Looking to return from abroad to Yr 7 in 20025

[StupidFarang]

We are from UK but have lived abroad for all my DD's life, she has always been in international schools.
She's just about to start Yr 6 and we are considering (not definite though) return to UK for her to start Yr 7 next year.
The job I am considering would be based close to Victoria station in London. We are not overly bothered about area as long as pleasant and not too horrendous a commute to Victoria. The biggest concern is schools for DD so asking here for some advice.
We would prefer state but I don't think it would be fair on DD to deal with the uncertainty of applying from overseas so we will probably go independent until she finishes Year 11. And this means applying over the next couple of months and also preparing DD for the 11+.
So asking here for some advice on schools and 11+. DD is clever and bright and has been on the gifted programme at her (non-selective) school (she's particularly high performing in literacy, less so in maths but still above average). However, she has had zero prep for the 11+. I'm also not looking for an uber competitive or selective school - I think the results of the supposedly high performing schools aren't necessarily relfective of the school itself but the fact that they are selective and have very involved parents with access to resources. DH and I are also not from rich backgrounds so don't want a snobby school either.
Basically I want a caring and friendly school. 100% my top priority. I firmly believe that if DD is happy at school, everything else will fall into place. Academics are important but I'm sure she'll do well in any decent school. I also want a non-religious/non denominational one. I could see DD doing well in a girls' school but don't feel strongly either way.
Given the cost of applying and since we aren't 100% sure of the move, we probably would look to apply to three or four schools - is that normal?
Can anyone suggest schools for us that will meet our needs?
Is there anywhere to see the ratios for 11+?
How can we best prepare DD for the 11+ given she's had zero prep and her school obviously don't prepare them either?

Thanks for any advice! I'm so worried about this potential move because DD is so happy and settled at her current school and doig so well - and it's such a hard age to move too.

There are schools like Ewell Castle that are not so competitive. https://surrey.muddystilettos.co.uk/school-reviews/ewell-castle-school-ewell/#:~:text=The%202023%20GCSE%20results%20showed,79%25%20achieving%20A*%2DC.

I’ve heard very good things about Queens College if you want to live more centrally. Not overly competitive to get a place but very good pastoral care and still good results. But if you’re commuting to Victoria station anyway, somewhere further out but easily commutable on the train might be preferable if you want more space and a garden, plus nearby schools will have larger campuses with sports facilities etc. An educational consultant is probably a good idea, particularly since the deadlines for registration will be coming up soon. They can guide you through everything.

@StupidFarang

I think you will face a problem because if your daughter is now starting y6. In UK the end of October of y6 ( Oct 2024 for your DC) is the date by which you have to apply at a council where you live ( in UK) if you want to get a state school place. At the latest they are allowing it by the end of Dec( 2024) if you just moved.

Also, 11+ examinations to grammar schools and private schools take place in Sept-Dec.

If you planning to move in 2025 your daugher would be too late to the process and it will be very difficult to find a place for her. You would need to rent out place for ££££ in front of Outstanding state school and wait for the place. If you will not get it in time your child will get a random school.

Exactly. And if she wants to move in 2025 then there is no chance to get a good state place other than from waiting lists if she moves just by the school

You need to apply for a state school place with a UK address by end of October.

Actually, the first part isn't true; authorities should take the application as an indication that the family intends to move to their area, but use the address from which they apply for admissions purposes, although they are allowed to ask for evidence.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/schools-admissions-applications-from-overseas-children

Have a look at Queenswood. Lots of North London girls there. People choose it as a refreshing alternative to the super competitive north London schools. Arguably some people see it as a “backup” school which is rather harsh.

My eldest DD had an offer from NLCS and we chose Q over it. People told us we were mad. She is on track for all grade 9s at GCSS so arguably would have got the same wherever she went BUT we have had none of the stress or angst her friends at much higher ranking schools.

They are exceptionally proud of their results and are some of the very first schools to publish raw data by subject. They aren’t rocking the league tables but your daughter will be pushed way above what she is capable of. Their results are exceptional for their intake. Both my girls have thrived being the top of the year.

What country are you moving from? Does DD go to a private or state school in that country? She may be behind the 11+ standards, this is quite late to be applying.

If you rent literally next door to a good state - even for just 6-12m then you could have a fairly good chance of getting a place. At the top state schools in London there are usually a few kids who don’t turn up on the first day because they are going private and didn’t bother to tell the school.

