Tooting Primary School - Free School Academy Post Reply

[mummynanny]

Hello,

Our daughter is due to start Reception in September 2014. I know, we have still a whole year to apply but I am trying to find out what our options are...
We live in a part of Tooting from which almost every primary school seems quite far away... The metering system is very confusing... How do they exactly measure this - is there a way how to find out if we are within the catchment area?

I would have never thought that choosing the right primary school for our child would be so stressful... The system in my country is very different - it somehow looks little bit complicated here...

I have read the tread about Fircroft Primary School which we quite like (we might be bit too far for that one). Does anyone know Broadwater Primary School or Earlsfield Primary School? Does anyone know anything about Tooting Primary School - Free School Academy? I heard that there are about 3 new primary schools opening in September this year. How different are these schools to an ordinary state primary schools?

I would appriciate any information you might give me. Thank you in advance.

[LauraBrown]

I have 2 children at Broadwater and it is a fantastic school. The learning environment and teaching is excellent.

My daughter is in Year 1 and has been at Broadwater since nursery and I have been especially impressed by the rigorous academic approach and the way learning is tailored to each child. For example, each week they have a spelling and number test - your child's list of words is tailored to their appropriate level so they can focus on basics for those who need it and really stretch those who are further on.

This individual approach is evident all the time - every few days, my daughter's teacher will make some comment about my daughter's learning or behaviour this week when I am picking her up. It is so nice to hear how she is getting on regularly and on an informal basis and I can see she does this for everyone and is absolutely passionate about helping all the children reach their potential and making sure they are all happy too.

The playgrounds are amazing - nursery, reception and KS1 have all been redone in the last few years and KS2 will be next. There is so much space and great fixed climbing frames, musical toys and equipment that comes out every playtime. I never knew my daughter could hula hoop until very recently - it turns out one of the playground supervisors has been teaching them

There is also a large field, all weather courts and a small swimming pool. The children have swimming lessons weekly from Reception in small groups.

There is an increasingly active PTA, improving main website and individual websites for each class where teachers post photos and information about what they have been learning and the children are encouraged to have a look at home and post comments etc.

I honestly could not recommend it enough. It is an amazingly diverse school with children from many different backgrounds. I feel my children are immensely lucky to learn about other people and cultures while attending a fantastic school.

If you have any more questions, I'd be happy to answer! Whereabouts do you live - I might be able to help on catchment areas etc.

[mummynanny]

Thank you for your reply. It looks like Broadwater Primary seems to be a good school.
I will PM you.

[PipG]

I went to a meet/talk with the new Head for the new Tooting primary and he seemed excellent.

I've heard Earlsfield primary is very good which probably means it's quite hard to get in to unless you live in the doorstep (I don't know though).

[Mum36]

Hi Mumy Nany,
If you ring Wandsworth council's 'education department' you can usually arrange to email them your address and they will tell you how far your house is from certain schools. Go to this link here and it should have all the information you need. Look on page 15 of this booklet which lists the furthest distance from which pupils got into each school last year. Obviously catchment areas vary a bit each year (depending on who applies) but it will give you a rough idea how likely it is you will get into your chosen school. http://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/downloads/ ... 013/200086
Good luck!
Hope that helps!