High View Primary (vs. Belleville/Honeywell) Post Reply

[mchisholm]

My family and I just relocated from out of the country into the area and had applied to have our eldest daughter get into a primary school. We had our eyes set on Belleville or Honeywell (though perhaps not appreciating how sought after these schools really were) and decided to rent a flat very close to both (we are about 160m from Belleville and 320m from Honeywell - both are pretty well right around the corner - a 2-5 min walk to either).

On the application, we only selected these two schools and upon receiving a response from the council today, did not get an offer for either, and instead have an offer for High View Primary (about 1100m away).

I am wondering if anyone had any experience with High View and, being new to the area, whether there are options available for still getting into either Belleville or Honeywell - we are deep into the primary catchment of both and somewhat on the fringe of the secondary ring of High View.

Thank you!

[TLS]

Hi there, I am a parent at high view, with two kids there. We are all happy with it. I'm pm you - happy to have a chat.

[RUS]

Welcome to the area. Frustrated for you about not getting into your local school(s), but can definitely recommend High View's Reception as my eldest is there, and is doing really well. Am happy to discuss further via PM.

[Pud1]

You won't go far wrong with any Wandsorth primary school. We are lucky to live in an area with so many great schools.

[Pud1]

You won't go far wrong with any Wandsorth primary school. We are lucky to live in an area with so many great schools.

[mchisholm]

You won't go far wrong with any Wandsorth primary school. We are lucky to live in an area with so many great schools.

Thank you for the comment - being new to the UK, I was also wondering how much weight is placed on a school's Ofsted ranking. While BV and HW are ranked as 1, HighView I believe was "good" (2), but according to the latest report on the school's website, it looks like it now "requires improvement" (3). Would/should this be a concern?

[Monkey_mami]

Welcome to the Uk and to SW11. I know several people with children at Highview and they are happy there. If you'd like to know how likely you are to be offered a place at BV or HW, it very much depends where you are on the wait lists (some of which move massively over the next few weeks/months). I'd suggest you call Wandsworth Council and find out, they are very helpful and are used to getting calls everyday, all day, from parents wondering where they are on the wait list.

If your preference is one of the other schools, you can provisionally accept the place at Highview but ask to be kept on the wait list for your preferred school(s).

We found this process a bit daunting when we moved to the UK but in the end everything worked out -as mentioned previously, most schools around here are very good. Please pm me if you'd like to chat about it.

Good luck!

[smoothpig]

Places at Honeywell and Belleville usually come up towards the end of the summer term and just before the start of the Autumn term usually at least 2 each year per year. Although you are much closer to Belleville and Honeywell you will be offered the nearest school with a place, in this case High View (which I don't know much about but other posters have responded on this, mine went to Honeywell and we entered mid year after a year abroad). Given how close you are to them you would definitely get a place in July at the latest. You could either start at High View and move to the closer schools when a place comes up (make sure you make it clear that you want to stay on the waiting lists) if you still want to, or home educate if you are able until a place comes up. I imagine you would be top of the waiting list at Belleville (check with the council) so try phoning Belleville direct and asking them if they know of any places becoming vacant in your daughters year soon. Honeywell is certainly used to being asked this kind of thing.

[ValentinaRebe]

Hi there! My daughter is at High View nursery at the moment and going to reception next year. I am very happy with the school and the teachers. I saw nice improvements since September when she started. They are pretty organised and caring. It's very easy to have a chat with them if you need.