help - schools info Post Reply

[baba]

hi, we are planning to move given we do not have much chance to get into good schools locally.
we were looking at Earsfield, Southfields and Wimbledon.
do you have any suggestions for good schools? this time, we would like to pick an area with few good schools and then find a house in their catchment area. Looking at the league tables, it is difficult to find two or more good schools in the same catchment areas.
any ideas?
thank you very much.

[anxiousannie]

Beatrix Potter is meant to be a really good school but it has a very small catchment area - just a few roads I think. Earlsfield Primary also gets a good write up too.
Cant help re Southfields / WImbledon.

Good luck its all such a stress.
AA

[gail0810]

We're also looking for a house in those areas. The best school in Southfields I believe is St Michael's CofE primary. It has quite strict admission criteria though requiring church attendance and involvement. The other good school is Sheringdale but it has a small intake and tiny catchment area. I also hear that Swaffield school is on the up.

The Southfields 'grid' is a bit if a Blackhole as far as decent primaries go and even more so perhaps in future as I hear that Wimbledon park primary (which has a good reputation but not such a good Ofsted report last time round) may be expanding it's intake for a while but restricted to Merton residents only.

And with all the schools you have the best chance of getting in (siblings permitting) if you live very close.

[baba]

thank you.
it is so confusing just reading reports and looking at tables.
I have also noticed at times, good schools on paper have bad feedback from parents using the schools.

[Vives09]

The Beatrix Potter catchment area is much larger now that it's two form entry, which has also meant that there are more spaces available at Earlsfield Primary - I've had experience of both and they're both very good so you can't really go wrong if you're living in Earlsfield.

[mumble]

I'm curious as to how Wimbledon Park is managing to restrict admissions to Merton? Is it naming a catchment area? if so it's probably contestible as it's contrary to the Greenwich agreement/decision (whatever the technical term is)
Wandsworth does similar naughty things!

[felineg]

If you're thinking of Wimbledon dundonald is an outstanding school - previously impossible to get into but it's expanding to 2 forms next year. The area round it is in the priority area for wimbledon chase too - also v good.

[baba]

thank you
I have heard good things of St Mary.
anybody has experience with this school? how difficult it is to get in?
thank you

[shellbell83]

Hello.

How old is ur child/ren as this may help?

St.Micheals in Southfields is outstanding.

Wimbledon park school is very good..

DO NOT go to Southmead, swaffield or Albermarle.

Telefroscot near Balham is a very good school.

Grandard in Putney use to be good, unsure now

Beatrix potter suppose to be good but i havent got any experience on that one.

Riversdale in Southfields suppose to also be a good skool.

Good luck

[Talkman]

What are the issues that put you off Swaffield and the others? On another posting here a mum who has a child at Swaffield rates it well.
Go and visit the schools, wait at the gates, talk to other parents, contact the schools and arrange a visit to see for yourself.
Never rely on hearsay and equally don't rely solely on the Ofsted reports.
Good luck.

[baba]

thank you

my son will be 3 in November. looking at the councils webpage, it looks most school are oversubscribed.
thank you for all your advices.

[carissab]

I hope you have now organised a school, but for others looking make sure you check out Riversdale. When we moved into the area we attended one of the head teachers tours and were more than impressed. Now my children are enrolled there I have found it to be an excellent school and very pleased that they got into such a great school.