Relocating to London: need help for choosing schools!

[blueskymom]

Hello!
We’re relocating to London from Switzerland and need to secure a Year 4 place for our son in September 2025. He currently attends an international school, and we’re focusing on private schools in Sevenoaks, St Albans, and possibly Hampstead. We’ll decide where to move based on the school admission. I've contacted several schools and would appreciate your advice or any experience with them. Our son is kind, sporty, and does well academically with supportive teachers. We prefer all-through schools, though it’s not a must.

Currently we have the following:
Sevenoaks prep: possibly have a place, will know in Feb/March
St.Michales, Otford: possible yes
St Columbas college, St Albans: possible yes
Beechwood park, St Albans: possible yes
Habs, boys: need to wait until feb/mar but given the waitlist not sure
Devonshire: possible, but need to wait until feb/march to know

If you had to pick from the above which one would you? Are there any other schools to consider? Thank you!

St Columbas is a lovely school and St Albans is a nice area to live. Kingshott School is also worth a look (although it's in Hitchin, rather than one of the areas you mentioned above, but this is also a lovely place to live and has easy access to London). It goes up to age 16. They get a lot of pupils commuting from St Albans also, if that's where you'd prefer to live, and for senior school offer a school coach service. Kingshott School | Independent Prep School | Private School Hitchin

My son joined Beechwood Park in year 4, and has recently left to go to St Albans. We have nothing but praise for the school (which has an excellent new Headmaster).
My son transitioned well, supported by a class buddy - the teaching staff take their time to get to know children individually and the facilities are amazing. Forest School / covered pool etc.
Bus service runs from Harpenden and St Albans making the commute into London easy if required.
Good luck with your search.