. Is this correct?
• Are there any other pre-prep options in the area that are easy to reach?

I should add that DD is doe to start in Reception in Sep '15 and we are looking to move for the next school year (2016). Many many thanks for any help.

Hello no advice but interested in you decision to move back we moved out to the country but I think we've made a mistake and wondering how hard it would be to move back...,

Efferlunt how long have you been out of London? Our main reason is DH commutes 4-5 hours each day and I don't want him doing it long term. He has so far missed all the preschool related things and hates the idea of this continuing during our girls' school years. He feels very far away from us during the day and could never get back in less that 3 hours should he need to. He doesn't see our daughters from Sunday pm to Friday as they are in bed when he leaves and gets home. The other driving force is that although the area we live in is very beautiful and we are in walking distance to a town and lots of facilities, there is an overriding sense of emptiness and lack of life. I just think we both need more going on. For example we love eating out but there really isn't anywhere decent nearby. I have made some lovely friends but it has taken a long time (we've been here almost five years) and it has been really tough to meet mums I 'click' with. It's tricky to know what to do and this time is crucial as DD1 is soon starting school. Just hope we haven't left it too late!

I totally get that. The main thing for us is that cost and time of travel. As you say DH barely sees the kids on weekdays and we never have time to sit and watch telly in the evenings any more. weve met some nice people but haven't found that community feel if hoped we'd find out here. If I could wave a magic wand and get us back to Richmond I would but things are never that easy. Impressed you are taking this step!

Oh to answer hot question 18 months for us. DS has started reception down here so thought of moving schools is daunting.

There is a new primary school being built on the site of the old Putney Hospital beside All Saints School in Putney. It's on Putney Common and very close to Barnes. Not sure of the opening dates though.

We moved out of Barnes a couple of years ago, but even then, the catchment area for BPS was ridiculously small (280m last year I believe) so yes, Little Chelsea is your only option. Lowther is a lot better, they cover most of Central/North Barnes - have a look at www.schoolcatchment.co.uk

Have you considered East Sheen as well, two very good primaries there.

There is a good thread on the Richmond Local board (think it's called Richmond schools chat) which might help you, and they will probably be more up to date than me with local knowledge.

You might want to have a look at the Merlin school in Putney which is a wonderful place. It has the same owner as the Harrodian so there is a pretty much automatic place in Harrodian's Year 4 for any Merlin child.

Thank you all for very helpful comments. I will look into all suggestions.