Moving to London and can't find any independent school places

[mummyinaus]

Have DD and DS, 8 and 10, and moving back for DH's job relocation. Originally from London. Problem is, schools. Our DD enters senior school 2017, and places already are allocated at most private schools. Whats makes it harder, is she isn't that great at maths, and so many of the selective schools are going to be out! Shes fine at other subjects, average at maths.

I have called maybe 10-15 schools, and all the same message, "we are full", or "we examine all girls take top 15%".

Does anyone know of any schools that could have places, co-ed an advantage, but really at this point, not fussed. Looking at guildford, essex, redhill...various....argh.

If the school is close to a suburb commutable to canary wharf within 1hr15, that would be excellent!

Looking at state schools also, good ones. There is all about being in right catchment for september.

Moving to UK from aus is much harder than other way. Here, everywhere seems to have places.

You might try the international schools - ACS Cobham. They do the IB. They are used to intake at any time of the year.

Which schools have closed their 11+ lists for 2017?

Emanuel has, because it can only manage 600 applicants. And there's been speculation whether other schools will have to guillotine at a number that reflects their saturation point, but I hadn't realised it had become widespread.

Which side of London do you want?

(PS all schools always say top 15%, or perhaps 20%. Don't attach too much weight to that).

Do you mean Senior for this September, not 2017 ? Senior allocations for 2016 have only recently been made and there will be considerable movement particularly in the independent sector until mid April when the financial commitment is required. Now is probably a difficult time to call tbh. Worth keeping in touch with those schools who seem more amenable and see if they will assess her as a late entrant in case a place comes up.

You don't be able to supply for state schools until you are moving over to a confirmed address. Surrey LA , for example, will only consider an application a month in advance of the move, so you would be reliant on availability of places at the time you arrive. When are you due to arrive in UK?

Have you looked at moving to Kent? Sevenoaks, Orpington and Bromely all might be worth looking at. Less than an hour from The city by train and quite a few independent schools.

I tried the main ones in guildford, then around essex (since crossrail is there), brentwood, and then redhill/reigate area. In terms of sides of London, if its commutable we are good to go! Sutton High school etc also, around cheam.

any tips would be appreciated, we are not after a "charterhouse", just a decent school.

The ACS does IB, and it pushes people into effectively a maths a-level or close, and often thats not great for everyone.

International School of London in Surrey?

www.islschools.org/surrey/home/

Notre Dame in Cobham?

Ewell Castle, Dunottar Reigate, Lingfield Notre Dame, Croydon schools such as
Old Palace and Royal Russell ? Or look at those with overseas boarders as they tend to be more understanding of circumstances such as yours. What are you particularly hoping for in a school for each child?

Does it have to be a day school? Would you consider (or be able to afford) weekly boarding as an option? This would allow broaden your search area.

If you came a little further out there is a diamond school (they take boys and girls but teach them separately apart from in early years, and sixth form) called the Royal school it's in haslemere, I have a friend who teaches there. Haslemere to Waterloo is 50 minutes on a fast train?

When are you arriving back in UK? All secondaries private/and state have just allocated their places for Sept 2016 . For September 2017 you apply for state October 2016. In dependants will close their lists on varying dates then even the less selective school will test Jan 2017.
One option would be to look at prep schools that go to age/13. Options to consider are New land House in Twickenham. Newton Prep in Batter sea. For boys Denmead in Hampton. Also another coed Twickenham prep. Less academic. I am sure others can give you other ideas.
Another idea is Eaton Square Upper . Prep school that is going to start a senior school in Sept 2017.
Some other less academic senior schools. Halliford Sheperton. St James Ashford. Portland Place.
North bridge House. Mill Hill/belmont. Aldenham.Thames Christian College. The Cedars. St Martha's (girls) . St Christopher's Letchworth. Box hill. Frensham Heights. I am moving out of London now.

Arriving back close to sept/oct, hence it will be touch and go for getting a house and school combo for an application. Hence, ideally wanted a fall back of private/good state.

Make sure you have an address close to a good secondary for 31st Oct as that is the closing date for secondary state schools. All good schools will be over Subscribed.
For primary (state) you will be dependant on where has space so find an area where/all the schools are good like Richmond borough to up your chances of a good school.

Although schools might not gevablebyp take anyone for Year 6, they haven't yet opened their books for 2017. That happens from May-June. You'll have to register for the entrance exams. Look up the North London Consortium Schools; in NW Lobdon they are popular.

Excuse terrible typing!

So will your dd still be 10 on Sept 1st 2016? If so a prep to 13+ would be a good idea to give you more options for secondary and continuity or one with junior/senior school. Applications for 11+ independents often close later than October unless they take earlier registrations, which few outside greater London area do. Hurst in West Sussex might be worth a look.

And notice to leave an independent school at the end of summer term will only be due at beginning of next term, mid April, so places may well become available at that point.

Have you thought about Ealing in west London? Crossrail will be there in a couple of years. St Augustine's and Notting Hill and Ealing for girls, a bit more tricky for boys, St Benedicts will have places, and there are coaches from Ealing to John Lyon, merchant Taylor's, Hampton, or the tube to Latymer upper school and City of London.

Look at lewisham/blackheath/greenwich/dulwich and out to bromley

Off the top of my head:
Colfes
St dunstans
Blackheath high
Eltham college
Bromley high
Sydenham high
Virgo fidelis
James allen
Alleyns
Dulwich college
Trinity
Whitgift.

Lots in se london, and very commutable to canary wharf.

thanks, alleyns is going to be full, but there are actually a few schools around croydon that could work.

These two links proving useful
www.zoopla.co.uk/heatmaps/ - allows you to see what best areas are in a suburb
www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/property/house-prices/11482241/Mapped-Where-Englands-best-schools-are-pushing-up-house-prices.html

all the schools mapped.

There are many excellent state primaries in se london too. How about state primary, then the usual application process into secondary..

If you want co-ed and not overly academic but still sound, try Kent College Canterbury. Or try the three preps that act as feeders for Cranbrook School at 13+ (St Ronan's, Dulwicj, Markborough House). All very commutable to London.

I second the SE. Petts Wood is great community with easy commute to Canary Wharf (train to Lewisham or London Bridge then DLR or Jubilee line). Boys seem to go to Eltham or Dulwich and girls to Bromley High. Slightly less academic is Babington which is co-ed and even less academic is Farringtons (also co-ed) but there are some fab state schools nearby too including Bullers Wood for girls. You'd need to be in Bickley or Chislehurst for catchment for Bullers.

Greenacre in Banstead? Train from Sutton is 30mins into Victoria.

We had an educational consultant help us identify independent schools that had availability mid-year at the levels we needed. I have no idea whether she had any particular connections beyond a normal person (I got the feeling she did at some schools but not others), but she definitely did all the legwork of keeping in touch with schools and she managed to find places at 3 different independent schools that are otherwise oversubscribed. We toured all 3 and chose one. My DCs are younger than yours so it may have been easier, I don't know. My DH's company paid the consultant as part of our relo package so I don't know how much it cost. I'm sure she's not the only one who does this, but feel free to PM me if you want her info.

Good luck with the move!