Moving to the UK from US. School advice please!

[lovrien]

Hello, We are an American family with three boys. Two will be in primary school and one just starting secondary school. We will not be relocating until August and are looking into state school. We are practicing Catholics so would be open to this option but non religious state schools are also perfectly fine. We are looking at Putney, Wimbledon and Twickenham at the moment. Husband will be working near Victoria Station.
Question: Will my boys be able to get into a good school by September or because we are so late, will they be placed in a school that's not so great because it's the only one with spaces? The whole process seems overwhelming. Thanks for your feedback!

You can't apply until you have an address at which you're living.

The secondary school application process for Sept 2017 took place last October, and the places were allocated in March. Each school will have one or more continuing interest lists. These move when a place becomes available (for example, if a child moves away or decides to go to a private schools instead).

If a school has separate criteria for admission (e.g. distance and involvement in a local church) there will usually be separate continuing interest lists. If you move to a house which is closer to the school than the other children on the distance list, your child will join the distance list at the top and be the next child to be offered a place when one becomes available, regardless of how long other people have been on the list.

Thanks, that helps. Is there a possibility then if the waiting list is long enough that my kids won't have any school to attend in September? Or does everyone usually find a place? All I see on websites are that most schools have wait lists.

They probably will be placed where there are spaces, but there is still movement in July/August. If there is any chance that one parent and the boys could be resident before the end of term (mid July) then you might stand a better chance of securing a place as parents who are moving are likely to let the schools know just before the end of term. It is a bit of a lottery as to whether you get a good school at this stage as people move from good schools as well as poor ones. Also you can put your name down on the waiting list for any school that you apply to. Particularly if you are high up in the criteria then you might be lucky. Also some children will go private but not turn down their State secondary choice and so you might get a place in early September once it is clear that the place will be available. It is good for you that the waiting list is managed by the admission criteria, so if you get on the list in August but are higher in the criteria (through religion/distance etc) than someone who went on the list in March but is a lower criteria than you then you will get the place.

It's so difficult moving from abroad to the U.K. and having school places arranged - I've been there! Going private is much easier as schools are not bothered about where you live. But it's not an option for many. Good luck.

It is possible that one or two schools might have spaces, but obviously these are not going to be the most well-thought-of schools, as those are usually oversubscribed and have long continuing interest lists.

It may be that you have to accept a place at a less-than-ideal school, put your son on the continuing interest list for your ideal school, and then move him when a place becomes available. The drawback of this is that he would have to start a new school twice, but you might feel that it's worth it to get him into a school you like.

I know private would be easier but unfortunately we just can't swing it financially. Any feedback on the places I mentioned to live? We would be renting. The criteria being good schools, commute not too long and three bedrooms under 2500 a month.

For the boys entering primary school, the process is similar. The application would be treated as an in-year application because their peers have already started at the school. If they are in different year groups, it is possible that you may not find one school that can offer places to both. (If they are twins, then once a space becomes available for one, the school usually makes space for the other).

In terms of the children's ages, this is a good time to enter the UK education system. I have seen several threads from American parents trying to move as their children are finishing 9th grade or 11th grade, which is very difficult for the pupil, as they are joining half-way through a two-year course.

I haven't lived in that part of London, but my impressions are that those areas are safe, middle class, expensive. Hopefully someone else will come along with more local knowledge.

Catholic schools are their own admissions authority and practicing Catholics are usually given priority. It is worth contacting any Catholic schools you are considering and having a chat with the office. They will be able to advise you about when/how to apply.

Hi
1st the local education authority has to find your children school places. However they don't have to be in good schools or your nearest schools. Also you two primary age boys don't have to be placed together.
Most schools in Twickenham are good. It has 2 catholic primaries which are over subscribed and a catholic secondary . Also popular but people move so there is hope.. sacred heart primary in Teddington often seems to have space.
Secondary wise it has orleans park, officially outstanding but got this accolade a long while ago with a different head. It is oversubscribed but if you move next door to it and someone moves you will be high up the waiting list. There is a new secondary opening richmond upon thames, Turing house also over subscribed is shouting distance away. There is also Twickenham academy. Not over subscribed. It has a chequered past but has recently been taken over but another school so hopefully will improve but as yet unknown. Plus there is st Richard Reynolds catholic as mentioned above. Catholic so you will need letters from your priest and live close and hope for a waiting list place.
Primary wise all the schools are good or better.
Twickenham is a nice family area. People do move in and out of the area and they do get school places. How old are your younger sons

I used to live in Twickenham and went to school there, I loved it and it is a beautiful place to live, which part are you looking at? You are close to two royal parks, the river, good shopping, 20 mins on fast train into waterloo etc x