Btwn the Commons & not accepted to Honeywell or Belleville?? Post Reply

[Sunnyside]

Has anyone ever heard of someone Between the Commons not getting into either of the primary schools? We're looking at a houses on Canford Rd and Clapham Common Northside. We'll get more for our money CCN - but the closest school is the Wix School, and I've heard nothing about it. Obviously, have heard great things about Honeywell and Belleville, but if there's a high chance we won't get in at Canford Rd, then leaning towards Northside.

[Annabel (admin)]

Welcome to Nappyvalleynet and thank you for the post.

School catchment areas are dynamic, they change every year. There are also issues not to do with distance from school that affect who will get a place, such as sibling policy, which can mean that one year you might find a close neighbour gets all of her children into the school, and the following year someone who lives closer is unsuccessful. This is why the whole issue is so stressful.

Every year Wandsworth Council issue a brochure that shows distances from schools that "successful" children live and we reproduced last years data in this post here http://www.nappyvalleynet.com/viewtopic.php?f=54&t=941" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Also, "Yummy Mummy" posted some good advice here about what to do...

http://www.nappyvalleynet.com/viewtopic ... reas#p1700" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Good luck and please do let us know how you get on, I will mention this in next weeks mailout so hopefully we can get you some specific information from potential neighbours about your roads.

Annabel

[Laura&Lottie]

We've just bought a house to be in catchment for both schools, particularly Honeywell, and I wanted to be 400 metres or under to feel 'certain'. Canford Rd would really struggle to get in I think.

I know Alfriston Rd can be touch and go and I *think* that's closer than Canford.

[monaco]

How is the catchment area calculated ? According to another thread on this forum and the school itself (which I called), the catchment for Honeywell was 433 m last year. But how do they calculate that? Is it from point to point (ie straight line "in the sky") or by going road by road and turn by turn ?

[Laura&Lottie]

Walking distance, by lighted roads I think - so no cutting across grass or housing estates, LOL !

As the previous poster said though, it's not an official catchment area, they just publish last year's succesful applicants distance as a guide. This year I expect it will be less again.

I know Belleville added an extra class this year to accept more pupils.

[hazel15malwood]

Not that I'm an expert by any means, but like lots of other mums in the area with a vested interest (i.e. hoping to get my oldest into one or other school next Sept) I've been doing my research and keeping a close eye.
I'd say that if you moved into Canford Road, your chances of getting into Honeywell are pretty much 0%. As far as Belleville is concerned the chances are higher but it's all down to distance from school so the closer you are to the junction with Wakehurst Road, the more likely you'd be to get in. I live on Winsham Grove, approximately 520m from Honeywell and around 550m (optimistically) from Belleville, and based on the experiences of other families I know in the street, we'd have practically no chance of getting into Honeywell but better chances of Belleville. Other families on our road were not offered places in the first round and had very nervous and anxious waits over the Summer holidays until finally being offered places in late July/early August. One family had to wait until after school had started to be offered a place. I'm preparing myself for a nightmare Summer next year and stocking up on calming meds in preparation! So if you're of a nervous disposition, move closer if you can. My understanding is that Grandison Road seems to be the furthest away you can live and be guaranteed a place at Belleville and Chatto for Honeywell - beyond that, nothing's certain! I only wish I'd known as much three years ago when we bought!

[Sunnyside]

Thanks everyone for your posts. We've just had an offer accepted on a house on Culmstock Rd. near the junction with Alfriston, so I'm going to have to hope that's close enough for Honeywell or Belleville's catchment grows with the extra class they're introducing. I'll also stick the baby's name on the list for Parkgate House and hope for the best.

Guess you have to take the good with the bad in Nappy Valley - good - everything is child friendly - bad - can't get into the schools.

[Annabel (admin)]

congratulations on the house - fingers crossed for you.

Glad we could help, please let us know what you decide and how you get on.

Either way that sounds like good news, Parkgate is also a great school. I spent Saturday with friends who have two children there and absolutely adore it.

A

[Laura&Lottie]

Sounds promising ! Good luck x

[monaco]

Re: Chatto being the closest for Honeywell, that is scary! So basically unless you bought the house opposite Honeywell you have no chance of getting in I'm being ironic but this is quite amazing that you can't get in such a close school. I live on Roseneath Road so according to the posts here, we wouldn't have a chance to get in on either school. When I called the school, though, they told me that we may have gotten a space last year on the third round, ie in September
I am French so this is so weird to me but I have decided to be philosophical about this too. Let's hope that we will all find good solutions for our children.

[Annabel (admin)]

Good luck and thank you for all the feedback and advice everyone! This is another example of exactly why we started NappyValleyNet.com

A

[Sunnyside]

Hi All,

Just a quick update. We have friends who live on the otherside of Thurliegh Rd, who just got a kid into Belleville last week. A bit later, but at least they're in the school now.

[Annabel (admin)]

Thats great news, I'm really pleased for them. Thank you for the update the more specific information that we all have the better!

Annabel

[MGMidget]

Having done a bit of research on this myself earlier in the year, I just wanted to add that Belleville's catchment area had gone as far as 700m in April after second round offers when they added the extra class which made a huge difference. At first round offers I understand it was only about 250m. Honeywell's catchment area was much smaller than Belleville's at second round offer stage - around 450m I believe and I understand it only increased by about 20m between first and second round offers! However, it had still extended practically as far as Thurleigh Road just before term started in September.

[titinehelo]

Just to share my past experience with you. We are past thurleigh road, one road after and this year my son was 40 on the honeywell waiting list and 60 at belleville, we got at belleville 4 days before the opening so be patient it might pay!! He was down to 6 at honeywell in september!!
Good luck I know how stressfull this could be but once it is done it is over