Should I have a back up school planned? Post Reply

[Frenchmummynvn]

I am new to the area and considering options for my sons primary school education. We would like him to go to Belleville or Honeywell as I am a virtually a "single mum" as my husband travels mon to fri, I do not drive and will have a new born so going to a state school further away would be very complicated. We have been told we are 230m from Belleville and 180 to Honeywell Infant School. According to the council the furthest non-sibling offered a place at each school is below and the second is the distance reached before the start of term in September.

Belleville – 238m / 346m
Honeywell – 182m / 190m

My question is is this close enough to take the risk of not having a back up (private) school close to our home? There are not really any I like as much as Belleville and Honeywell and it would be a financial stretch to go to private primary school. I would like to hear whether other families who are in a similar distance to Honeywell and Belleville have put down a deposit with a "back up" school in the area?

[Squinkle]

Welcome to the area!

You could try Highview, another good state school in the borough; it is further to walk but still in easy walking distance from your area.

Good luck x

[AbbevilleMummy]

When is your child due to start school?

[Vhopeful]

We're about the same distance and definitely have a backup as you just don't know how many siblings there will be in any one year

[Frenchmummynvn]

Our son is due to start school sept 2015 (August born so will be young for his year)

[Juju]

hi ! welcome in the area! We are almost in the same situation as we are 230 m away from each school. My eldest is due to start reception as well in 2015. I have asked myself the same question over and over for almost a year and finally we decided to secure a place in a private school. It is not an easy decision as the deposit is a term fee and not refundable so it's a financial sacrifice but the catchment is shrinking every year so we never know... I am french as well so if you fancy meeting up drop me a message!
good luck !

[mumandmore]

I understand your dilemma. I think you will need to consider if you would be willing to risk losing a big deposit and terms fees as well as this is what most private schools ask for I think

[supergirl]

I would recommend you have a back up.
I m french but been in London and in Wandsworth for 10yrs +.

I m happy to meet you if you want to know more about the area and the schools. PM me.

Usually a private school would ask for a deposit (equivalent to a term fee) to secure the place once they ve made the official offer of a place. So it works like 1. You register your child £50; 2. They offer the place and you pay the full deposit. Pretty much all private schools will offer you a place (or not) brfore you have a response from the state system.
Then they will ask you to pay the first before the xxxx (add the date they give you usually 2-3-4 weeks in advance because you are new to the school). If you ard lucky the last payment is July or August so after the redults from the state system.

So if you do get offered a place kn state school you loose your deposit. Potentially you loose the first term too. It is a lot of money. BUT still cheaper than paying 6 years in a private primary.

You need to do the sums. But in this area and with catchment shrinking, i wouldnt personally take a chance.

Good luck.

[supergirl]

It should read *first term*

[lemonzest]

Welcome to Nappy Valley!

Not sure exactly where you are between the Commons, but I would suggest visiting High View, on St John's Hilll. I do understand your concerns about distance as I was doing a 25-30 minute walk each way to school pushing a 3 year-old for the last 3 months of my pregnancy; and then the same journey for a few more months with a young baby also in tow, but it's certainly do-able (although you may need to rope in help with the school runs for a few weeks if you have a c-sec).

[Frenchmummynvn]

Thank you Lemonzest. High view is unfortunately too far given the circumstances.

[SFMC]

Could you call the Council and schools and find out if Sept 2014 intake was an exceptionally oversubscribed year? My son started reception in Sept and I know that this year was crazily oversubscribed! Perhaps this means Sept 2015 won't be as busy... in our area I heard that the nursery schools are not full and people got in who who live quite far away... though reception is always the busiest year maybe this bodes well for you??

However, BTC might be a different matter as I live in a different area.
Worth looking into.

You might also look into the state schools you would be offered if you didn't get into school and if you would be willing to send your child there and switching schools later. Or if you are willing to go private and then switching back to state school

It seems you have a good chance but you never know how much the catchment will shrink or grow...all depends on siblings!

It is crazy how people have to gamble/guess with the system here!

Good luck.

[Frenchmummynvn]

Thank you this is a good idea - I will call the council!

[Flowermummy]

You should definitely have a back-up!
This could be another state school (Alderbrook or High View are the closest to you, but still about 20 mins away).
Or it could be one of the private schools.
If you are considering the private school route, you should know that these are very popular and some parents register their children at birth (or shortly after..) in order to get a guaranteed place. Among the private schools, St Thomas's and Broomwood Hall are selective, i.e the children have an assessement. Most of the other private schools are non-selective, which means admission is done in order of registration. Probably the closest non-selective private school to you is Dolphin. Other ones are Eaton House the manor and Parkgate (clapham common north side), Hornby House and Finton House (towards Balham).
So if you decide your backup is the private schools, you should register with them as soon as you can and find out from them your chances of getting a place.

[HappyMumSW11]

Hello,

i am a French mum too who lives 226m from HW so as you can imagine my soon is on the waiting list and he started at Alderbrook: good school but quite far although Nanny is managing at the moment

I will apply for the HW nursery next year for my second son and who knows with all the changes, we might have a place...

so my advise is go for a back-up plan! If i could afford, i'll do it but we decided we wanted 3 kids!!!

Good luck
xx