Tooting Primary Schools

[Mharimaz]

We are moving to Tooting and wondered if anyone could recommend a good primary school. Not so interested in Ofstead or SAT's results, would prefer personal experiences.

[mimsum]

whereabouts in Tooting? Fircroft seems to get good reports, although I know one family who took their kids out, no-one I know likes Hillbrook after the early years, St Anselm's is very highly regarded but you have to be very visibly catholic to get in

most schools have pretty small catchment areas so you'd need to be living close to guarantee getting into the school of your choice

Furzedown has Penwortham - very good but quite large and Furzedown - smaller, 1 and 1/2 form entry and recently received "satisfactory" ofsted so staff morale is apparently very low

[LadyGlencoraPalliser]

DD1 went to Furzedown school for a while. I do not recommend it. Penwortham school is good but very large. Franciscan used to have a poor reputation, but has improved immensely in recent years.
As mimsum says, catchment areas are small and there is no chance of getting into a school that you are not in the catchment for. And forget about the Catholic schools unless you are a close personal friend of the Pope.
How old are your children? If you are planning to be there for a while you may also need to think about secondary - a particular problem in Wandsworth.

[Mharimaz]

Very helpful, thanks to both of you. In answer to your question, we are choosing a house that is close to a good school, hence trying to get as much info before.Our kids are 3yrs and tiny baby so just planning ahead.