Secondary schooling

[lyn1965]

Good day, we will be moving to London early next year. My son born June 2000 is currently in year 7. He is more artistic and creative than academic. I am looking at independent schooling and would highly appreciate any inputs for me to pursue further.Our residential area could be St Johns wood or Hampstead but in saying that we are not opposed to identifying a home in keeping with good schooling.Our current assignment will be for around 4 years.
Thanks n regards

I would strongly suggest you get professional advice GABBITAS or the Good Schools Guide consultancy are good people to talk to.

The English education system works differently from that in Australia. Like most (if not all) school systems in the Northern Hemisphere, the school year goes from September to July. In England the cut off point for a new cohort is the 1st of September.
As children start in reception in the year following their 4th birthday, and from Reception then go into year 1, after their 5th birthday; your son would be in Year 9 now or when you arrive in January/February.

For private schools the big intakes are for years 7 and 9. They may allow some flexibility of which year group to place your son, but do not rely on this.

Next London is a very busy place, and whilst schools may try to accommodate you, there is no guarantee that they will have room (even in the private system). There will also be entry tests, which may be for selection as much as placement.

The main GCSE years in England are years 10&11. Then there are A'levels in years 12&13. If you are moving in January you will need to stay for at least 4 1/2 years for him to complete his schooling, or get him into a school which has boarding places, for him to complete his A'levels.

You are also leaving things quite late, it may not be you choosing a school as much as you finding a suitable place. This is why a specialist consultant could help you immensely, especially as you are on such a different time zone.

It is irrelevant whether you want him going into year 8 in January or 9 in September (presumably for a Year 9 only entry school) , you will struggle to find any school willing to take him out of synch with his peers unless you have sound evidence of SEN etc which in itself may count against him being accepted. Even if you did, be aware that registration for next September's year 9 entry tests will close very soon - between now and December - and tests could be either December /January so you won't have much time to negotiate or prep him in the meantime. If he goes into his correct year group in January , ie Year 9 , he wouldn't have to sit those same tests or face the uncertainty of having no place at all for September. Given your situation your priority should be to get him into a school in January. If he struggles you may be able to negotiate repeating year 9 in an independent school from September, - then again, he may surprise you.

and in the state system, which may yet be your fall back even though you are currently looking at private schools, he would go into year 9 in January , 10 in September . There is minimal room for discretion or negotiation and even then it is a very protracted process.

We are also moving in to North London (Islington) next year and looking for a school for DS born in Jan 2001. We are looking at Mill Hill - easy tube ride from Hampstead - and Forest School - 40 mins Hampstead Heath overground to Stratford Intl and then 10 mins on tube. Also had North Bridge House suggested to us which is in Hampstead although only goes to 16 yrs old. Since going onto MN also now looking at Emanuel in Battersea - 35 minutes by train from Hampstead Heath to Clapham Junction - short journey for London. As you look at schools go to the Transport for London's journey planner and you can see how long everything takes. Finally - a lot of schools have sample papers on their admissions pages - if you look at those you may get an idea of where your DS is academically.

Thanks mummytime and ladies,
you have been really helpful. It sure is a daunting experience.

Dulwich is a ludicrous journey from Hampstead. But if you are looking at living South of the river then Emanuel is quite arty. Latymer? And the International School in Surrey I think. Many of the independents are used to taking children at slightly out of kilter times because they appreciate parents are shifted with companies. I'd ring them and find out.