Campaign to open another bilingual stream at Wix Post Reply

[Emilie1]

Hi Ladies,

I am the mum of a child who is on the waiting list of Wix Primary School. He is number 13 on that list so his chances of getting in this stream in Sept 2012 are very slim.

Not even all siblings got in this year and I understand that the first child who is not a "sibling" on that waiting list is #3. It is a little girl who lives less than 50 yards from the school and goes to the same nursery as my son. One can't live any closer than her. Hopefully she will get in since she is not far away from the top of the list. We are within the catchment area but close to the limit and our son is number 13, so, chances of non siblings in the future will be even slimmer especially because the stream has now been running for 6 years and all these children who got in first now have siblings following in their foot steps.

We can still try via the French side but I am not an expat and I understand that the chances of children of Franco-English non expat couples are very slim too but I will still try I suppose...

The mum of this little girl is keen like myself to campaign to try to convince Wandsworth Council to open another bilingual stream.

However, I would like to highlight the fact that it should not be in my view "just" a bilingual stream but a similar bilingual stream in association with the Lycee Charles de Gaulle, supervised by AEFE and implementing the French national curriciulum in addition to the National Curriculum. This is what made the success of the bilingual stream at Wix.

Shaftesbury Park primary school is also opening a bilingual stream in 2013 but not in association with the Lycee nor the AEFE and will not follow the French curriculum. However, they are meeting with some people form the Lycee soon so, it may be good if some of you dropped them a line to highlight that an association with the Lycee would be good and tell them that it would be good if they could ensure that the children can go to the Lycee in South Kensington when they reach secondary school age. I personally think that this is very important.

I still have to find out who to send my letter but Pupils Services on 020 8871 7316 could be a good start to find the name of the department or person to write to and the address.

Please take just a little bit of time to write this letter to Wandsworth Councial (and possibly to Shaftesbury Park School if you have time) and hopefully we will be heard!

All the best,

E

[schoolgatesmum]

I really feel for you. Being so close to a school and not getting in is awful and not getting a sibling in is pretty disastrous. If I were you I would contact your local councillor first. I presume you're in Shaftesbury ward? You can find out who your local councillor is via the council website. However I can't see what they could do to have another bilingual stream at Wix school - surely the building isn't big enough for another 7 classes? And I guess that's the reason that they've added a bilingual stream at Shaftsebury Park - did you apply there? Did you get offered a place anywhere?

[littlebalckbear]

Emilie1

Sorry your child and your friend’s daughter have not been offered a place despite living so close – hopefully the list will move and you will have better news soon.

I also live close to Wix, but much further than 50 yards, so as things stand it’s unlikely my daughter would be offered a place in the bilingual stream when she is ready for school in a couple years time. Therefore, I’d welcome an additional stream and will write to Wandsworth Council as you suggest. Have you seen the post ‘Wix dual-language admissions’ where someone suggests writing to your local councillor to lobby for additional provision?

I expect, as schoolgatesmum says, the main issue preventing a further bilingual stream is space, but it’s definitely worth letting the Council know there that the demand is there nonetheless.

U

[Emilie1]

Thank you for this reply ladies.

I also think that it will be hard for Wix Primary School to open another bilingual stream but we can always try.

Also, it may be worth mentioning in that letter that linking the new bilingual stream at Shaftesbury park to the Lycee would be a very good idea so that children can go the Lycee when they reach Secondary School age. This is in my view very important but will not be the case at Shaftesbury Park to start with.

I believe that we are closer to Wix Primary School (250m away and still within the catchment area), so, Wix would be better for us. However, if Shaftesbury Park opened a bilingual stream linked to the Lycee, then we would definitely consider it. Otherwise, we may as well move to an area where our children can get into a school rated Outstanding by OFSTED.

Should I write to this adress or has anyone got a better address?
Wandsworth Council (School admissions department)
The Town Hall
Wandsworth High Street
London
SW18 2PU

As I work full-time, I have limited time during the day to call and find out the exact address, so, I have just found the above one on the internet.

