Moving to London, confused about schools

[theriviera]

Hi!
We may be moving to London this summer. There is a lot still up in the area, but my husband's office will be near Russel lSquare (or Chancery Lane tube stop). We have 3 kids (9,7,4), finishing 3rd grade, 1st grade, and preschool in the US. We will be in London for at least 2 years, but it's up to us how long we stay beyond that.

We won't be there until August, at the earliest. From the reading that I have done, we would have to have an address in order to apply to the State schools. We would love to try for State schools as we think it would give our kids a great experience. However, it seems like that is going to be impossible given the timing of our move.

So, given all of that, can you help me identify some schools, both private and state? We are looking for:

• 30 minute max commute for DH (including walking to and from train)
• ability to walk to school (assume we won't have a car)
• potential to move to a state school without moving house
• good or outstanding ofstead
• have all 3 kids in the same school
• 3 - 4 bedroom home, small garden

Take budget off the table for now, as we are still negotiating with his company, so this will help.

Thank you so much!

In England, state schools have class size limits. With 3 children, I imagine you’ll have to identify a school with spaces in all the year groups you need, them find a home nearby, then apply for an in-year transfer once you have an address. Assuming none of you dc have birthdays between now and 1 Sept, your 4 year old will be entering reception; your 7 year old, year 3 and 9 year old, year 5. If they have a birthday before 1 Sept, they’ll be entering the next year group.

They all just had their birthdays so the 4 year old will be entering reception. Would you recommend a neighborhood within 30 minutes (door to door) from the russell square or chancery lane tube stop?

It's really hard to be able to advise without a vague budget particularly given the criteria (in particular the short commute).

Hope that the budget is quite large? Otherwise I'm afraid I think you might struggle given your requirements. Not impossible by any stretch I'm sure but you'd likely be looking at a property in Zone 1 or 2 at a push.

Ps appreciate you're still negotiating budget but can you throw out a ballpark...e.g. are we looking at £2k a month or £10k a month rent?

You might need to at least start with the children in different schools - the chances of finding a good state school with a space in reception, year 3 AND year 5 is pretty much zero, I'd have thought

How do you feel about religious schools?

Let's say £10k a month rent.

West Hampstead. Great location, easily less than half an hour to Chancery Lane, close enough to central London to get a cab back without getting a second mortgage and lots of young families, cafes restaurants activities etc and you could manage without a car. You’d need a generous budget though. State schools are good but you would struggle for a reception place, could probably get for the older ones though and put the youngest in one of the many private schools until a place came up.

m.zoopla.co.uk/to-rent/details/47603237?search_identifier=8e0f53db497b12f62127cfd08c9afbe1

This would be a typical house in a good road

On locrating I only see one state school - beckford primary. Is that right?

the house looks great!

I'm not over familiar with the area, so don't know what housing would be on offer, but Charlotte Sharman is a "good" school that always seemed to have spaces a few years back.

It's close to Elephant & Castle tube or Waterloo, and E&C to RS is about 13 minutes on the tube (one change).

I don’t really want to advise on a specific area, we’re probably a little bit far out for you, but i’d be a little more optimistic than some previous posters about finding spaces at a single school. London’s population is incredibly fluid and spaces open up all the time even at sought-after schools. The larger the school (two or more forms) the more likely it is. Good luck!

Hi OP

It might be worth calling some of the international schools (ASL, Southbank, ISL etc).

www.londonpreprep.com/2011/09/london-international-schools/

To get a place for each of them in the same school you are most likely looking at private schools. I would try and negotiate hard to have school fees included in the package.

sounds like a healthy budget so I'm sure you'll be able to find an area. How about Islington/South Kensington/Pimlico/Notting Hill/Chelsea?

I would try to get the company to a) pay for a relocation consultant and b) pay or subsidise school fees.

When we have ex-pats coming from HO they always get a consultant to search for houses and that takes schools/commute into account. School fees are part of the package but my current branch manager decided against it as there were enough good state schools in his area and most likely he got compensated otherwise.

Pimlico nice and central Victoria line and walk down from kings cross.
Bloomsbury and walk to work,www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-62598403.html
Covent Garden and walk to work St Clement Danes is a good school
Around Regent’s Park?
Private Hill House maybe worth a look
Abercorn,
What kind of area do you want to be in?

We would like to be in an area that has a lot of young families, is close to DH's work, and has shops and restaurants that you can walk to.

Worth investigating Wandsworth (Clapham, Balham, Earlsfield, Putney) aka Nappy Valley. Overground and tube options, and more young families (including international relocators like yourselves) than you can shake a Quinny Buzz at

St John's Wood

You are near the American School but there are also private and state schools in the area.
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-73317944.html

St johns wood is great however it can be pricey! Also, maida vale is lovely, West hampstead/hampstead. Hampstead Garden suburb/temple fortune is beautiful but again expensive, muswell hill is lovely too... for private options in North London which i know well... you have ASL- the american one thats extremely expensive, otherwise, abercorn, Devonshire house, king alfreds, mill hill, North bridge house, highgate -except impossible to get into probably). If you wanted to live the other side, nearer Kensington etc, you have the Thomas's group of schools

Is there a way to tell how likely it is to get into a private school? It would help to narrow down the list.

Honestly? In your situation, I would ring them and ask. Do it this week because next week is half term (a week's holiday) for most schools.

Central Line to Holborn (2minutes to Russell Square) Takes you East to Wanstead/Snaresbrook/ Woodford. Excellent primary schools, though very oversubscribed. Also a great part of London to live, nice Edwardian houses, independent high streets, close to open spaces , forests, water sports etc.

The American Expats in London Group on Facebook has loads of school info