What type of school for my transferring 11-year-old American daughter?

[windycitymom]

We are relocating to London from Chicago in January 2012, so I am very new to the organization of the school system in the UK. My daughter is 11-years-old and starting 6th grade here in the United States. Would it be better for her to attend a primary school that goes up to 13-years-old (she could then attend the same school as her 8-year-old brother), or should I place her in an independent secondary school apart from her brother? We expect to be in the UK only 2-3 years, and then return to the US for high school. (I am not very interested in sending my children to ASL.)

Yes, WCM, though in the city where I was it was pretty much par for the course (you can probably work out where I was by that - college town, very Catholic... ). And it was made up for by the warmth of the welcome and the genuineness of everyone I met.

Your current school sounds great, but I agree that your kids may find the change to the UK system quite challenging. They are so hugely flexible, though. I was awed by how my dds adapted.

Good luck with it all.

What about King Alfreds ,not had personal experience but independent 'progressive 'in north London,think it goes all the way through as well so both children could be together

We don't really do report cards here in the UK like in the states. Children are tested, and the results are used to group them according to their abilities test results. But, the results are not shared with the parents. Everything is done in groups. My kids sit at tables of 5 or 6 six kids. Whereas in the states the whole class tends to sit at their own desk facing the front of the room. I'm sure every school is different but this is my experience in the UK. Incidentally, I am American grew up just outside Chicago, so that is the system to which I compare my children's experiences.

I think the Good Schools Guide is the best source for good schools really. So, if you follow that book, you are getting good information.

Also, if you go to a state school, they will place them according to their age so there really isn't any room for you to choose which year she goes into. Private schools I understand are sometimes more flexible.