Schools! Are we too late?? Post Reply

[MTC]

It is fair to say I am completely freaked out about this school situation for my 7 month old!!

We are relatively new to the country, so still trying to figure out everything - including the terminology. Pre-prep/prep....

I know there are a lot of discussions here about school names, but are we really late for a good prep school (and really where can I find what they are around SW11 / between the commons?)

Can anyone point me good reading materials about the UK education system with advice (timingwise and what to look for, etc.?)

Thank you!

[actuallyadad]

Maybe. it depends what you want.

So in brief:

- State schools (ie free ones) - you are fine. Don't have to apply for years.

- Private schools (ie ones you pay for). Pre-prep age 4-8. Prep 8-13. Public - 13-18. Sometimes - and mostly with girls I think, the prep to public change is at 11, but to be honest I'm less sure on that).

Prep and Public schools you are fine for now. Applications in a few years time, check with the individual school.

Pre-prep (ie age 4) you need to think about now. In some you apply and they give you a place (Eaton House), in others (Thomas's) you apply and they give you an interview in a few years after which you may or may not get a place.

But other pre-prep schools nearby do not have such crazy waiting lists and demand for places so you can apply nearer the time. Not so sure which ones, maybe Broomwood Hall, Dolphin?

What to look for...which schools... I will leave for somebody else to answer!

[LocalBatterseaGirl]

Don't freak out! Our state education system is very good and I'm a big fan having both taught in it and have my children in a state school. Almost all of them are good and you don't have to apply until the school year in which Tey will turn 4. Over 93% of UK schoolchildren are in state schools - although it doesn't seem like that round here!

[LP73]

Some of the schools you should visit and apply for now. As places are first come first served.
We have spoken to a few schools for our baby (only a few weeks old) and they have advised us to visit and put his name down ASAP.
Most you can email for the application form. There's a fee of £50 to register and then you can decide later on which school is best for you.

[SW6Mummy]

A good friend of mine is a school search consultant in Fulham. She often meets with mothers in your situation who are unfamiliar with the school registration process in London. If you are interested in talking with her for a simple consultation, feel free to look her up on her website: www.yellowbirdeducation.com. She has helped many new mums get registered early for nursery and 4+ schools. Good luck!

[outnumbered2]

I would definitely talk to an education consultant, worth the fee if nothing more just to get a one to one overview. All private schools are businesses after all, so will be biased in their advice and on open days/on visits they all look great. Insights are vital, the things you can't gleen from the glossy brochures etc.... Some schools do have feeder nurseries (eek) and some nurseries are hard to get in to, you need names down early.

Good luck!

[kishi]

Hi there, please don't panic! Your little baby is only 7 months! When I first read the title of your post I thought maybe you had a child turning five in the next few months or something!

Just wanted to agree with localbatterseagirl. Don't panic. My child is May born and we started to look round schools that summer, a few more in the autumn ahead of doing our application through the local authority in the January, then she got her place in April and started in September. It was all fine. That was similar to the vast majority of our friends, but even a few who have gone for fee-paying schools didn't start really looking at schools till their kids were 2/3.

Obviously it depends on what you want and I'm sure some of the independent schools do have very long waiting lists (although I'm also sure lots of parents apply to a lot of schools too, which puts the waiting lists in context); but I agree with another poster that they are businesses and perhaps it's in their interest to make you feel it's urgent even when your child is teeny tiny. I'm just saying please don't worry too much!

Best wishes to you and your little one!

[kishi]

Sorry, a bit belated, just realised how confusing my post must have been. I meant to say my elder daughter was born in May and we started looking around schools the summer she was THREE, in order for her to start reception aged four - not the summer she was born!

Apologies!

[Jaderberg Krais]

Hi MTC
If you are really confused about the UK school system and what would best suit your family, you could consider seeking professional advice from an educational consultancy such as Jaderberg Krais. We can offer expert advice and support throughout your child's school career, whether she will enter the independent sector or will perhaps need us to provide bespoke tutoring before taking 11+ exams to get into a selective state school (as scary as this seems before she's even walking!)

We can help reassure you and be there throughout her school journey. Our website is http://www.jaderbergkrais.co.uk. We hope you will visit us there, but in any case we wish you and your little one all the best.

JK Tutoring