Fircroft Primary School Post Reply

[valevaux]

Hello,

Does anyone have children in Fircroft or know about that school. We are moving to the area and still have no school for my children. Thanks a lot for your answers, it will be very helpfull.

Val

[tamara]

Hi
We don't have children at Fircroft school but we did look at it. This was a few years ago so apologies if this info is a little out of date.

Firstly, Fircroft is a great school. Staff and pupils seemed happy and it had a "nice" feel. There were some big howevers...

Its a very diverse community. That means I had concerns that English might not be the first language for the majority of the pupils. This was reflected by some friends who did have children there who felt that the first few years were spent bringing children's English language skills up to scratch and then, and only then, could the real learning begin. That said it means that the standard of teaching is really excellent because the results they get are with children who often have to learn English first.

That might not be a problem for everyone but it was for us.

Lastly, because of the diversity of the school community we were told that there was not a big culture of after school clubs and play dates. For us we really wanted to our children (sons) to play sports and to get and about as opposed to being whisked off away from school at the end of the day.

Hope this helps!

T

[Annabel (admin)]

Hi Tamara
Thanks for your input there.

I have to say that we haven't had the same sort of queries from other parents about Fircroft, it may well be that, as you say, your comments are a little out of date!

I've attached the latest ofsted report and its really good as far as I can see!

Hope this helps.

A
ps to download the ofsted report click on the paperclip below this post. Its a pdf file.

[tooting]

I know this thread is old, but I feel I need to comment on this. My children go to Fircroft and I did take offense at what Tamara said about "diversity". Yes, Fircroft has lots of non-white students, but I think that diversity is what makes it a good school. Children should learn at an early age to interact and to be kids to others who are dirrerent from them. I have never encountered any problems with my child's learning being affected because there are EAL students in the classes. Fircroft groups children from reception for subjects such as phonics and reading to ensure that the children are learning with others of the same ability. And I take offense at this statement of Tamara: "Lastly, because of the diversity of the school community we were told that there was not a big culture of after school clubs and play dates" What?! does she think that because there are lots of ethnic kids that they don't have play dates or want to take part in after school activities?. I find that condescending. My children have had play dates with children from all colours since reception. Also, there are lots of after-school activities as well. Drama, football, computer and science clubs to name a few. I really don't think someone who is not familiar with a school should make such comments. If you don't want a "diverse" school then use your money and go private.

[tamara]

Apologies if you took offence, that was not my intention.

However I feel that unless we can be honest then there is little value to sharing opinions.

I don't think it is a secret that Asian cultures have a lower propensity towards sport for their children and playdates and sleepovers.

Thats an important part of what I want for my children, and its less likely to happen at Fircroft, isn't it?

If that is not the case then maybe I misunderstood the situation but I went on a school tour at Fircroft a few years ago (my original post is old) and I was told that there were no after school sports clubs as there was no demand but kids could go to Ravenstone if they wanted to.

I'd like to repeat that is not my opinion, it is what I was told on a school tour as a prospective parent.

T

[dandelion53]

"I don't think it is a secret that Asian cultures have a lower propensity towards sport for their children and playdates and sleepovers."

?? I have never heard anything so ridiculous! This is a really ignorant comment! I'm so shocked!

I agree that there is a value to sharing opinions but not when they are so closed minded and uninformed.

I don't have children at Fircroft but I did just go on the tour in the Autumn and there is lots of sport going on in the school, and coaches from nearby Ernest Bevin which is a sports specialist secondary come and take sports clubs after school!

British children with different coloured skin still enjoy sport, have friends and play at each others houses...

[tooting]

"I don't think it is a secret that Asian cultures have a lower propensity towards sport for their children and playdates and sleepovers." I take offense at this as well. It borders on racist, if you ask me. And just who told you that there is no sport at Fircroft. I do not think the head teacher would make this comment. Fircroft has an active football team which regularly play other schools. They also have a table tennis team which takes part in competitions. They also have close links with Ernest Bevin who have a wonderful and thriving sport culture, and there are loads of Asians there. I'd like to know where you get your statistics from?

[tamara]

Hi
Apologies if you took offense, that wasn't my intention.

Just to be clear, I certainly hadn't heard this until I was told it by a member of staff from Fircroft when I went and looked around the school.

This was a very long time ago (8 years) but I think I made that clear earlier in my post.

T

[roundandround]

I think other posters have commented very ably on the appropriateness of some of the previous comments. As a parent of a child at Fircroft currently I can say without a doubt that it is an excellent school. It is heavily oversubscribed and achieves very good results across the board including the very able (which can and often does include children with English as a second language). My child has never lacked playdates and is usually at a friends or they are here a couple of times a week - which is all we can manage before it just gets too busy. There's a good range of after-school clubs and activities including sport, drama, art, maths and science. The curriculum is extremely rich and includes family challenge days, several outings a term, school sleep-overs, week long outward bound trip for older years, visits by drama groups, science experts, musicians and more. Peripatetic teachers come in to teach piano, violin, guitar and I think, the flute. I could go on but I think you get the idea.

[Medway]

I have close links with Fircroft in a professional capacity and I would like to say that it concerns me that those with such limited experience (a visit 8 years ago) should think it appropriate to post. Others have comment on the border line offensiveness of some of the comments and have very well highlighted the strengths of Fircroft's offer - I would like to add that I would not dream of commenting on anything I did not have direct and recent experience of.

The issues of schools is so contentious, personal and emotive it is terribly un-helpful to have comments like this made about a local school which will be seen by many current and prospective parents.
Thanks

[bexer56]

Hi, does anyone know the catchment distance from Fircroft school ....or streets most likely to secure a place there?

Many Thanks

[dandelion53]

Last year it was 855 metres from the school, and it's done on walking route not straight line distance. If you go to the Wandsworth council website, on the primary schools admissions area you can download a brochure with the distances/criteria for all the schools in Wandsworth - its called 'Choose a Wandsworth primary school 2011'
Hope that helps!