I wouldn’t bank on it but if you are willing to gamble the extra rent to save 5 years of fees then it might be worth doing. Schools/councils shut down admissions over the summer so any movement (house moves, withdrawals etc) after mid-July doesn’t get accounted for until the few days before term starts in September.

Yes! That's exactly my thinking too. My DD is very bright and one of the top in her class but this doesn't mean I want her only to be surrounded by other clever kids (also not sure how this will translate into the 11+ given zero prep). How selective and competitive a school is get to into does not seem to be a yardstick of the extent to whihc DD will meet her own personal potential. Good teaching and a happy and supportive environment will do that, not creaming off the smartest kids. Thank you for that recommendation.

DD is at an international school which broadly follows English national curriculum. I doubt she's behind as they were assessing them on the old levels and she was perfoming above what would be expected for her year (althgouh they just changed the reporting system so now not sure). However, there's definitely no prep for 11+ since not a thing here.

I'm not prepared to wait until summer to find out which school DD may or may not go to if we move. I'm starting to have second thoughts about moving at all, mainly because DD is so happy and settled in her current school which she cuold just stay in until Year 13 (even though obviously other pull factors to why this is on the cards).

@StupidFarang , the 11+ grammar are Sept. The London coed schools are end Nov to Jan with interviews etc. Offers in Feb half term. The standard requirements for London day schools are set in each school websites. They range from super competitive to competitive and a few less competitive but still selective on exams.
The best is to do a few free exams on each interested schools and see her scores. They are timed so even if it looks doable the timed aspect could throw some DC. VR and NVR, the types of questions asked needs practice otherwise the time constraints could become problematic.

Also, in my opinion, the whole London race for independent school places is out of control. Wealthy parents spending huge amounts of money on tutoring and children being forced to spend years working towards sitting tests to try and get into “the best” schools. If all the parents stopped tutoring then the whole process would be far more reflective of a child’s ability but because everyone does it the schools have to make the exams harder to try and differentiate. It’s a self perpetuating circle of doom!!!!!

If you look at the commuter towns just outside London then you’ll find schools much easier to get into and far less pressure. Many of them offer a boarding element (although most children are day pupils) so are used to assessing children coming from abroad. Queenswood as I mentioned, Berkhamsted, St Margaret’s (Bushey), Aldenham, Royal Masonic, Felsted, Bancroft, St George’s (Ascot), Queen Anne’s (Caversham) and further out, Haileybury. I only know north of London but there’s similar all around the M25.

There are many many options available to you that don’t require endless amounts of tutoring if that’s a route you don’t want to go down.

You can apply for state until end of October.
Francis Holland, St James Olympia
GDST schools.
All use the atom learning platform for their test:

referral code below:

1oXOjynp

For independent schools, I think it would be better to look outside of London for a less competitive 11+ assessment process. You have very little time to prepare, even with a tutor and some of the London assessments assume knowledge of year 6 material. Look at what areas you can commute from and check out schools in those areas. You can apply to independent schools from abroad and you can sit the assessments abroad, but you will need to pay a fee to secure the place if offered eg £1000. So you probably want to be fairly sure that you will move there to take up the place.

Marching Frogs.

We are talking about highly oversubscribed schools and not just any schools as I understood. The poster wants the child to go to one of the top 100 state schools.
I very seriously doubt that e.g. Brampton Manor will give a place for a child that has no ties in the catchment, not even a grandparent.

What you posted may be possible for undersubscribed schools - at a lower priority.

Don't forget Bromley High, also GSDT. Area good for commuting.

If your preference is state, then I would prioritise secondary school over year 6. Can one of the parents move back with DD now, ready to start the state school application for next year?

There's often space at state primary schools in Year 6, although most of those last 2 terms are spent on SATs so I'd consider home educating for the remainder of Year 6. Personally, I'd even consider whether she might live in the UK but spend a lot of time with her other parent and go to her old school whilst there..

6 months of having 2 family homes will cost, but much less than private education for 5 years.

Claremont Fan Court in Esher? It's co-ed and the school describes itself as 'gently selective'. Our DD attends, having been in a state primary. We've found it very down to earth (although it looks quite fancy). If you lived in Esher, it's a fast train (25 mins) to Vauxhall and one stop on the tube to Victoria.

You really need to think where you want to live? Lots of good options within an bour of Victoria? Are you a North London or South London girl or do you fancy Surrey/Kent?

Once you have a vague idea then you can narrow the schools choice down.

In terms of how competitive schools are, looking at historical league tables/exam results can give you a flavour. Obviously not infallible, but a school achieving 50% A*-B at A level will be less competitive to get into than one achieving 95%.