Moving to London in September

[alessandraV]

A friend of mine is moving to London in September and she has a DD starting year 8. She is not British and she won’t be admitted in a estate school, so she is looking for a private one. Ideally she would live near her work in brook street but could also go to NW or SW (she also has to rent). Could you advise some good private/international school? American schools are out of the equation ( too expensive). Thank you all!

Most private schools will be £21K +

🙈 thank you

Why won't her DD get a state school place?

Look at the GDST website if she wants an all girls school. They have six or seven dotted around London.
You should bear in mind most schools are closing in the next three weeks so she should contact admissions ASAP for private to see if they have spaces in her year group.

@cakeisalwaystheanswer

Why won't her DD get a state school place?

Because every one she is writing to replies they have no vacancies. 🤷🏻‍♀️

@cakeisalwaystheanswer

Why won't her DD get a state school place?

Because every one she is writing to replies they have no vacancies. 🤷🏻‍♀️

@leafeater

Look at the GDST website if she wants an all girls school. They have six or seven dotted around London. You should bear in mind most schools are closing in the next three weeks so she should contact admissions ASAP for private to see if they have spaces in her year group.

The girl prefers a mixed one 🤷🏻‍♀️

She has to have an address then the local education authority will advise what places are available. For state school. Or she could look by local authority.

@leafeater

Look at the GDST website if she wants an all girls school. They have six or seven dotted around London. You should bear in mind most schools are closing in the next three weeks so she should contact admissions ASAP for private to see if they have spaces in her year group.

The girl prefers a mixed one 🤷🏻‍♀️

@Embracelife

She has to have an address then the local education authority will advise what places are available. For state school. Or she could look by local authority.

Thank you! She wanted to rent near the school... maybe she will have to do the other way around.

As pp says school places are allocated by the local authority (so wherever they're living eg. Camden or Haringey or Lewisham etc) so they need an address. As I understand it the local authority are obliged to find a place. The good schools are difficult to get into, although it might be a bit easier in year 8.
This will take time and dedication to sort out. Does she have any contacts in London who could recommend a school? She could find out if there's a place in yr 8 and move into that area.

Parents in London spend years agonising about schools.

Schools won't know until September what places they have. Prople move. She should choose a Borough with OK schools then apply when has an address.
Where is Brook Street anyway?

It will count as in year admissions for example
www.barnet.gov.uk/schools-and-education/school-admissions/year-admissions/secondary-year-application

www.wandsworth.gov.uk/schools-and-admissions/admissions/in-year-admissions-and-transfers/

Basically look at each borough. See which list vacancies.

Fir example Wandsworth says You should contact the Pupil Services section to find out the availability of places in the schools listed in the brochuresChoose a Wandsworth Secondary School.

So she can call each londonm borough education department and ask which schools have places for Yr 8 September then look up.those schools with places

..but situation can change in September

Get on every waiting list OP. There is a lot of movement in London and it will be enhanced this year because some expat jobs based in london may go or be moved back to the home country.

Places may be very last minute but they will come up. Good luck to your friend.

Thank thank thank for al the answers!! 💜💜💜
Brook Street is SW1

In her shoes I would find an area that suits her journey to work. Then (of those areas) find one that has good schools. 'Good' rated Ofsted is fine, doesn't need to be 'Outstanding'.

Then check that that school admits on distance. The find a place to live that is as close to being on the doorstep of the school as possible.

For example, if she is working near the Northern Line stations in N1 she could move to Balham , as close as possible to Chestnut Grove school. And also put her name down for other Wandsworth schools such as Burntwood.

It would be better if she could come in August and have her name down on the waiting lists before term starts.

Oh, sorry, SW1 is not on the Northern Line.

But if she is close to Victoria she has lots of transport options to different areas. The principle is the same.

If close to Victoria she could move to the doorstep of Dunraven school in Streatham , put her name down also for Elmgreen and Norwood school, and catch the train from Streatham Hill station.

For example.

Thank you very much @ComeBy 💜

I cannot find a Brook Street in SW1. W1. In Mayfair?

Yes, Broom Street is in the heart of Mayfair, just next to Claridges, so she certainly won't be living near work.

She needs to look at tube lines out from there (Piccadilly, Central etc) and then plan schools for where she can afford to live from there. I suspect she won't be able to afford to live within cycling distance.

On fees, as stated upthread the Girls Day School Trust schools (eg Wimbledon High, Putney) are under £6k a term, (quite a bit under in some cases) but most Co-Ed ones are north of £6 (some a fair bit).

A problem is that independent schools broke up over a week ago so many of the their offices will be shutting. She would therefore be well advised to immediately subscribe to the good school's guide and embark on a massive phone around at once to get an eye of where their are vacancies and what selection process they will want to use immediately. Then think about to where to live.

Can't advise on state school processes - others have more to add on that.