@mummymia - just said the same on another thread, but there are a few Hornsby families moving away this summer, all of whom have younger kids who would have gone into reception in september. Call the HH registrar (who is lovely) to see if you can get one of those spots! She won't take your money if you don't stand a chance. Good luck

As a couple of people have said, most of the schools in Wandsworth are excellent.

I would highly recommend looking at Balham (great transport links) and visiting the state schools there - Ravenstone, Henry Cavendish, Rutherford House, Telferscot, Holy Ghost etc. We found them all to be great and were in the privileged position of being able to choose which one we went for based on cultural fit.

We went for Ravenstone and love it - very diverse, no culture of excessive tutoring, great academic results, it offers a well rounded education with an emphasise on sport, arts & wellbeing as well as results.

Take a look at their Twitter feed to get an insiders view!

It’s probably worth adding that we visited a number of private schools too and were very underwhelmed.

Good luck with your tough decision!

Finton is a lovely school. Inclusive in terms of abilities with better diversity than most other private schools we come across. In the lower years there is also a very good proportion of couples with two working parents (important as this changes the dynamics as compared to schools where many parents don’t work)

Results are good, it is now fully coed across the school (boys used to leave at 8 a few years ago) and there is fantastic learning support and expertise should your children need it now or in future. Could not recommend it more- feel free to PM if you would like further details.

Hello, I have only just seen the further replies to my post and wanted to thank everyone for their kind help- I will be taking advice on board and working my way through all these school.  Thank you again (including Mr Weal).

With respect to the private schools (which require more immediate action on my part) we have a place at Eaton House the Manor at this stage (most others do not offer places as early/are assessment based).  I am due to visit the school soon but would welcome your feedback as well. 

We are too late for Thomas's and probably too late for Hornsby House.  Any thoughts on Finton/Northcote Lodge/Broomwood?

Hi there,

If you're looking to choose a prep or pre-prep school, you may be interested in attending the Independent Schools Show on November 10th & 11th - conveniently in Battersea. We'll be hosting 200 UK independent schools and there will be talks in two educational theatres from leading heads, some of which you might find interesting: 'Starting out: nursery, pre-prep and prep explained', 'How to choose the right school for your child', 'What makes a truly great schools', 'Independent and state curricula: are they really that different' and many more.

Hope this helps!

http://schoolsshow.co.uk

Hi,

Does anyone have any experience of the schools (local authority and private) around the Falcon Road/Battersea Park area?

Thanks!

Heya, We were in the exact same position as you are 2 years ago and asked ourselves the same questions.

We started looking for a house, having mapped all the schools and registered our child into those that require early registration. Then we decided to visit them. We're both working parents and yes, it meant quite a few mornings missing work. But it was worth it. Whilst we visited only outstanding schools, we realised there is a very praised one we didn't like AT ALL. Call this gut feeling. Another one we thought was too middle-class English (we're a European couple) and it was just not us.

So I would visit them one by one, one once a month maybe. 

For what it's worth, we concluded that what matters for school is that it has small classes. We also noted that fee-paying ones train you for your exams and try to get you into the best possible school as it's their bread and butter business, whilst state schools do not aim for that at all. They're civil servants.

Other point:
"Clapham" in itself is wide. The feel and the crowd in different areas like BTC, in the Nightingale triangle, Abbeville road or Clapham Common is very different. I would also make sure you pick the area that appeals to you and your lifestyle at this stage in your life.

I'd say (and please other people correct me)

BTC: Posh couples with 2 kids. Very busy with tons of shops from standard (from Clapham Junction to Battersea rise) to high-end types on Northcote road. Lots of options for dining, from cocktail bars, brunch places, and pubs which attract youngsters to more expensive traditional restaurants.

Nightingale triangle: Posh couples with 2 kids. Quiet. No shops at walking distance, appart around Balham station. No real dining options around for those days you dont feel like cooking.

Abbeville road: Posh couples with 2 kids. Limited but good quality / high-end shops and restaurants on Abeville road.

