confused about Lambeth schools admissions! Post Reply

[Local_lass]

Hello,
I've got extremely confused about the Lambeth admissions criteria for reception next year. I'm due to apply for my August born son and am already nervous about this, as I don't think he's ready for school. We had our hearts set on Henry cavendish but we're too far away (around 1km!). Our local school seems ok, and like they are trying to take things forward. We're keen to give it a go. But Looking at the apply to schools booklet from Lambeth I'm trying to work out what this sentence means:

"all applicants received a place at the school of a higher preferred offer"

It seems to apply to a lot of the less popular schools in the area, including the one we are near to. Does it mean no one put it as their first choice?!
Many thanks if anyone can shed any light on this for me!

[kiwimummy]

in what context? can you give a bit more context?

lambeth are a nightmare compared to wandsworth imho, having applied through both!

[sid_seal]

Hi Local_lass,

It just means that the school was not oversubscribed: all people who put it down as their first choice got a place, and the people who put it down anywhere on their list of six either got that or one of their higher preferences.
So the school is probably not one of the most popular, but this does not mean there is anything wrong with it! Trust your judgment, not word-of-mouth and similar. There are fashion waves about schools, too.
And on the plus side, classes will be smaller.

[Local_lass]

Thanks so much for your replies. That makes sense! I think it is very badly worded, classic Lambeth.
I hope it will be a good choice, I think it's our only option really. It does seem nice, it's just difficult when you've seen what's possible (ie Henry Cav!) which is so close but yet so far.
Thanks again

[sid_seal]

Just one thing to add: if you live close-ish to HC you may be close to the Wandsworth border (depending on which side of HC, of course!); are you aware that you can apply for school in both boroughs? There is no priority for residents; this should extend your options.

[Local_lass]

We do live pretty close to the border, on the Lambeth side. I think we will apply to Henry Cav, Bonneville, and Alderbrook (which is Wandsworth). Aside from those I'm just not sure!
If anyone has any knowledge of some of the less subscribed schools in the area that would be fantastic.
Thank you

[papinian]

May I ask why Telferscot is not on your list? From your location/other schools you mention it seems as if it is quite near you. I have seen good things written about it but don't know the school personally.

[2girls]

Have you considered Ravenstone in Balham? It is a lovely, nurturing school and you most probably would be in the catchment area.

[chiccainclapham]

Hi Local_lass,

Bonneville is a good school with a great head teacher (I have a few friends who have their children there). It is quite big, that is why it is hardly oversubscribed. I am in a very similar situation: although I am closer to HC than you are, I still am outside its very small catchment area so I will apply to HC (very unlikely but you never know), Bonneville and St Mary.
Good luck!

[Local_lass]

Thanks everyone for such helpful comments, I really appreciate it!
This thread has made me feel much more positive about Bonneville, it'll be great going there if there are lots of other enthusiastic families going too.

Oh yes and I had forgotten about telferscot, have heard great things about it and will def apply there. (Though we are at least 1km from it too)

Thanks again all

[Local_lass]

Oh and thanks 2girls, I will check our distance to ravenstone too. Sounds like a nice school!

[gabster]

My children are at HC - when the catchment was 250m. However we are now further up the road on Cavendish over 450m away. Some children in the interim years opposite us have got in so the catchment does move.

However the point of this post is that for my daughters year although there was little movement of places before and during reception 3/4 places came up at the beginning of year 1 and children from further away moved into the school and their following sublings also have places. So if you are not happy you can keep yourself on the list and potentially move at a later point.

And dont forget you need proof for address for your child now - phone the local PCT to get your medical card!!

[TheDormouse]

A quick shout-out for Kings Avenue, which might be worth a look for you if you're within range of Bonneville. My daughter goes there. It's a lovely, nurturing school, not oversubscribed but really on the up.

[UmmH]

I've also been pondering the exact meaning of that sentence "All applicants received a place at the school of a higher preferred offer" and come to the conclusion that it's a misprint. It ought to read, "All applicants received a place at the school OR of a higher preferred offer". So that would mean that if you put the school first, you got it, but if you put if further down on your list, you got one of your higher preferred choices.

I'd like to ask what you all think about only putting down one choice. There is only one school in my area that I like, so I wonder what the point is of filling up the form with schools I do not wish to send my son to. Alternative is to fill it up with schools I like which are outside my area. Does it make any difference??

[papinian]

I'd like to ask what you all think about only putting down one choice. There is only one school in my area that I like, so I wonder what the point is of filling up the form with schools I do not wish to send my son to. Alternative is to fill it up with schools I like which are outside my area. Does it make any difference??

Please please fill out all of the choices. The only time that you should not fill out a choice is if you would go private (and have a place at an independent school!) or homeschool rather than have your child go to the relevant school.

If you only put down one school and your child doesn't get a place there then you will be offered a place at a school that has surplus places and that may be at the other end of the borough.

However, it's a waste to put down a school that your child has zero chance of getting a place at.

The trick is to marry your preferences with the likelihood of admission.