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Admissions
to schools in the UK are based on the following factors:
· Distance from the school
· Special medical or social needs of the child
· Attendance at a ‘feeder’ school that has an affiliation with the school your child hopes to attend
· Religion
· Siblings at the same school
· Passing an academic entrance exam (which determines your child’s performance)
Catchment areas can vary yearly because schools prioritize children from a specific area. This admissions area is usually determined by the distance of the last student enrolled in that specific school in the previous year. When looking for a school for your child, it is best to research schools closest to your permanent address.
Once you settle on a school, apply to the relevant authorities in order of most preferred school to the least preferred school. Experts advise that applying one year before your child can attend school is best because strict deadlines are put in place to ensure that enrollment is fair for everyone. Applications open in September and close on 15 January.
Top 5 best performing schools in Kingston Upon Thames and their catchment area
1. Surbiton High School
is a girls’ only secondary school for girls aged 11 to 18 with a linked junior school. The annual fee is £19,785.
Catchment area: Surrey, KT1 2JT
2. Coombe Hill Junior School
is a state school for children (boys and girls) aged 7 to 11 with a linked infant school.
Catchment area: Kingston, KT2 7DD
3. Knollmead Primary School
is a state school for boys and girls aged 3 to 11.
Catchment area: Surbiton, Surrey, KT5 9QP
4. Thames Ditton Junior School
is a state school for boys and girls aged 7 to 11.
Catchment area: Thames Ditton, Surrey, KT7 0BS
5. St. Paul’s Catholic Primary School, Thames Ditton
is a state school for boys and girls aged 4 to 11.
Catchment area: Thames Ditton, Surrey, KT7 0LP
Requirements for enrolling to the best schools in Kingston Upon Thames
People abroad can apply to a state school to enroll their children in a school in Kingston Upon Thames, but the admission application will be accepted based on their address abroad. A Kingston Address is required for admission purposes for the initial round of allocations only if the family is physically resident at that address by the closing date of 31 October 2022 for secondary school applications and 15 January 2023 for infant, primary, and junior schools.
If you move to your Kingston Address after closing dates and before 9 January for secondary schools or 9 February for infant, primary, and junior schools, you are required to provide documentary evidence to confirm that you have physically moved to Kingston Upon Thames so that your application can be reviewed at the same time as applications received by 31 October 2021 for secondary schools and 15 January 2022 for infant, primary and junior schools
The admissions process is only finished when the child and the family live at the address they used when filling in the application.
Ages for different types of schools:
Infant: age 4 to 7
Primary: age 4 to 11
Junior: age secondary: age 11 to 16
If you submit your application late, your application will only be considered after all applications have been received by the closing date, so your child might miss out on school.
You will know your outcome on 1st march 2023 for secondary school and 17 April 2023 for primary and junior school applications.
Private school requirements in Kingston Upon Thames
With private schools, the application process is a bit different because each school has its own criteria. However, the process involves the following:
Registration
You will fill up a registration form and pay a non-refundable fee ranging from £100 to £300. Registration is usually done at least a year before entry.
Test
Children are assessed to determine their performance. The entry score is usually quite high.
Acceptance
If your child is accepted into a private school, you will receive a written offer with a fixed period to accept the offer or lose it.
Children from Hong Kong need visas to apply to private schools. Please note private schools with Tier 4 Highly Trusted Status are the only ones that can offer a CAS letter with the offer for the parents to apply for a visa.
