Apologies for long post, but I need some advice - DH called today and advised that we are returning to UK in the next four months. DS currently in Year 7 in International School in Switzerland, so I need to get him a Year 8 place somewhere in Surrey - independent day or boarding school, whatever has availability at this late stage for September 2011.
So I'm totally panicking - ACS Cobham is obvious option as it has the MYP and IB that DS will recognise, but I'm not sure of its reputation. DS is bright, but lazy (!) so would benefit from a school that has higher expectations of him then the current International School he is at, so going down the traditional british BS system is attractive - although a hot-house wouldn't suit. He's more creative, then sporty as well. From what I've gathered this afternoon, some schools take the kids at 11+, but most of the others at 13+. He's missed the deadlines on both of these anyway, so I'd rather get him in to a school that takes them at 11+, so I don't have to move him twice (once into a prep, then into another school at 13+)
It's like looking for a needle in a haystack - and I'm going to have to do most of the research on the schools on-line - nightmare trying to get a feel for the school. Does anyone have a recommendation of a school that might suit? Are ALL private schools very selective? How can you tell the ones that aren't? Major problem is that DS wouldn't pass a competitive entrance exam as he was out of the english system for 5 years - now bi-lingual German, but falling behind on english grammar and spelling because of it.
DS has had an enormous amount of change in his life and I haven't told him about this yet, until I have an idea as to what to do school-wise.
Any advice gratefully received as still reeling from the shock news and panicking that I'm screwing my DS's education up for ever!!