Crouch End primary schools

[sarshe]

Hi there,

We're a Brit/kiwi family moving back to the UK this year, likely in time for the UK summer term. We have a DD in year 1 and our DS will start reception in Sep.

Our first choice of places to live would be Crouch End, as we've lived there previously (though with a baby, not school age kids). However, because of school issues in CE we're more seriously considering Herts. I just wanted to see if I can get a little more info on the CE situation before we decide...

We've spoken with Haringey council and called a few of the schools, and as we suspected, there is almost definitely no space at the local Crouch End schools for an in-year admission. They council told us it's one of the most over-subscribed areas in London, but couldn't give us a steer as to where our DD might be placed, as we don't yet have a UK address.

So I was just wondering if anyone had any advice or thoughts on this? If we did move back to CE, would we end up driving for hours each day to drop the kids off, or are there schools relatively close by that are likely to have places? Is it common for kids in CE to go to schools out of the area? Is there a good community vibe with families in CE (ie are the kids likely to meet some neighbourhood kids even if they don't go to the same school?) Also, are there any independent schools local to Crouch End that are likely to have space (and are not too academic or competitive)? We'd prefer a state school, but want to cover all bases while we're researching.

Many thanks for reading... apologies for vagueness of questions, but any advice that can help us get a handle on things would be gratefully appreciated.

Cheers!

[canvasbag]

Great place to live with kids - and my advice would be to speak to Islington too, because Crouch End is right on the border between the two boroughs. There's one brilliant Islington school - Ashmount - which is very close and likely to have places for in-year admissions, and there may be other options too.

[thenevernever]

There is a lot of movement in primary schools in that part of london. Mainly because families move to get into catchment for better secondary schools when their first child gets to y4 or y5. This results in sibling places being freed up as well.
If I were you I would determine which schools you like best and then move very close to it so that you are very near the top of the waiting list (after looked after children etc).
You may have to wait a bit to get your reception child into the school but I bet you get places within a year of moving.

[sarshe]

Great, thanks canvasbag, I'll call Ashmount and see what the story is there.
thenevernever - many thanks, sounds more hopeful than I thought - do you have any idea where the kids might be sent until a place came up at a local school? I'm concerned I might end up driving for hours each day...

[misskeith]

I have a feeling Ashmount was oversubscribed this year - there was a thread from someone recently astonished not to have got in, I think. If you wanted to know which schools you might end up at while waiting, ask haringey which ones are undersubscribed - not promising I fear at the moment.

[canvasbag]

Ashmount was oversubscribed for this year's reception, but there was a lot of movement on the waiting list before Sept (and I think the astonished person did get in in the end!). And there are certainly places available in years above reception - I don't think the OP's dd would have a problem getting a place in year 2 next year - so it's certainly worth calling to find out. And also worth calling Islington about other options too.

[sarshe]

Thanks both - I've just emailed Ashmount, so will let you know what the response is. Good idea to ask Haringey and Islington about undersubscribed schools, will call them this week.

[thenevernever]

There was a recent thread about islington primaries. I can't remember the title but I remember both grafton and st johns school being mentioned, so perhaps search for those terms.

[sarshe]

thanks tnn... found that thread and felt exhausted after reading it! I'm wondering if moving back to London might just be too big of a mountain to climb. We're also seriously considering St Albans, but have been getting the wobbles about living out of London. The school situation is full-on in StA too, but less so than around Crouch End, it seems - the Herts council have been able to tell us that there are a few schools with spots for a Yr 1, whereas Haringey just said all their schools have huge waiting lists (in Crouch End - haven't asked about the rest of Haringey/Islington yet).
We're going to have to make a decision soon though. I'd hate to move out to Herts and realise we've made a mistake, so want to explore the London option fully.
Sorry - braindump. Thanks for reading, if you still are!

[hifi]

page 11

gives you some idea of the catchment areas and the number of applicants.

if i were you i would choose my school and rent on its doorstep. i agree with other posters that theres lots of movement, 7 children have left dd class in 2 years.

[thenevernever]

Sarshe don't let us neurotic north londoner latte drinking school obsessives put you off from moving back here.
Its really not that bad and if you have even a doubt about moving to st albans DONT DO IT!
There's many a londoner who moved out in a school panic and has lived to regret it. I really think you can find a good school and things can work out in CE, it just might not all be in place when you first move back. s

[sarshe]

Thanks both. tnn - thanks for the advice... must admit my instinct is telling me London - though I'm also aware that after 4 years in Auckland even StA will seem like a bustling metropolis. DH is keener on StA, as work is in Herts and he wants the shorter commute.
One more quick q: if we rented a property appropriately close to, say, Rokesly or Coleridge, hoping a place would come up, is it usually a matter of a few months, or longer? What that mean our (slightly timid) dd would be placed at another school in the meantime, meaning two major upheavals for her in a short space of time? Sorry if I'm being super dim. The UK system is new to me and really complicated.
Thanks again...

[misskeith]

I'd say unlikely at Coleridge, which is one of the most popular schools in London. And probably also Rokesly in year 1 - year 3 sounds like the point when people move into private or out of london. Ashmount maybe more likely but I don't know. I thought about moving to CE for any of those schools but having missed the reception boat now think it's not worth the risk - would love to hear otherwise!