Need Help understanding British School System

[Naliny]

Hello,

We are new to the British school system (German/French family) and have a four year old who is due to start Reception in September.

As we only recently moved back to London from abroad, we are late in the process, and I am desperately trying to get my head around the very complex system here.

Firstly: I think I am pretty certain to want to avoid the 7+ exams as it seems like a lot of pressure to put such a small person under. So that would rule out any pre-preps that only go until 7/8. But are there any advantages to sending your child to such a school? It seems like some of the top prep schools (that feed into the top secondary schools) only accept kids from 7/8.

Secondly, we have narrowed our choice down to a handful of schools (choice is limited of course at this point) but they all end at 11+. Now I heard that girls tend to leave for secondary school at 11+, and boys mostly leave at 13+. Why is that?? And also, what happens to all the boys in schools that stop at 11+? Are they automatically excluded from those top schools that accept kids from 13?

Is it fair to say that one route is pre-prep (7+ exams), prep (13+) exams, and then secondary school. And the other route to chose is prep from 4-11+, and then secondary school at 11?
Or are there preps that cater for children from 4-13?

I honestly have no idea how our son will develop in school and it’s not like I have my heart particularly set on the likes of Eton or Harrow. I just would like to not exclude that option by default because he left primary school at 11.... it seems like here one literally has to think 15 years ahead and it’s stressing me out.

Could someone enlighten me on the pros and cons of the different routes, what options there are, and which questions I should be asking myself at this point? Every time I feel like I found my answer and made a decision, some new piece of information pops up that gets me all confused again.

For info, we are looking at Co-ed schools in South and South West London.

Thanks in advance!

Firstly, would you rule out state (non-fee paying) schools? you could look at the likes of l'ecole des petits in fulham (link included to school website), for reception, which is fee paying. from there, pupils progress onto fulham bilingual primary for years 1-6, which is non fee paying, meaning the only exams they would have to sit would be SATS in year 2, and year 6 (the same for all children attending state schools). You wouldn't be ruling out the likes of Eton or Harrow, your dc might just require some tutoring to get in. However you also have the choice of state secondaries, or less selective fee paying secondary.

hope that helped a little!

Thank you for your quick reply. We definitely wouldn’t rule out any good (outstanding) State schools, but since we don’t have a permanent address yet we haven’t been able to go down that road unfortunately.
We have had an offer from L’ecole des Petits in Fulham... i was just a little turned off by the fact that it only goes through 6. But definitely worth looking further into it. Thanks for your feedback!

No problem. Yes, it does only go through to 6 but it is connected to fulham bilingual, and from my understanding most, if not all, dc who go there move up to the bilingual school x

Can you maybe have your thread title changed to 'English' school system as there's not such thing as a 'British' system.

There are 4 countries of the UK and we all have different school systems. Ours in Scotland is the most different. We have different ages, stages, names, curriculums and exam systems.

Going to secondary private schools at 13 for boys is just tradition, although many previously 13+ schools are moving to 11+ entry purely for financial reasons. Some kids go to a different prep for years 7&8 if the current prep stops at Y6, not at all unusual but obviously more disruptive. Some schools go from 4 right through to 18. It’s a very mixed bag.

You are right at the beginning of your journey through the school system. You really have no idea of the strengths and weaknesses of your child at this stage. These will develop and inform future pathways. For a first school I’d go with the one which “feels” best for you, is easy to get to and has a good track record of feeding into a variety of schools later on down the line. I’d also say that your own financial situation may change along the way so best not to have a path through to university mapped out quite yet - there could be bumps in the road!

A lot depends on whether you wish your children to go to a French or German school. There are many French primary schools, including Marie d'orliac, which is v close to the one where you have been offered a place. There is a German school in Petersham, near Richmond. Alternatively you can put them in an English fee-paying pre-prep (loads of these around and best idea is to choose one near where you live) or an English state school from Reception to Y3, say, while you see how they develop. Your local council will be able to advise on which schools still have places and allow you to join wait lists for schools currently full.

