Postby skent » Mon Nov 24, 2014 10:27 pm
I would call the school and arrange a visit. Mr Roughley, the head, is very welcoming to visitors, particularly future applicants. He'll happily run you through the Ofsted and Sats results (.splitting out the language school results which tend to bring down SATS scores and don't truly reflect the performance of the main school). My daughter is in reception and is thriving. Smallwood wasn't any of our 6 choices but we couldn't be happier. It is in gritty surroundings and those high rise blocks are a very imposing backdrop but the school is warm and friendly, the staff enthusiastic and teachers ambitious for their pupils. The PTA is in its infancy but there are lots of parents interested in making more of this side of things, particularly to raise money for playground apparatus following the construction of a new kitchen and canteen. The school also owns a large stretch of grassy field which it saved from development many years ago and the children use this area for sport which I find very appealing.
Good luck!
