Moving to London - School Help!

[hvf04]

Hi all,

I'm new on here - and very overwhelmed! There is a very high chance that my family and I will be moving to London this summer from Texas. Husband and I lived in Wandsworth when we were newlyweds, straight out of university, so we are familiar with living in London. However, this time we have 3 children (ages 10, 8, and 3), from what I gather, in September this would be Year 6, 4, and Reception.

We are looking in the Wimbledon area, and I am completely overwhelmed with trying to figure out what schools I want to be near. State, public? I understand that we can't apply for anything until we actually have an address, so I'm trying to narrow it down by location, so I can find housing near the catchment zone for those schools. I don't think we want to pay for public, as we'd still like to take holidays. They are very bright kids, top of their classes at their current schools. Will I be doing them a disservice by putting them in state schools? From what I've read, I'm pretty sure the education system in the UK is better than what we've got in the US, and they are in the equivalent of state schools here, but then I read about all these public schools (Wimbledon High School) and well, they lure you in, don't they?

Also, with the 10 year old, she'll be moving from Primary after one year, so would it be worth it to put her in a school that runs through 11+, so she doesn't have to move again after one year?

Basically, I want them to have the chance to get into top universities (either back home in the US or abroad) should they want to do that.

Any advice?

When is your 3 year old 4? If after 31 August then they will be in nursery year not reception. For blackfriars you could look along the thameslink or south eastern lines so Dulwich / Herne Hill /Streatham and further out in addition to Wimbledon. I don't know Wimbledon schools but lots of big state schools in SE24/21 - so there I would rent as close as possible to a 3/4 form entry good school and once one is in rest are siblings. I would think the same applies to Wimbledon. My dc are in 3 form entry school - and there has been movement every year but you do need to be really close to get an in year place. Also a range of decent but not exclusive preps in Dulwich if you want to go private.

The way reception entries are allocated means lists move around from the time applications go in and first places are allocated (April) through to December so it’s not uncommon in busy areas for children to start at one school and move to the preferred option after the first term. Not ideal by any means but possible (and happens around here).

However I agree it’s worth looking elsewhere given the ages of your children. And YY to asking for a relocation package that includes school fees.

Good luck!

Be careful on the tax/payroll situation if you continue to work for your existing employer.

Blackfriars is on Thameslink so you can look north or south along the line.

@bonapp Good thing husband is a tax guy!

@ricstar she turns 4 in May, so I think reception is the right year?

Thanks for the other suggestions on places to look - I’ll defintely do that!

Wish I could edit my spelling on that last post! That’s what I get from typing on my phone.

Just triple checking- when does your 10 year old turn 11? If it is on or before 31 Aug 2019 then they will be starting secondary school in Sep 2019 and you have just missed the applications window so it will be possible but harder.
If they have just turned 10 so don't start secondary till Sep 2020, if you intend to still be here then, you will want to pay a lot of attention to where you are living as you will be applying in Autumn 2019.
I think what I am trying to say is think ahead about secondary school!!!

@smallinthesmoke - she just turned 10 on the 10th of December.

Your youngest doesn't need to legally be in school until the term after her 5th birthday so technically as she's a summer baby you can either ask for to be considered as an over age transfer so she starts reception in sept 2019 or keep her off until a place comes available in school you want in the school year 2018-2019 (if you can't get a place when you want). Over age transfers for summer born children is becoming more common place (though not the norm!).

An outstanding state secondary school in South West London is Graveney in the Furzedown area of Tooting. www.tatler.com/article/the-tatler-guide-to-the-best-state-secondary-schools
Furzedown is an amazing place to live, named in the Times as one of the best places to live in the UK. www.thetimes.co.uk/article/furzedown-london-best-places-to-live-rgphpvvg5
Tooting Overground goes straight into Blackfriars.

@sm33 thanks! I’ll read through these links.

Hi OP

My contribution: if you have a child further into primary school places are much easier to get. Once you have an address you can do an ‘in-year’ application. In practice if you have a child in year 2 upwards and a valid address this could provide a place in a matter of days. Once you have one child in the school most London schools have a sibling policy. So even if the main applications window is over for reception
(For example - or year 7) once the first offers go out the cards all
Re- shuffle (lots and lots of kids turn down places or get places in a prefered school and then down the first offer) . A sibling would be shuffled into the cards as first priority and odds on get place before term starts (I have done this with an in-year application and late application for reception myself).

London schools are significantly higher in league tables than the rest of the uk. There are many many really outstanding state primaries in London.

@Girlwhowearsglasses thanks for the tips! I need to just take things one step at a time!