Ravenstone Primary School, Balham Post Reply

[mummybubble]

Does anyone have views on this school? There are some comments on this site, but a bit out of date now... It seems to get reasonable Ofsted reports and to be mixed and friendly and reflective of the area generally. I think primary school especially should be about socialising and mixing as well as learning and Ravenstone looks like it might fit that bill...

thanks!

[fatherof6]

very nice school my friends son goes to Ravenstone and he is very happy.

[mumble]

Generally recognised as fab and one people move to get into, we have been on the W/L for ages though in 2 years we've moved for 9th to 4th but I know at least 2 people who 'moved' over the Summer when they didn't get a place and have somehow 'moved' back home again when they did

[Annabel (admin)]

Hi
I'd like to drop into this conversation as well.

We've had stalls at their summer fetes a few times and although this is subjective it has a lovely feel to it. Everyone was kind and helpful and it just felt "right".

A

[dandelion53]

Does anyone have any idea what distance you needed to live from the school to get in on the waiting list last year, even as late as beginning of Sept?
We don't live close enough to get in first time but wondering if it's even worth going on the waiting list?
Thanks!

[dandelion53]

Thanks for replying, and its interesting to hear that children sometimes leave in Reception.
I think the council distance figure is offers made until July and I was wondering if that goes much further over the summer until the start of term... I know I could wait on the list through term-time in reception but it seems such an upheaval for them to start at one school and then move to a new one...

[mummybubble]

This is all very useful, thank you all. Key question though - for a first time school-mum, how can I tell how far I live from the school - ie. whether I live within the 651m which was sufficient last year!?

Is this a distance by road, or as the crow flies?

Can I just put the school's and my postcode into google maps and calculate it that way (says 0.3miles??) , or if there a more scientific method to all this?

Many thanks.

[tamara]

Hi,
I think that it is calculated by the shortest route from your front door to the front school gate by road but not as the crow flies - im sure that I read this somewhere but cant remember where so cant refer you.
But, it may well be outdated judging by how often everything else seems to re school admissions

[mumble]

my opinion would be that it is better to move to a good school early than spend years in one not so good

as to how far the list moved over the summer in our case the answer is not at all people 'moved' closer (then back home again) and we didn't move at all, we only started moving up after 2 terms (can't tell you how quickly we didn't call at all during that period it was too depressing to not move)

re distance you need to check with the council Wandsworth choose their own route, plus it depends on which door they use (I have been told it's the closest but in our case I think they used the one furthest away but can't find the map anymore)

[Helen77]

Our daughter moved from a private school to Ravenstone in year two - getting in at that stage was a lot easier and we lived some distance from the school.
We have been happy with the school on the whole - and would recommend it.

[mrsbalham]

You can work out the distance you live from a school using a website like gmaps pedometer (you can google it). You need to put in Balham UK as it's a US website, then click on the map along the shortest lit route between your home and Ravenstone. The council uses the same method on its GIS (Geographic Information System).
Good luck!

[mummybubble]

Well I contacted Wandsworth Council direct to find out how this catchment area parlarva works. They measure to the closest entrance which the school tells them is used by Reception children. Extract from their email below in case this is of interest. At present we are just witing the area, though I guess we have to wait and see what happens by the time we apply! Thanks all for your comments.

"Thank you for your email.

I can provide an approximate (but near) guide to the distance from the address given to Ravenstone Primary School. (Please note that all official distances are processed through our admissions software at the time of application) The distance is in metres and is calculated by the shortest walking distance from home to school.


Wandsworth Council's Geographic Information System measures the shortest walking route over roads and street-lit paths. It will measure to the closest gate which the school have advised us to measure to. Your distance is measured to the gate on Ravenstone Street."

[marysmungo]

I have a son at Ravenstone who is very happy and runs to school every morning! I think it is a great school which has an active PTA who arrange many fantastic events for the children.. and adults. I would highly recommend the school to anyone who is lucky enough to live in the catchment area and so able to consider it