Penwortham Primary School SW17 Post Reply

[mum-from-tooting]

Hi,

Our daughter is due to start school in 2012, we have applied to a few independent schools but don't want yet to rule out state schools especially as we have baby number 2 on the way and two sets of private school fees will stretch us a bit more than we would like. We are in the catchment area for Penwortham and Furzedown primary schools. Their ofsted reports are pretty bad so not being overly optimistic but does anyone have experience of these schools? Please let me know the good, the bad and the ugly...
Thank you

[Lyraolimummy]

Hi there!

I don't have children there myself but am in the same position with regard to schooling in 2012. There aren't any really brilliant schools in the area apart from St Boniface so you are sorted if you are Catholic! If not, then to be honest Penwortham and Furzedown are both ok. I know lots of people who have children at the school and think it is fine. Have you looked round them yet? Furzedown is small but I didn't like the head, Penwortham is much bigger but I liked the feel alot more. To be honest - Ofsted can only tell you so much. I have worked in alot of schools in London and intuition can tell you far more - it is worth seeing the children, getting a feel for the ethos etc.
Good luck with it and I hope there is someone in Nappy Valley who has a child there who can reassure you. Aren't many Tooting dwellers on this site!

[schoolgatesmum]

There's also a lot to be said for your child going to a local school. Firstly you can walk there which makes going to school much less stressful than getting in a car each day (and also state schools tend to start later than the privates giving you that extra time in the morning). There was some report done (can't remember what) which said that children who walked to school were a lot more alert in their morning classes having had a bit of exercise and fresh air first. Secondly most of the children will be local which makes life a lot easier when arranging playdates and sharing dropoffs and pickups. Thirdly you really feel part of your community when your children are at the local school.

[furzedown-mumof2]

Hi,
My son started nursery at Penwortham Primary last September and loves it. He has made lots of friends and settled well and he looks forward to nursery everyday (even holidays). We moved to the area for the school which many people do. Ofsted's don't always paint the right picture of a school and i am a strong believer of going to the school for a viewing. Hope this helps and good luck!

[mims]

we've had three children there at various times - my honest opinion is that it's a pretty good local school - it certainly wasn't 'outstanding' when its OFSTED said it was, and I'd say it's much better than 'satisfactory' which is where OFSTED would have you believe it is now ...

it's better in the early years than it is further up the school - the later years are a bit uninspiring

out of my three, one has been very lucky with local friends and has a lovely group of children all living nearby in the class

however the other two both suffered the blight common to lots of London classrooms of a gradual drift out of the city so although they started with a big pool of friends, for both of them their friends disappeared over the years

it's definitely worth having a look at both schools - Penwortham's much bigger than Furzedown which has its pluses and minuses

if you do end up going for an independent option, check how long it will take you to get there - you don't want to spend your life in the car ferrying kids around!

[Dros]

Hi. You should look at Eardley too. My kids all go there and there are some amazing teachers there. It has a very good ofsted too.

[Spotty26]

My son is at Penwortham and absolutely loves it. There is a really happy vibe about the school. I totally agree with the post about going to look around it. It sounds a bit odd but I had a tear in my eye on the tour - so I took that as a great sign.

Of course, the Ofsted report is disappointing but having a "satisfactory" grade does not make a school "bad". What was a concern to many parents was that it went from Outstanding to Satisfactory.

This has been explained by the previous poster. Outstanding was probably a bit of an overstatement and Satisfactory is an understatement. Either way I have a very, bright and happy little boy who cannot wait to get to school in the morning. They are definitely getting something right.

[thelittlelegscompany]

I am really surprised by these posts. We have just had an offer accepted on a house in the catchment for this school and one of our main motivators was the fact that everyone said Penwortham was a great school. Now kicking myself for not looking at the Ofstead report but I have only ever heard great things...I was told the same re the senior school...please tell me that is not going down hill too or my husband (who now will have to walk an extra 10 mins to the tube grumble grumble) will divorce me! agghhhh

[sw17mamma]

I live near this school and although I don't have children there, I do know lots of people who have sent their children there and I would say on the whole they are happy with the school. I have only ever visited for fayres and I have to say it seems like a lovely atmosphere there.

I have heard that the head is an early years specialist which makes key stage one very strong. I don't know if this then makes it harder to show KS2 in the best light when one half is so good!!

Unfortunately, as a previous poster mentioned ALL london schools suffer from families moving away.

I personally think it is a more than acceptable start to your child's schooling.

[sw17mamma]

Little legs company - it would be wise to check out the status of Graveney becoming an academy, as post 11 the schooling for post 11s might change.

[ready2pop]

I'd also be careful about assuming you'll be close enough for Graveney . Recently you've had to live within about 600 metres of the school to get in on distance and I've heard that only about a third of the kids in the nearby primaries can get a place.

Furzedown is a nice area anyway though (we looked there but my hubby didn't fancy the walk to the station )