All the best,

E

[AbbevilleMummy]

Hi ladies,

I went for a tour of Wix on Thursday with the deputy head. A couple of other prospective parents questioned whether there could be an additional stream added and whether there was enough space.

He said that there was enough space as they have unused buildings and that it has been brought up with the council in the past but it was more of an issue of funding rather than space. He also mentioned something about whether the governors would support it or not.

Good luck with your campaign!

[Emilie1]

Hi Abeville Mummy!

This is great news. I thought that there might be enough space initially too but other mums seemed to think that space was limited at Wix and that therefore, the school would not be able to accomodate another stream.

So, let's all send our letters to Wandsworth Council and cross our fingers. These things take time so, it is worth doing this now hoping that another stream will open in 2013.

Have a good week ladies.

E

[Emilie1]

Hi Abeville Mummy!

This is great news. I thought that there might be enough space initially too but other mums seemed to think that space was limited at Wix and that therefore, the school would not be able to accomodate another stream.

So, let's all send our letters to Wandsworth Council and cross our fingers. These things take time so, it is worth doing this now hoping that another stream will open in 2013.

Have a good week ladies.

E

[littlebalckbear]

Thanks for the updates - I will get writing!
U

[emben12]

Hi

I would also be happy to send a letter to the council as we live approx 200m from the school, so would have been fine in previous years but not this year. Did anyone manage to find out who we should write to? I've looked on the Wandsworth Council website but can't seem to find the appropriate person. Is it the schools admissions department as suggested above?

[schoolgatesmum]

I would start with your local councillor. Presuming that you live in Shafestbury ward, I'd try Jonathan Cook - email jonathancook@wandsworth.gov.uk. I know that Jonathan was involved in trying to set up a new free school in the area so has an interest in education.

[emben12]

Ok great. I'll start with him. Thanks.

[emben12]

Email sent! Will keep you posted as to any reply I receive.

[Scotland]

I am Chair of Governors of Wix school. Firstly, we are very aware of the acute demand for places in the bilingual steam at Wix and would be keen to explore ways to accommodate the excess demand. However, not only are there severe restrictions in terms of the site but the other key reason that limits any expansion currently is secondary provision in the Lycee. Currently, children in the Wix bilingual stream can go on to an English secondary school or the Lycee in South Kensington. However, the Lycee is operating at absolutely maximum capacity and simply cannot accommodate additional classes of children. The Lycee would like to find an additional site but this is difficult, not least because of cost.
Consequently, a solution needs to be found for secondary school provision for bilingual children where the level of French education would reflect the standard they will have reached on leaving Wix. In Wandsworth currently, this is not available. Appeals to Wandsworth council should bear this in mind.
Can I also emphasize that all children do French in Wix English stream where they also benefit from shared assemblies, some classes, playtimes etc with the French and bilingual streams. Children not only benefit from this rich atmosphere but also from the excellent teaching and thus increasingly strong results in this stream.

[emben12]

Thank you very much for your post and explaining the current situation. Firstly if Wix did have the capacity and funding to create the extra bilingual stream I think personally I would rather take that option and worry about secondary education later. AFter all, if a new bilingual stream started in 2013 or 2014 then the Lycee would have 5 or 6 years to work out how to accommodate the extra capacity coming through. And if they were still not able to accommodate this, I would prefer to have a child educated to age 11 bilingually than not at all.
Secondly, I wonder if you would mind sharing your opinion on the ofsted comments regarding the English stream at Wix. One big concern here seemed to be that while the children with English as a second language or learning difficulties were well catered for, the brighter children in this class were left marking time. Obviously if the choice is the bilingual stream with great results or the English stream with these comments then the bilingual stream is always going to be more popular. At age 2 I don't know where my child will fit on the academic scale but I would like to know that she would be well catered for whether she was bright and needed pushing or whether she was at the opposite end of the scale.
Thanks for your time.

[kiwimummy]

I'd be very interested in the answers to Emben12's questions.

Sorry, to add my vote to the debate, another intending parent who would love to see an additional bilingual stream at Wix!