We arrived very late in the game this year... our state school options didn't thrill us and by chance, we were given options at both Dolphin and Parkgate. I'll echo what everyone else has said -- so much depends on your child and your gut feel for the place. We ultimately chose Parkgate - and my children absolutely LOVE school. They're actually disappointed on the weekends.

While the next open house does seem ages away, please keep this school on your list. I've stopped by at all hours to drop off missing paperwork, forgotten homework, a missing towel, etc -- and even at these unexpected times, I've never seen anything to cause me worry. If anything, I'm incredibly impressed with the entire staff. All of the staff know all the children by name -- from nursery up to Year 6. My son's Reception teacher told me that a Year 6 teacher actually stopped by the classroom to single my son out for outstanding behavior last week. He was glowing all weekend. I also really enjoy the company of the other parents. The community has been so welcoming that we have felt immediately at home.

We also really like Dolphin. I would be perfectly happy to send my children there as well. Their art room was amazing. The lack of any outdoor space on the property was a bit concerning for us. They're close to Chivalry Park and the green spaces, but not right outside the door close. Since my children are still young and spend a portion of their days outside - that was a bit of an issue for us.

Trust your instincts and your children's gut feel. Good luck!!

Hi pigeonairre,

I am also in the Vauxhall area and am starting to stress out about where to send my son. He's due for entry into Reception Sept 2015 (he'll be one of the oldest in the class). So far everything you've said mirrors what I've been thinking!

I'm interested in hearing where your daughter ends up. We also have Parkgate on our list and when I emailed them yesterday to ask for a showaround, they suggested I come to the Open Day in March 2014! Seems so far away...

Which state schools have you already looked at (if any?)

Thanks!

Both my children went to Parkgate and we completely love it! Everyone has been very supportive and they had the best years there.

Thank you - will check out streatham and clapham girls- hadn't heard of that one, so thank you for the tip xx

Have you looked at Clapham & Sreatham girls school?
I moved my 2 girls there last year and they are both thriving.

Hello, Parkgate House is a wonderful little school. My daughter no longer goes there but we still talk about her reception teacher, Miss. Lynn, who is the loveliest teacher we have ever come across. Good luck x

Hope you find the best place for her. Good luck and Thanks v much

We're not there yet, have just done the round visiting the schools. Daughter due to start in Sept 14 and no definite decisions made!

ps. Just out of interest, which school did you opt for in the end!? x

Thank you - that sounds like great advice! I will definitely check out the Dolphin. I will contact both schools tomorrow and see if we can apply at this late stage. My daughter LOVES horses and I can't help being rather envious of those kids going riding once a week - I might try botox and go there myself! You are spot on with the points which you highlighted, so thanks v much for your reply.

Best wishes.

x

Hi, I've not got much info to pass on other than to say when we visited Parkgate we liked the school but found the Head to be a little underwhelming.

But I did want to suggest Dolphin School in northcote road. It is by far the cheapest private school around and so before I visited it I did have low expectations, however during the visit I thought it did have the best 'feel' out of all the schools I've visited. I don't think they are as focused on destinations schools etc as the others but if you say that that is not an issue for you then maybe you should go and have a look around?

Hi -would love some insights please, if anyone has any. We were planning on sending our daughter to a decent state school - but having seen our main options, which were reportedly 'Outstanding', we were horrified. we won't get in anywhere at this late stage, so will prob keep her in nursery until a place comes up via waiting list somewhere. We live in Vauxhall and are not churchgoers, so our pickings are fairly meagre - which makes me sad, as I was romantically picturing her being able to walk to school locally. We may be able to get some assistance with fees from family and we quite like the look of (and could scrape together the fees for..!) Parkgate House.

I am not particularly bothered about feeder school info or academic achievements, am much more focused on the feel of a place and am keen to find a school where there isn't too much hot house tutoring outside of school going on (totally understand people's choice to do this, but we could never afford it and I would not want my daughter to feel stranded way behind everyone else, as I did when I first went to boarding school). We could not afford anywhere with fees much higher than this place though - so Newton Prep etc are all out!
Thank you