Kids here start school when they are four years old - like if you turn four on the last day of August, you go to school a few days later. (Nobody holds back.) So that means that Ben will start school next September, when he is not quite four-and-a-half. He will be in Reception, as Susanna was last year when we first arrived. Depending on which school he gets into, he might go half-days until April, full days from September, or not at all until at least January.
In England, each school has a "catchment area", just like in the States. The difference is that you don't necessarily have to go to the school in your area, and even if you want to, you may not get a place. There are three state-run primary schools in our town. When we arrived, we were assured that only one had a place available in Reception, and that is the furthest from our house of the three. (Its still just a little less than 3 miles.)
Since we are not in the catchment area for that school, Ben doesn't have top priority for a place. Having a sibling there helps, but I think anyone who lives in the catchment area who wants to go to that school would get in before Ben.
So at this point (actually by mid-November), we have to do his application, and give our top three picks for school. Of course Susanna's school will be our first choice, followed by the closest school; third choice will be the other school in town (which is actually the most highly-regarded of the three.)
Then all we can do is wait and see! I'm really really hoping he gets into the same school because I have no idea how I could possibly be at two different schools on opposite ends of town at the same time everyday!
No comments:
Post a Comment