Some of our first questions about deciding about Exeter surrounded Bodhi. Would he be able to continue his activities? What are the schools like? Will he be able to go to public school? Could we afford private school if there wasn’t a space for him? Would we be able to find a place to live near the school we pick? Those were just some of the big questions. We started researching ALL the schools as we had not narrowed down where we would live yet.
I had spreadsheets with all the data so we could see it in one place. We asked lots of questions to faculty at the University of Exeter. Covid was tough on metrics for the schools, so we also felt like we couldn’t get a good picture of what we were getting into. Most the faculty send their kids to private school. As much as we would like to do the same, we felt that it wasn’t going to be worth it to go to Exeter if ended up costing us more to go. There were still the expenses of maintaining our home in the US, so it was important to us to try and break even if possible.
We narrowed down our school choices and then focused on finding a place to live. Once we had a place we were fairly certain we would choose, the list of schools completely changed. So at the last minute, I was sending out tour requests to our new list of schools that Ira could go to while he was traveling to Exeter. Of course, the schools responded with available times that made the most non-logical sense—one school at the opposite end of town, then the next one on the other end. He ended traversing across Exeter a few times that day.
If it hasn’t been mentioned before, it’s worth noting that email is not the preferred method of communication in the UK. Talking on the phone is my least favorite thing to do. I sense I may have to give in on this if I am to adjust to life there.
After seeing all the schools, Ira had a clear sense of the school he liked the best, the one he wasn’t impressed with, and the ones that we could make work. Of course, the favorite was the farthest away, but also the highest rated. The other highest rated school was the one that we were unable to get a tour scheduled with. It was also the only one in our “catchment” area – what we would refer to as our zoned school. The difference being a catchment area is much more widespread and can include multiple schools to choose from. In the end, we decided that distance was just as important to us since we will not have a car.
And so the waiting game for the enrollment period began.
I checked the open period every week until finally, almost at the end of our school year, we were able to apply. The website said we would be able to pick our top four, but when I got into the system, it was reduced to three. Nothing like playing the lottery with your kid’s education. Hold breath and press submit. And wait some more. Up to 14 business days or more depending on number of applications. Two days later I had a message that our selection had been processed.
I was at work, Ira was at home – finished with school for the year. I called him and asked he wanted me to open it with him on the phone so we could find out the results together. We were both nervous and excited all at the same time. So we opened and found….
A message that said to go to another site for the results. Such buildup.
Anywho, we went to that site and Ira was clearly getting impatient. There it was. Our first choice. A top rated school within walking distance.
Bodhi will be attending St. Leonard’s this fall.
His teacher is the year three lead teacher (grade two in the US) and his group is named the hedgehogs. In honor of this, I made shortbread in the shape of hedgehogs for our going away party.
We can’t wait to get his uniforms and see how cute he is going to look. Upon our arrival in Exeter, one of the first things we did was walk to the school to know the route. It’s a straight road from our place in a very nice neighborhood. They are on summer holiday, so we couldn’t go in, but this little excursion helped settle our nerves.
Under the Bodhi Tree 