Independent School in London

[mljainldn]

Me and my family just moved back to the UK this summer from Hong Kong and my 16 yr old son is currently in the lower sixth boarding school but is extremely miserable. We hope to move him to an independent co-ed day school in London and realised that it is an extremely challenging situation. We are looking for schools with a cosmopolitan demographic, nurturing and with good but not overly strict discipline. Most importantly, a school that is genuine care about the wellbeing of children. Both me and my husband are unfamiliar with schools in London after being away for 30 years, and we could only rely on information on the internet but worry that we might make the wrong decision. We wish to reach out to all mums and dads with young teenage children on this forum, and would be most grateful if you could please share with us any recommendations and reputable schools that you may have in mind. Any feedback and advice will be greatly appreciated.

thank you for all the information, greatly appreciated. The boarding and away from home is just too overwhelming for him.

Thank you so much for your advice and information, greatly appreciated 🙏🏻

If not too far out, try Claremont Fan Court School in Esher

...although might not fit the cosmopolitan demographic requirement as well as some of the others mentioned

Caterham?

Rochester Independent College is very relaxed and offers a one year A-level for children who have struggled elsewhere, but the location may not work for you

Has contacted most of them, unfortunately, no chance as fully subscribed. Sixth form colleges do not offer design technology (1 of of his A Level subject)

Just miserable with boarding, not an option for day school as it is too far away from home for daily commute, hence looking for day school around London.

Could you son do Maths, Further Maths, Physics for A levels in Sixth form since they don’t do DTI?
Or just focus on study at current school since it is only 1 year and 2 terms left?
Or phone the schools you like in London and see if he deferred until next year and take Maths in Sixth form and/ or Physics in sixth form so he would do 3/4 levels, Maths, Further Maths, DTI and Physics would it be doable for application. This is risky since it would impact university applications?

Have tried, unfortunately, no space

Have contacted Harrodian, Hampton court and Emmanuel, sadly for us, they are all fully subscribed

Have you tried Ewell Castle? Depending on where you are in London, it can be do-able as a day pupil.

Not sure he will be able to just move schools now as you won't be able to find anywhere that is doing exactly the same syllabus and that has studied the same modules in the same order.

If he's really that unhappy then the only option is to leave current school and restart sixth form next September - otherwise his A levels will be completely messed up.

Sorry to ask again op but have you tried state sixth forms?

Unfortunately it is full

I haven't try any state school yet, any good recommendations?

No I didn't, will enquire, thank you.

No I haven't, any advice? thank you

He did very well with his GCSE. We are hoping to not that happen, unless we have left no choice to repeat.

He tried boarding and it doesn't work for him unfortunately.

we think it is easier for him to continue in co-ed, since he has been in that learning environment since school age.

@mljainldn - given the situation (in the midst of A levels, etc) I think that you might need to prioritise. If the situation as his current school is dire, and given that most co-eds with strong academics are full / cannot take him on board, you might need to either cast your net wider (as mentioned above, single sex schools lose students to co-ed and might have spaces) or consider re-starting A levels.
Which London area are you in? Competition for places out-of-London is lower, so you might be able to consider that even for day places.

Look at boys only schools - Royal Russell, Trinity & Whitgift all offer DT

Oops I can't edit my post - Royal Russell is coed, Trinity is boys only until 6th form when it's coed,

Yes agree single sex more likely to have space. You are going to need to compromise on something I’m afraid.

The Croydon schools - so Trinity Whitgift and Royal Russell are worth a look. On the state spectrum you could try Dunraven or Graveney in Streatham/Tooting. Grey Coat in Pimlico is mixed in 6th form and easy to get to from Victoria Station.

If none of those work then it might be worth looking at the private 6th forms and doing further maths and physics (I imagine that coming from HK his maths is very good) and then doing an epq in with a design theme. EPQ at MPW is extremely good (my DD did one there in her gap year) and the topics were very varied.