Primary schools in Kingston-U-Thames

[Coffee1Sugar]

I'll be applying for a reception place for dd in September and just wondering about which are most popular? I'm a primary school teacher so I'm finding myself really choosy!

[Schmedz]

I would think you have to go with the one closest to you. Kingston schools are generally completely oversubscribed and you have next to no chance of getting one further away from your home unless you try for a church place, and even then there is no guarantee.
As a teacher I am sure you know not to judge by SATS results or reputation alone but to visit the ones closest to you and hope the one you like best offers you a place.
Do you mean this September? I thought applications had closed already ( but could be wrong).
Good luck.

[Coffee1Sugar]

Sorry meant for next September!

[Gigondas]

Admissions info here page 42 on with tables on distance marked. Other poster is right as there isn't much choice in many areas due to massive over subscription in areas. Not sure what Kingston was like but 250 kids in neighbouring Richmond didn't get places.

[Snowballed]

There were 210 extra places created for this September intake as bulge classes (2 extra classes added after application cut off) in Kingston despite schools like Burlington having already added extra classes permanently.

If you're lucky you'll get into your local school (unless you have church credentials).

[Schmedz]

To add, there are some schools that have a great reputation but actually don't seem to live up to the hype and others considered 'terrible' but actually serve many students very well. King Athelstan, for example, does brilliantly well for its intake and a good friend has both children there and is delighted with their achievement and happiness at school ( her eldest is currently in year 6 and predicted level 6 in maths and English in the SATS and is by no means the only one in her class to be achieving well above average. She has been incredibly well served by that school!) it gets great extra funding and the children enjoy free swimming lessons, theatre visits etc...etc... It was not their first choice, but they stayed on a waiting list...however, when a place came up about a year after the eldest started they declined because they were so completely happy with it.

[GreenMunchkin]

What others have said. In North Kingston you literally have to be on the doorstep unless you already have a sibling or it's a church school and you worship regularly (not a fair weather church goer who suddenly started going a year before applications as the vicar/priest will probably see through this).

I'm not sure I'd agree with the pp about King Athelstan though. Whist I'm sure it does serve some children well, it might not be for everyone and I'd really want to see the school in action before taking a gamble. Very close to us we have another poor performing school (Kings Oak which used to be The Mount). I'm sure someone will come along and say it is a hidden gem but its not an option we were happy with.

At the end of the day unless your child gets into Tiffin or one of the Sutton grammars (a huge gamble even with lots of ££££ in tutoring thrown at them) or you know you can afford private (and your child can pass an exam to get into a decent one) then they all end up at the same secondaries in Kingston and I'd be looking at the long game. There is even more competition at secondary and if you have a girl and aren't Catholic then the best school is Coombe but its catchment is shrinking. Hollyfield in Surbiton is a good co-Ed option but is over subscribed with a small catchment. The secondaries in the borough with spaces tend to be in the south in Chessington/Tolworth. And I'd be thinking about whether those are options you'd be happy with. Of course the long awaited N Kingston secondary might have opened by then.

[GreenMunchkin]

As an aside, there have been a number of Kingston/New Malden related posts in recent weeks. I've replied to a couple where the OP hasn't come back to reply to advice they were given.

[Snowballed]

I think one of the bulge classes they added was at Kings Oak - which is odd because usually they are undersubscribed. In New Malden the issue is that the church schools won't take bulge classes - so for some parts of Kingston that means KingsOak will be closest with places.

At Secondary level Grey Court is becoming popular too although this year their catchment has shrunk quite a bit too.

[Coffee1Sugar]

We're in the surbiton end of the borough, v v close to the brand new primary school. Looks gorgeous and full of every bit of modern educational technology but being just 2 terms old, no idea how it would be rated by ofsted

[GreenMunchkin]

I'd probably take a gamble on the new school. I think that's a difficult area to be in. I can't remember the stats but if St Matthews is oversubscribed then you'd be stretching to Christchurch in Berrylands (think it might have a bulge class) or to Tolworth which I think is also a bulge school.

I'd be thinking longer term about secondary. Hollyfield's catchment is shrinking so it depends which side of the new school you are closer to as to whether you'd get in. The alternatives are the single sex schools in Tolworth.

[Coffee1Sugar]

Heard bad reports of hollyfield to be honest. Thinking Kingston Grammar long term but who knows. Thanks for the info