' could we not a great big group of Nappy Valley Mums to petition BV and H'

'could not BV or H take over Highview'

Good grief - time to run for the hills.

Thanks for the heads up re Chesterton!
we're on the Shaftesbury estate so this is now another good option for us.
It is a leap of faith to put your child into a school that historically hasn't had a reputation ( i realise this isn't the main point of this post), but i feel passionately that we have all paid taxes and our children should be able to have a free education if we want it for them.

I also walked a mile to primary school when I was growing up (or mum took us both on her bike front and back!)

It'd be great to be just next door to our primary school but this isn't the norm for everyone in the UK - high density living in London does change things

Our first choice will also be a leap of faith. But I feel at peace about it and if its not working out then we'll deal with it at the time

livegreen wrote:Boarding schools were set up for "families" who were unable or unwilling to bring up their own children. They serve the same purpose today.

Is an absolutely ridiculous statement

Of course we are being ripped of living here! This is why as soon as my baby reaches pre-school age we are hot footing it out of London altogether back to our home county, there is no way I'm fighting to get my kid into a primary school that doesn't even have its own grass playing field for Christ's sake!

Boarding schools were set up for "families" who were unable or unwilling to bring up their own children. They serve the same purpose today.

Scottov, who sends a 4 or 5 year old to boarding school, bursary or not?! In any case, bursaries are usually only available to older children who have proved their worth in the education system and so are sufficiently desirable for private schools to want them. Not a serious suggestion to the solution of a shortage of reception places, I hope!

Chesterton School in North Battersea is another example of where a group of local parents have gotten behind the school, taken the leap of faith, and led to an 'oustanding' Ofsted and a waiting list to get in for some years.

Having said that, I do really feel for those who have chosen a school, planned ahead, and made a family home SO close to the school, in their preferred area, to have their hopes dashed. It must be devastating and I have every sympathy. I do worry about the rate the catchments are shrinking, even with a sibling 'in situ' already.

I recall when BV added their extra form, the reason why HW was able to elect not to do so, was because it was a foundation school I believe - so HW were slightly different in that the 'school' owns the building (hence why the PTFA raise funds for new playgrounds, windows, etc). Whereas with BV the council still owns the buildings, so pay for all repair - BUT can dictate that an extra form be added. I think .... it was a while ago .... baby brain ! Apologies if that's not entirely accurate.

As an aside I've truly never experienced any of the snobbery people remark upon either, to the contrary - it's been a real friendly community, with a load of support when need for us since moving here. Perhaps that's why people are so keen to try and stay here & preserve the feel of the area.

Yes, house prices are seriously rocketing as those priced out of Chelsea and Fulham head in, and catchments are shrinking as babies keep on coming, and less private school places are taken. But the people living here remain, in my view, to be a lovely bunch - not looking down on anyone, just wanting to try and raise their families in their area of choice (not be pushed out to other areas, or to have to travel miles to school their child or take up a place at a school they're less comfortable with).

As I said in a previous post, inverse snobbery is rife in some posts on here. Empathy is lacking, and relying on rumour is all too common.

How many of you are aware that there are far superior independent schools in the west country (boarding) offering great old whacks in bursary subsidies on account of the economy?

Top 100 schools nationally

supergirl wrote:Every single year the same debate...

The council cannot do anything for HW and BV: these schools are in charge of their admission criterias.

Stop the dictature of HW and BV.

Children can walk up to a mile (i did it, my children currently do it).

Look at other schools. They are plenty of good schools in wandsworth. Life is not just about BTC.

On top of my head: All Farthing, Swaffield, St Faith, High View. I ve also read somewhere here that Aldenbrook is good too. I know they are plenty of others.

Open your investigation boundaries you might find some gems, who knows?

An excellent post.

shame the greatest complaint is that someone else is taking advantage of the system, not them.

Yes, my point is for siblings who are more than 1500m away - there should be another state school that's is closer than B & H. An as family is moving far out, they should allowed to finish current year and then take a place in local school, unless kids are in final year of studies. This is common practice everywhere else in the world.
Otherwise that is going to be lots of driving around - essentially people not going to local schools.

How meaningful the figures are is obviously dependent on our respective interest in the debate. To me, they are significant as our house is around 480m from Honeywell (on the old system) so my son would not have gained a place, but 17+ places would have been allocated to children living further away than us.

To my mind the best solution would be to set up some form of priority area such as Beatrix Potter. It would obviously need to be greater than the current catchment to reflect fluctuations in distances over the years, but in the 6 years I have lived in my home I am not aware of HW catchment being greater than 650m (if that). It would mean the lack of places south of Broomwood Road could be addressed by removing the current overlap between the BV and HW catchment areas.

I am very supportive of any campaign to get this issue on the agenda of the governing bodies of the schools – especially HW as they have failed to address the issue at all. I believe BV did at least consult on a priority area a few years ago. Not that any progress was made due to their change to an academy.

My main issue is that for those living South of Broomwood Road the next closest schools are Alderbrook, Wix and High View which are a substantial distance away. Alderbrook would be the closest option for us, but it is not a feeder school for Bollingbroke, so I worry that I am excluding my son from a place at our local secondary school with this choice (albeit a long way in the future). Wix used to be an option, but now we are out of catchment and High View is over 1500m away and due to its location not a good commute in London traffic and quite a hike by foot.

The numbers, if correct are very low. A large portion of these will also be children with medical conditions or in social care and are given priority over local children. Children in social care often move around. Their one stability is the school.

Sorry the OP complained that they would miss out on holidays to send their children private? Meaning no offence, but I don't think that is such anything to really be concerned about. As parents, we make choose to make sacrifices in order to provide for our children. If you feel that you have to sacrifice a few holidays in order to give your children the best education, then what's to complain about?

The fact is, most of us Between The Commons moved there because the area is family friendly and the schools good. In many ways BTC is a victim of its success.

Apologies. Just read the question/data again. So, really last piece of info is irrelevant to stats - so ignore my posts - I was wrong. I was just puzzled why this has been given as separate data...

sorry in prev post I meant for decreasing distance you do not add data together, but other piece of data outside the council look like a separate piece of info, as not included in over 2500m .