Moving to UK in September on waiting list for private schools

[Shubh3105]

Hi, we are moving From India in September and seeking admission for our ten year old son in one of the private schools in Richmond. I've written to all the private schools there and have heard from four with the same response, year 6 is fully booked, they can put my son's name on waiting but he's unlikely to get a seat. Since, there are others ahead of him. Is there an admission expert here who can guide me through the process or someone who has been in a similar situation?
Thanks

Thanks GinandJag I just wrote to them. I'd not found it on the net before. Appreciate!

Are you particularly fixed on Richmond, even if you can't get into any of the schools you like?

Things to think about might include:

• how flexible can you be on location in order to find a school that is a good fit?
• Will your son spend the rest of his education in the UK or are you likely to move again (either internationally or back to India)? In which case, have a think about the time scale and what environment is most likely to make the later transition easiest.
• If he will spend the rest of his education in the UK, where do you envisage him ending up (a famous public school, a less famous but nice private school, a good state school, selective or non-selective...)
• How immersive do you want your son's experience to be? Do you want to be able to connect with other expats / the Indian diaspora or do you want a more English environment (as long as the school is supportive with acclimatisation)?

If you are moving for work in Richmond then Richmond makes sense, but if in central London, the South East is your oyster. There are lots of very good rural prep schools that would have space, go up to Year 8 and would prepare him for Common Entrance. Some are in places that are remarkably close to central London. Sussex might be a good bet both for commuting and for prep schools.

There are very old prep only schools like Cottesmore and Ashdown House, which combine a bit of a Hogwarts feel with awareness of the needs of international children. They are predominantly boarding, but do have day pupils now. Equally, there are schools that go all the way through like Ardingly, Hurstpierpoint and Brighton College (the last of these is very academic). These are now predominantly day schools with boarders.

Unfortunately the summer holidays are starting, which makes it impossible to visit and see a variety of schools in action, but I think it might be worth thinking beyond the M25.

Falcons sounds like the school to speak to. They'll have some boys leaving in Y6 so will be glad to have one coming in and staying on

Feltonfleet is just what you need, if you're willing to go as far as Surrey. I was a pupil there from 2002 until 2012 and absolutely loved it.

The school is fantastic at pastoral support and is in no way pressured by results. Pupils go on to places like Wellington, Cranleigh and Brighton College and there's always one or two who go to Eton or Radley or Winchester. Such good leavers' destinations are achieved by letting every child find what they're good at and then helping them to excel.

Focus of the school is on the individual child and what they can contribute to the school community. This can be academics but also music, dance, sport or drama. When I was there they used to say that we are the school "where individuals really matter" and I think that this entirely reflective of the ethos of the school.

Buses go from all over West London with some people coming from as far as Fulham. Would definitely recommend you have a look around at some point. If it is anything like it was four years ago I could not recommend it more highly!