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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Can anyone suggest a good company that will help me choose what school my child should go to?

77 replies

Reece001 · 12/04/2011 22:50

I am looking for a list of companys, (anywhere in the UK) who would help me in finding a good school for my 16 year old boy. He is currently at an Independent School in Scotland. We are moving down to England. I just need someone to help me through the whole process. As I really woudn't know where to start. I dint mind how much it costs or where I need to go to get the best help as possible from a professional company!

Many Thanks

OP posts:
slipshodsibyl · 13/04/2011 11:28

Well in the end you and your child do choose the school out of a list provided after interviews and discussions with the company and family.

It is quite common for expat families to use these companies and a perfectly reasonable solution, surely, if you aren't familiar with the schools or are busy (and relocation is always a difficult time). I'm not sure why some folk think it's such a bad idea? Surely the more information and help, the better?

mrsdenman · 13/04/2011 12:19

It's just picking on a newbie for the sake of it, Slipshod. Of course it makes sense for the OP to use an agency. All the objections are entirely specious.

Original poster
Reece001 · 13/04/2011 16:42

Thanks slipshodsibly, thats exactly what I mean and I think certain people are getting the wrong idea about me. But thankyou both slipshodsibly and mrsdenman, at least both of you understand.

OP posts:
stillfeel18inside · 13/04/2011 17:25

OP - there's Laidlaw Education in Sheen - they specialise (as well as tutoring) in finding school places. They interview you and your child first to get a good idea of where you're aiming - why not give them a go

Loshad · 13/04/2011 20:50

other option is St paul's - our ex head who is totally fab will be high master there from sept, and it is an excellent school

tropicalfish · 13/04/2011 21:31

also try www.elevenplusexams.co.uk they have a thread on independent schools that could provide you with advice.

tropicalfish · 13/04/2011 21:32

latymer upper in hammersmith could be an option as well

LadyLapsang · 13/04/2011 21:47

What grades did he achieve at GCSE and what are his sporting talents?

applesandcider · 13/04/2011 22:37

I would have thought you'd have come across Gabbitas in your research.

You're leaving it a bit late although I understand you may have circumstances dictating this. My DD switched for 6th from from one independent school to another for reasons relating to her musical talents and had already taken her entrance exams in the January before she joined in September.

We did use Gabbitas to give us some alternative choices to those we'd already researched. However, we went with our original choice (also swayed by the fact that DD was awarded a 6th form Music Scholarship).

The ultimate choice is yours and that of your son. You should consult him at every step. I don't think that paying someone to find a school is necessarily the right way forward. It is essential that YOU do some research.

Have you talked to your son about the change - what is he looking for? If he's happy at his current school could he board? What about his highers? Can they convert to A levels or BAC?

mebaasmum · 14/04/2011 14:06

St Pauls/ Westminster both very academic, take only the very brightest.
latymer upper hammermith easy to get to from Knightsbridge, mixed, good school though not as academic as St Pauls and Westminster.
Kings college wimbledon, Supposed to be very good, Expensive.
Hampton, all boys with girls school next door. again need to be bright but not as much as first two. Very sporty, though not all boys there are. might be an awkward journey from Knightsbridge.
Emmanuel, often peoples back up choice at 11, mixed, slightly cheaper than some others.
St benedicts ealing, mixed, catholic but lots of non catholics, again not top notche academically but OK, had some controversy a few years back.
Kingston grammer mixed. Considered to be a good all round school. not the easiest journey
St James Ashford. Different, love or hate, and be aware of its history.
Only know West London

meditrina · 14/04/2011 14:20

Kings College Wimbledon is a very academic all IB school, hence it doesn't appear in league tables.

Many outer London schools run coach services which make them more reachable from places like Knightsbridge. You could include the Dulwich schools in your search because of that. or you could look at weekly boarding just outside London too.

There are potentially a lot of schools to look at.

I second the advice above to start with The Good Schools Guide, and then use either their own consultancy service or one of the ones they recommend.

TheVisitor · 14/04/2011 14:25

Hmmm. Is this a thinly veiled attempt to advertise Schoolschoice as your ads kept being removed?

Bonsoir · 14/04/2011 14:35

Gabbitas

complexnumber · 14/04/2011 18:02

Have you considered Latymer in Hammersmith

Original poster
Reece001 · 14/04/2011 18:49

I've not. But do you think it would be worthwhile looking at it?? So really, my choice now is Westminister or Latymer. If we had the choice. Which one would you suggest?

OP posts:
Colleger · 14/04/2011 19:31

If your son is due to go into the sixth form in September then you have missed the boat for both Westminster and Latymer and quite frankly for most of the London schools. It would be better to have him board in Scotland or in a school just outside of London. Do you have to live in Knigtsbridge? Could you commute in and live outside London and have a choice of less academic schools? Epsom is known for it's sport and is not as difficult to get into as Latymer and Westminster.

toutlemonde · 19/04/2011 18:55

Thanks for posing the question OP, I know exactly what you mean re getting some professional guidance to help with such an important issue. Having the Laidlaw and Gabbitas links is useful to me as I am looking for something similar - an independent asseesment for my DS and some help with the schools choice and entire process tbh.

Dustylaw · 19/04/2011 22:46

The Good Schools guide offer a consultancy service on a paid for basis. For details go to the Good Schools Guide website. I imagine they are pretty good. Obviously you have to take the time to tell them what you want in order to get the value from the service.

KristinaM · 19/04/2011 23:00

Is your son currently studying for highers a levels or ib?

And since you obviously live in a rural area of scotland, is it essential that you Live in Knightsbridge?

Why don't you ask his current school what they advise?

KristinaM · 19/04/2011 23:21

And what year is he in now?

applesandcider · 20/04/2011 01:21

I think the OP is not reading the thread!

Original poster
Reece001 · 21/04/2011 00:27

He is in 5th Form. I don't really want to involve the school that he is at the moment. We have now bought a house for definite in Knightsbridge. So yes. He is studying Highers.

OP posts:
KristinaM · 21/04/2011 08:33

Well in that case he will
Have finished his highers before you move house! So depending on the university /course he wants, he may already have a university place. Not sure why he needs to do another year in school then, unless he is really immature. Couldnt he think of soemthing more useful to do for a year or two?

And if he needs to get more qualifications for entry, how in earth is he going to slot neatly into the second year of a two year a level course, when it will be a different curriculum?

How can you be thinking of doing this without discussing with his present school AND with his prospective school? You think an agency can sort this out for you?

This is a huge disruption for your son at a crucial stage in his education. If this is genuine I think you need to take your sons needs more seriously. Especially as you say he's not very academic

applesandcider · 23/04/2011 00:27

I agree Kristina!

OP read the rest of the thread otherwise it is pointless asking for advice.....

IME if he's about to finish his first year of highers, he would do well to enter sixth form at lower sixth. If you have researched english schools you should be aware of this already.........!

coccyx · 23/04/2011 14:15

How very odd, would it not be easier to go and visit and get a feel for these schools

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