Boston to London!

Hi All!  UK-Y seems like a great bunch!

My name is Don.  I just received my Tier 1 (General) visa so am contemplating a move to the big city with my family.  There are so many things to consider, but the one big one that seems scariest to me is schools.  I have a 9-year old currently in 3rd grade (US) and a 2-year old due for nursery school next year. 

If making sure you could get your children into a decent school was one of your top priorities and the entire city was open to you...where would you start to look?  I plan to be there in late winter/early spring...so am hoping there will be enough time to get something setup before they come over in the summer.  Will that be enough time?

Thanks so much for any ideas and I look forward to exchanging posts with you all in the future!!

Don

Welcome to UKY!

Welcome!  We moved from Boston (Cambridge, really) to London 2 years ago.    I'm useless for schools, but someone will be along with good information. 
 

Welcome from a fellow Bostonian!  Congrats on receiving your visa as well!

Hi and welcome!

Welcome to UKY    There's a load of us who have lived in Massachusetts at some point or another- born and bred there myself, few pit stops along the way before settling in Scotland.  No idea on the schools, but there's a few threads in the parents section that may be of good use to you.  Good luck! 

I lived in R.I. right across the border.

One issues with schools is you need to find out what the process is in the area you want to move to.  Just because you move into the area for a school does not mean that your child will get a place in that school.

Someone on here is going through this right now.  They moved a few weeks ago and their child has to wait until November when all the local heads meet to get a spot in a school and there is no guarantee which one they will get. 

But it is not that way for every school district (well they have a different term here, but you get the idea). 

Another former Rhode Islander here. Welcome to UKY, Don! 

I lived in R.I. right across the border.

Oooh!  My parents were in Cumberland for 20 years. 

We're doing the same thing - Boston to London!

Welcome from a fellow Bostonian!   

Oooh!  My parents were in Cumberland for 20 years. 

My uncle lives in Cumberland...has done for about 20 years (perhaps more).   

Hi Don, Good luck with your move. I've lived in the UK and soon to move back again (also from Boston).
Try this website: www.upmystreet.com/local/schools/primary-schools-in-london.html
There are a lot of things to consider and the first one is probably finding affordable accommodation convenient for your work. London is full of neighbourhoods and can be a bit daunting.  Once you find the area you want to be in, then ask around about the best schools.  You'll probably get many and varied opinions!  You might want to think about a church school or you might just want to go for the nearest state school.  The whole school thing is not so cut-and-dried as in Massachusetts where you pretty much are expected to go to the local school.

Welcome to UKY, I'm from Brookline, MA.  I don't live in London but there are a lot of helpful people on this site, good luck!

Welcome from another native Bay Stater (Taunton).  School place would probably need to be applied for ASAP as soon as you get here (think the deadline for our Local Education Authority here in Coventry is the end of January) for the older child.  You'll have a bit more flexibility with the preschooler.  You'll have various private, charity run or part of primary school options.  If they will be three before September 1st they will be in their Nursery year and thus (if the current government doesn't change it) it would be free. 

Thanks everyone for the tips!!  Looks like there is a huge New England expat community in England   I'll post any learnings about schools along the way!