primary schools - holy ghost, st anselms, st boniface Post Reply

[mrsbalham]

Hello Mums (and dads)
I'm trying to navigate the complicated schools admissions process and was wondering if any of you experienced parents could give any advice. I'd like my child to go to a catholic school in our local area (we live in Balham). We wouldn't have a problem getting a reference from our parish priest (Holy Ghost). Problem is we live 1km from holy ghost school so too far to be guaranteed a place. So, although we'll put holy ghost as first choice, we're assuming he won't get in, but my question is, is there any point putting the other 2 schools we'd love - st anselms (tooting bec) and st boniface (tooting) - as choice 2 and 3 as surely we live too far to have any chance of getting in to these? So does this mean we have no chance of getting our child into a catholic school? Has anyone else been through this and can give advice? Any help would be really appreciated! thank you!!

[skeraf]

I sympathise with your dilemma! I have been in a similar position to yours in a previous year.

When I submitted my child's application, I put HG as the first choice (like you, we are weekly attendees at Mass at HG) and then St Anselm's as the second choice.

When doing this, I realised that the chances of being offered a place at St Anselm's were very slim - not only did we realistically live too far away, but also my child's application would be prioritised lower than those of children who attended Mass at St Anselm's weekly (even if, in theory, they lived further away from St Anselm's than us). However, we applied because we knew that we were unlikely to be offered a place at any non-denominational state primary nearby on geographical grounds (they too are oversubscribed). We had nothing to lose - but your position may be very different depending on where you live.

So, what's my advice? Depending on where you live, I'd put HG as your first choice and include one other RC school (whichever's the closest) as your second. If you want a state primary, then use your other choices for the non-denom/CE schools that you are most likely to get an offer from. And if a Catholic education is really important to you and the fees are not prohibitive, don't forget Oliver House.

The last thing I would say is not to give up hope. Even if you don't get an offer of a place at HG in the initial wave of offers, the waiting list can move very rapidly and places can become available unexpectedly - both prior to the start of the Reception year and before the start of Y1. Many families have happily moved their children to HG from another school when places have come available, even after the Reception year, and have been delighted with the speed at which their children have settled in.

Good luck!!

[dinosaur]

Hello we are in a similar situation and had planned to do as Skeraf suggests. Just getting the forms together now. Was a bit worried to hear at the Open Day that 20 of the 30 places at HG are going to siblings this year.
We are open to looking at Oliver House too but haven't got around to it yet.