Clapham Common: Young couples and single professionals. Very busy with lots of shops from standard to high-end types (maybe not as much as on Northcote road). Lots of options for dining, maybe less traditional restaurants but more interesting ones. More of a foodie place.

Good luck!
 

Hi mummymia,

Have you thought about Alderbrook?  I have just taken over as Headteacher and I think you'll find it meets your criteria; we have a diverse community and I have been seriously been impressed with the children, staff and community as a whole in the four weeks that I have been there. 

I know that we don't have the reputation of Honeywell or Belleville but our results are going up and the positivity towards the school from the whole community is overwhelming.    

Choosing a school is very personal and I totally agree that the best thing to do is to visit the school to get an idea of which best fits for you.  I am doing a tour on Tuesday at 9:15am.  I know it's a bit last minute but it would be great to see you.  If you can't make that time, please contact the office and I'm sure we can sort something out. 

Best wishes,

Mr Weal

 

I'd agree with Spenner and Flowermummy. The primary schools in this area are excellent. We sent our son to private primary and then switched to state after a year and a term because he got into the school we wanted him to go to. Many parents, who privately educate their kids, warned me that it will be more difficult for my kids to transition from state primary to private secondary. I can see their point, but I don't buy it. I spoke to parents who have done just this and they have recommended I get a tutor either for the last year or the last two years of school in order to prepare the kids for the private entrance exams. Some parents also take their kids out of state primary a year early to go private. And just because your kid goes to private primary doesn't mean they won't need tutoring for the secondary entrance exams. It is true that their school with prepare them for it which a state school doesn't but it really depends on their abilities and intelligence. So don't be fooled that just because you go to private primary that they will automatically get a place in the private secondary of your choice - they still have to pass the exam. Many kids have moved from state primaries to private secondaries - ask the schools you are visiting for a leavers list to see where the kids end up going to school. Also remember, there are some good state secondaries and grammar schools too! That's why it is important to keep an open mind and choose the school depending on what seems right to your kid and family and if you have the budget for private well then you are lucky enough to have more choice!

I agree that local state primary schools are pretty good.
State vs private is a matter of parents preference, really.
People tend to think that if they don't get into their preferred state school, they can just go private. But in this area, it's not as straightforward - because they private primary schools are very popular too, and you can't just show up 1 yr before and be offered a place in your preferred private pre-prep.
Best to have a list of preferences (including both private and state) and see what you get offered, then decide.
The important thing with this process is to make sure you have a sure backup option (i.e. not assessment based if private, or you are definitely within the catchment area of a state school that you like ) that you are happy with.
 

Controversial maybe but I don’t think there are many advantages to choosing private schooling at primary level in Wandsworth. The local state schools are pretty much all excellent and have very good facilities. I’d have a look at Earlsfield, Beatrix Potter and Floreat for starters if you’re considering Earlsfield as a location. Earlsfield itself is a very nice area and the intake from the community for these state schools tends to include a high proportion of children who could be in private education as well as children from other backgrounds, but lots of parents choose to stick with the state system as the schools are excellent. Many of the children go on to top schools for secondary.

Maybe have a look at Rutherford House - it has scooped up a lot of the kids who couldn’t get into Honeywell and Belleville (lived too far away) and also remember Wix is now part of Belleville and is solid in the early years and the rest will be just as good as Belleville by the time your child is in those years. Good luck!

"Don't believe the private school hype. They all have places available"

Firsttimer is right about that at a "macro" level - in the end everyone gets a place .... but for your own purposes, that won't help you much because you will have your clear favourites and if you don't get a place in those in the first round (annoyingly they all have different dates when they offer places!) then you have to accept a back-up option, maybe pay a deposit, then keep pushing with the registrar for a place at your preferred school (which you may not get in reception but may get later on in Y1)...

Overall a painful process- I so wish all schools in the borough (private or state) would offer places at the same time!

Thank you firsttimer I wasn’t aware of this