State schools in Battersea and Clapham Post Reply

[Raghuvanshi]

What are the best state schools in this area? Our son starts reception in sep 2025. He is academically inclined and we would like a school that would suit him.

[Rou7]

I am so relieved to have discovered the Nappy Valley community! Our son starts reception in 2025 and we are still wrapping our heads around the schooling system in the UK. We are from another country. Our son is very active and has a gentle demeanour. He is academically advanced for his age. Socially, he is shy and takes his time before opening up or trusting anyone. We would like to send him to a state school in/around Battersea and Clapham that would support his academic abilities and help him become socially more confident. We welcome your experience based recommendations for schools. I have heard great things about Belleville and Honeywell but would love to have more options. Thank you!

[nappyvalleymum3]

I would look at Ravenstone, a rounded happy and balanced approach to children, lots of space indoor (library, spare classrooms/breakout rooms), great pastoral care, understanding of children needs and up to date on children development, lots of sports.

Belleville is good academically but their curriculum isn't rounded for a primary school and sadly their pastoral approach is outdated and very old school, their behavior management is very much geared towards punishment/naming and shaming which is a little odd for the area and considering the latest that is known on child development/brain development and engagement.

Can't comment on Honeywell expect to say that the infant school has always been greatly praised.

[flatley2]

How do the educational philosophies and behavior management approaches of Ravenstone and Belleville differ, and what impact might these differences have on student well-being and academic performance?

geometry dash breeze

[Birdlover]

Honeywell infants is great but it only takes you to year 2. Honeywell junior has gone downhill a lot and I know a lot of people who are very unhappy. I have a couple of friends in Ravenstone and they rave about it. It sounds like a gorgeous school

[Ss2510]

I would take a look at Shaftesbury Park. It’s a bilingual state school with two streams. No need for the children to be French speaking as they learn it in an immersive way. It’s a lovely bonus to hear my son speaking/singing in French.

The teaching has been fantastic, I have two kids there - one just moved out of reception and one in the nursery. Their reading in particular is great, lots of updates from the teachers and overall it has a really lovely community. All the teachers know my toddler and say “hello X!” When they seen him.

They also have the best breakfast and after school options for working parents, in my opinion.

It’s a hidden gem but a friend told us about it and we’ve been extremely happy with it.

[Btc_mummy]

The options available to you are totally dependent on where you live!
All the schools named have got small catchment areas which are probably about to get smaller because of the school VAT introduction

I can’t think of any street that would give you an address that means you would have a chance of getting into Ravenstone or Belleville.

Look at the catchments for each school and work out which ones you are likely to be able to get into based on your address, then make a post comparing those

Your current question will just mean you get a load of posts from parents recommending their own child’s school rather than being useful for your situation

[falconmum]

We moved to Tooting years ago to have access to better schools. 
We had choices from Fircroft, Rutherford, Ravenstone and Tooting Primary. 

Would not recommend Tooting Primary anymore. It has really gone downhill. Have heard good things about Ravenstone. 
Our academically inclined son went to Rutherford House. It is very focussed on academics and has multitude of clubs. It also has wraparound care. But I have heard in recent years that pastoral care isn't great anymore. Might be worth visiting on an open day. 
If you are closer to Battersea Park than Clapham Junction, you might also be in catchment for some of the primary schools on the other side of bridge (Chelsea/Kensington) so might be worth looking into that. 

There are a couple of decent state secondaries around including Graveney but those were not our first choice so that is a consideration. 

[Dottedskies]

Rutherford House is brilliant. I know there was question of pastoral care on the posts above - but not one i have felt, with 2 kids there. If anything, they have been amazingly supportive.

[Foz]

We've been very happy with Shaftesbury Park. Our son joined in reception and is now in year 4. We don't have experience with other schools for comparison, but we love SP and so does our son. The teachers, senior leadership and ALL the staff have been absolutely great - very enthusiastic and caring. It's a really good community. There are lots of trips, clubs and events. The bilingual stream is very good and they also have an 'enterprise' (non-bilingual) stream. It feels like a hidden gem and we would wholeheartedly recommend it. More info about SP in this post: viewtopic.php?p=298207. 

[Dad_of_twins]

Hi,

Our children are at Honeywell which they joined in reception (currently in the Junior school). I normally do not intervene in chats but I am afraid I must disagree with a previous post.

The school is wonderful and we couldn't be happier. It is academically strong with consistent excellent results throughout the years despite not feeling too academic/corporate but, above all, it is a nurturing environment where my children have thrived. The school has a strong focus on personal development and, if anything, it is getting better and better offering children with the possibility of taking on diverse responsibility and leadership roles (Well-being Ambassadors, EcoWarriors, etc.). I personally think they are doing an amazing and innovative job that to me is how modern education should look like.

In any case and as many others have said in this and other threads, we are spoiled by choice in the area. Every child is different and I would certainly recommend to attend open days to get a feeling of the day-to-day at each school and talk to as many people as possible including heads, teachers, parents, etc.

Good luck with the decision, I'm sure it will go well!

[Duckling123]

I’d like to reinforce this last post about Honeywell. We have had three children go all the way through the school and one is still there. The Junior school slipped a bit under the previous headteacher who was clearly there too long and was coasting by the end. The new headteacher arrived in 2020 and post-Covid has been turning things around. Ofsted went in two years ago, gave it a Good rating and were very encouraging about the new leadership and the steps being taken on the journey back to Outstanding (we hope). It’s a lovely area, but with a slight downside of privileged/entitled attitudes from some parents and children. This can make running the school difficult, I’m sure, but they are doing the right things and certainly cracking down on unacceptable behaviours rather than just brushing them under the carpet, as seemed to happen before.

[betsyboop]

Ravenstone is more rounded, less rigid and more in tune with the variety of needs, generally more progressive.
 
Belleville more rigid and more inclined to see the "negative side" in children, rather than the fact they are still children, also very focused on maths and English, more traditional in their discipline/behaviour management. Also bearing in mind, their results rely heavily on the Mathnasium center next door and the children being tutored from early on (not just for 11+). but both have wonderful staff and families, both have a lovely community side to it. Generally you're in luck choosing a school in this area. 

Do a school tour, speak to some children/families. Ask a wide range of questions about clubs, school dinners, homework, friendships, uniform, staff retention, inclusion