If you don't have a permanent address do you have a year long rental lease at least? I have been in a similar position as you and know how stressful it is. Many sympathies - it will be fine, however! Perhaps main thing is to work out where you want to live and slot in a school around it rather than the other way round.

Since you mention Fulham - I am gojng to assume you are somewhere in that area, because in addition to general Why/What questions there are also practicalIties if available places.

First off - the English system here with 7/8/11/13+ is convoluted and it’s not helpful to ask why... It’s a legacy and will eventually change, but we are where we are.
Secondly - you are too late to get into most top pre-preps anyway, and I presume you have a bi/tri-lingual child, so he’ll need a bit of time to adjust and those schools focusing on 7/8+ won’t give him have that much time to do so. So, while for a bright monolingual child the 7/8+ can work OK, in your case - I’d not do that.
(I say OK - because taking exams at 11 or 13 is actually a lot more stressful for a child because at that age they understand more and put themselves under a lot of pressure. While 7/8yos don’t really understand at the same level and just go with the flow of very body else taking exams.
Also - for boys - if they don’t do as well at 7/8, they have another chance at 11 and 13.
While girls only have one chance at 11.

So - in your case - there are a few schools in Fulham that can give you good choices and are also mixed as it’s what you seem to prefer.
Fulham Prep - has provision till 13 and now is a all through school - so your boy can stay until A-levels.
Thomas’s and Hill House all have provision to 13.
What happens in these schools in later years is that many girls leave for their 11+ schools and it’s mostly boys left. Which isn’t bad as that allows to prepare for boys school exams in a more focused way.

Good luck. And remember - first school a choice is hard but it’s made harder because people believe it’s cast in stone. It isn’t. You can always adjust as you go along - there is mobility in the early years and kids switch schools really easy. Parents get stressed over it, but in reality it’s not a big deal.

It’s not the “British” school system.
What you’re describing is the English system and doesn’t apply to the other 3 British countries.

So many senior schools now offer entry at 11. Likewise many preps routinely take additional children at 11. I wouldn’t worry about it too much. It’s more important to find a school where your child would be happy. My biggest piece of advice (for both prep and senior) would be to avoid academically pushy schools or schools that are results focused. The quality of the education there just isn’t as good as the schools that focus on individualism and providing a broader education beyond academia.

Your child is four, so there is more than enough time for you to do your research to plan for their future education. They do not have to stay at the first school you send them to - and it is only the reception year. You will be able to move them if you want to. Formal education doesn't start until they are 5 and in Year 1.

Thank you everyone for your very helpful and interesting feedback.

friskybivalves - we have definitely considered the German school as well as a number of French bilingual schools, and they are still an option... ideally I'd want my son to end up doing the IB... so yes, definitely something I need to consider. We don't have a year's rental contract either - we got here just before the lockdown and are in a short term that is extended month by month (were supposed to leave by end of April, but that obviously didn't happen). So now, we have decided to decide on a school and then find a house in that area, rather than the other way around. Thanks for your empathy though! :)

MMmomDD - very helpful feedback, thanks. You are right, our child is trilingual, or rather has a bit of knowledge in all three languages, but doesn't speak any as good as a monolingual child his age does. So absolutely - we will avoid the 7+ exams. Good point though re the stress at 11+ exams, hadn't thought about it that way. Good to hear about the schools you mentioned having provision until 13. We do have an offer from Hill House, but given where it's located I think we'd struggle to find an affordable home in the area.

It's reassuring to hear that things are not set in stone at this point, as that was exactly the impression I was getting doing my research....

Thanks again everyone, really appreciate it!

London is very pressurized around school places. If you can consider moving into the home counties and commute many feeder country preps for Eton etc are under-subscribed and desperate to offer you an in-year place at any stage.

Where do you see pupils from Des Petits progress to the Fulham Bilingual Primary?

As there is no mention in the admissions policy for the state bilingual school of the fee-paying French language one (and indeed, according to the Admissions Code, it would be unlawful for an independent school to be named as a feeder school), then presumably parents of DC leaving the latter would just apply for and be allocated (or not, dependingon availability) an in-year place at the state school in the normal way.