How competitive are private London schools for in-year admissions?

[Shmanmonet]

We're thinking of relocating back to London in just over a year for entry into 2023 academic year. My DD will be going into Year 5 (currently Year 3).

It looks like it'll be really hard to get her into a state school, certainly we won't be able to arrange this before we actually move which I really don't like as it'll add to all the uncertainty. We've done this before with older kids when we returned from a relocation and was extremely stressful finding a state school - ended up on waiting lists and moving mid-year - never again! So I'm thinking of putting her into an independent school for years 5 and 6. (We could stretch for secondary - would rather a good state secondary but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it)

She's very bright, in extended learning in her current school and reading more than a year above expected and maths at Year 4 level too. I think she would do well in a more academic school, she enjoys being challenged. So I was looking at NLCS, Habs, South Ham High, City but they all look very competitive and probably very little chance of a Yr 5 place.

First, would they even be interested in a kid achieving like my daughter or are they ten a penny for them? We've no experience with selective schools so really have no idea what level they are looking at. She seems clever to me but certainly not genius smart.

Second any idea of whether this is something that is feasible in terms of spaces coming available?

Or other potential schools in the North London(ish) area that could work for her? The good thing about going with an independent school is that we can settle on the school and then find where to live whereas with state schools you need an address and then you find a school. As of now, we can cast the geographical net very wide, even make other parts of London or Herts work.

@Shmanmonet for the most competitive schools, they won't have long term vacancies as they are very oversubscribed so occasional any occasional vacancies created by covid / Brexit will have been filled quite quickly. If a new occasional vacancy arises and you apply for it, you'll probably still be competing with a large number of applicants.

The level for the most competitive junior schools is very high. For context, you take the entrance exam for Y3 in the winter of Year 2. At this point in Year 2 they will need to be familiar with the entire year 2 and the entire 3 curriculum so working more than 1.5+ years ahead of the national curriculum. This will vary by school but in general this is the expectation for the most academically selective ones.

Because that is very good news! And different countries have different systems and occasionally people get muddled.

I suspect you have nothing to worry about - try ringing some state schools and see if they have space. Our (usually massively over subscribed) school have 5 empty spaces in Year 3.

Mill Hill had a pretty bad reputation when I was at school (30 years ago!). Mainly for sporty kids, not academic at all, lots of bullying. If it's like that today, it wouldn't be a good fit for my DD.

@Mumoftwoinprimary
Ahh, got you now.
She's in a school that follows English National Curriculum and the years and cut-offs all line up with the English system.

You may well find that getting a state place in Y5 isn't as hard as you think. It's prime "let's leave London because we're scared of the secondaries" time. I don't know if it's as marked in North London, but here in South London my DC's class has had massive churn since Y5.

I was also at school 30 years ago and a lot has changed. Mill Hill was boys only at that point and so was Highgate which was for less than brilliant boys.

I wouldn't base any assumptions on what schools were like 30 years ago and equally as others have said I'm afraid that competition for the very top schools is insane - both at standard every points and even more for occasional places if they even have any. Good luck.

Register NOW for as many schools as you like the look of. Give yourself options. And be proactive with them about following up on your application and making enquiries about places.
we got my son into a independent school in year 3 - we had to be quite organised and active about it though. Following up with the school, looking around it , meeting with head etc

i'll second the recommendation to look at St Margaret's Hampstead - lovely little school and more flexible than many others.

Hi to find vacancies go to council website and look at school admissions and then in year admissions should be the info

www.ealing.gov.uk/info/201116/in-year_admissions

It's actually looking less likely we'll move for 2023 and more likely for 2025. Older DD pushed back HARD at the idea of moving, she wants to finish school here. If we have to, and it's still possible, of coruse we'll deal with it. But we're going to do what we can to stay where we are for 2025. Then only one kid to get into school and for a regular entry point for Year 7 so one less move for her too. Let's see!

And yes, I know I shouldn't base schools on what they were like when I was at school 30 years ago but it does stick a bit! (MHS had girls for 6th form when I was that age but not all through)

Mill Hill changed hugely- still great for a sporty kid but now mixed, nurturing, bullying taken very seriously and no more of an issue than anywhere else. Academically it's perfectly respectable but not in the same league as NLCS, City etc.

If you're considering co-ed, I would add Highgate to your list.

Yes but it's still usually where you go if you don't get in anywhere else......

@passport123 actually that's completely untrue. I know of a number of children who were targeting a range of schools and didn't get into Mill Hill

I’d have thought for in year admissions that schools would be happy to fill the spare place. Do they really all have such long waiting lists that they can afford to be so picky?

For the ones the OP originally mentioned yes. If you don't know the schools probably don't have any idea - the competition for any chance place is highly, highly competitive

@MrsWonderland yes, the OP has named several of the top schools in the country. This won't hold for private schools in general though, just this list.

5-10 applicants for each place at most of these schools, though of course each child is applying to several

Yes, 5 to 10 is about right. The spread of schools people apply to for primary though is more limited than at secondary. Most people I know applied to max 3 for primary as the logistics of travel are a natural constraint at that age. Many only applied for 2.