Finding a school in London

Member since 09 April 2012

carygrant45Member09 April 2012 05:27:27

Hi there,

My partner and I are moving to London later this year. She has been transferred there with work. We have two small children, 4 and 6 and are trying to solve a schools problem. As we understand it you can't apply to schools until you have an address in London, then you apply to your catchment area, then you get allocated to a school IF there is a place in the area.

Unfortunately her posting does not take effect until after the Olympics, meaning we are faced with trying to arrive in London in mid-August and find an area, a house and a school, preferably before term starts in September.

We are wondering if anyone knows any way around this problem, apart from the obvious, which is pay for a private school (or independent school as I think they are called there). The independent school fees are beyond us, as are the international schools.

I know we can arrive and find a house and then apply for schools, but that will mean the kids missing the start of the school year, which I'm resigned to but trying to avoid if possible.

I wondering if anyone has any creative solutions or for this problem?

Cheers
CG45

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heartofengland New member

Member since 08 April 2012

heartofenglandNew member09 April 2012 05:56:38

Hi Carygrant,

All applications for state schools need to be made to the local authority in which you intend to live.

Don't worry about the fact that your children are not yet living in the UK, it is still possible for you to make an application for a school place.聽 Any local authority you apply to are bound by the School Admissions Code for 2012 which states they will consider overseas applications.

The School Admissions Code published by the Department for Education can be found here:

Applications for primary schools are normally done online.聽 Here is the link to apply for a school place online: