Finding a school in London

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