Brookfield primary school (N19 5DH)

[jiii]

Hi all,

We are looking at a flat in the catchment area of Brookfield primary near Archway. Does anybody have any comments on the school? Thank you very much in advance!

[daisymaybe]

Very nice. Arty.

[drjohnsonscat]

My DNs go there. It sounds lovely. There are some manic middle class families with extra violin tuition coming out of their ears and some ordinary families and some families who are struggling a bit. It's an interesting mix but works well and they are good on music I think and on creating a school community.

[Farewelltoarms]

From what I've gathered it's a proper mixed school which really benefits from that. All the friends I know whose children go there are really happy with it (apart from odd moan about bright children not being stretched enough and class sizes etc, which seems to go with territory of manic violin playing families in north london going to state schools).
If it were my local school, I'd send my children without hesitation.

[horsemadmom]

This goes back a good few years but,...It's our local school. We opted for private. DD's friend who did go said it was lots of fun but she learned absolutely nothing. Massive amounts of tutoring for 11+. If you feel highly principled about state education, which we did until we saw that it was our only option, you won't be alone there.

[beeroclock]

Certainly does go back a few years horsemad. The school is amazing and is going great guns. Take a look around jiii.

[drjohnsonscat]

Yes I was going to say that I don't recognise what horsemad says (I'm sure it was right - it's just not the case now I think). My children are at an ofsted outstanding school in another borough but knowing what I know about this school I would also be very happy for them to go there if it was our local school (although in my ideal world pupils should not use teachers' first names but that's my weird pet peeve). But nothing like going to look around a school - that gives you the best idea of it.

[jiii]

Thank you for all the comments! Will book a tour to see it. Are there any schools to avoid in the area?

[nlondondad]

Four comments:-

1. Everyone I know, which includes people recently, who have gone to Brookfield, has spoken well of the school. Other than that I dont know the school, for example never visited it, but I have noticed that not hearing any bad things about a school is usually a good sign. It is a highly rated Camden School, and I know to be sought after.
   

1. The only thing about "manic tutoring" is that it does distort Sats results; but that cuts both ways. You can have a school with high sats results created by tutoring where the non tutored children get a good deal as they are not being "taught to SATS" which can be the case in a high Sats school where tutoring does not happen....(That last sentence needs improvement I feel, but will do for now..)
   

1. Ah, once more we encounter horsemadmom and her opinions on state schools.
   

You see there is a certain kind of "left wing" person who is "highly principled about state education," who justifies the fact that they actually in the event send their own children to fee paying schools, (often having spent some years sneering at less"left wing" people who were "less principled" been there, heard that,) because of the alleged appalling state of their local provision. Something of course they did not fully realize until they had children of their own. Then she goes on to say that Brookfield

" was our only option."

The thing is, that cannot have been true. if you were close enough to Brookfield some years ago to get in, (small catchment as much in demand, only two form entry) then you were also in the catchment for at least two other state primary schools AND a further three Church schools -two Church of England, and one RC. Maybe she did not like any of them of course, but she did not say that.

Best ignore horsemad, and go and look at the school, in the present day, for yourself.

[nlondondad]

Forgot to number the fourth comment; but I am sure even members of Mumsnet who went to state schools will be able to work out what it was.

[boffter]

We're very happy with Brookfield, as is our son, and I think one of the above comments must have been from a good few years ago before the new head came in.

It is a mixed school (Dartmouth Park & Highgate Newtown), but the kids get along very well and the diversity is a strength beyond what the Hampstead preps can offer. However there's also teaching in small groups according to ability from very early on. The school is fairly arty, but a lot of effort is being put into maths/sciences at the moment (having two UCL science professors on the board of governors probably doesn't harm). There's a good range of clubs and after-school activities.

The catchment seems to have shrunk in recent years; people in our street (500m away) didn't yet in this year, but whether that's down to siblings I don't know.

Do go and visit Brookfield & other schools to help you make up your mind. Of the other schools, depending on which side of Brookfield you are, Hargrave Park doesn't have the best reputation (have no personal insight though) while Gospel Oak has done great things in a tricky catchment but has lost its excellent headmaster.

[boffter]

One other thing: depending on the result of the next election, the Prime Minister's sons will be going there, so it's in everyone's interests to keep the school's standards up...

[Farewelltoarms]

I know it's really bad form to reference previous threads, but Horsemad did once boast that her daughter and her little classmates were so clever that they bullied a trainee teacher to tears. There are many things that can be learnt and fostered at school and two of the most important are tolerance and compassion. It might be that Brookfield is very good at teaching these, but this might count as 'nothing' in some people's eyes.
PS Boffter, I think it unlikely the next PM's kids are at Brookfield. But Ed M's will be...

[boffter]

Fair point.

[Farewelltoarms]

Sadly, I should add Boffter, in my opinion, but I feel that particular Brookfield parent is just keeping the seat warm.
Not that it makes any difference to the school, which sounds lovely with or without him.

[L2017]

Dear Jiii,

Do not trust the Brookfield's n19 school performance and ofsted ratings!!!

Brookfield Primary School N19 is money orientated school, first of all!!!

It has many restrictions on everything how your child has to be and so on, and they do not teach children about behaviour manners!

Some teachers are very picky on your child, if you are especially a working class person!!!

The academical issues sucks, as the headmaster Mark Stubbings always refer to the government's cuts and there will be never enough money for him and the school, and the teachers will not help/improve/boost your child's education!!!

Stay way from Brookfield N19 school!!!

[L2017]

Dear Jiii,

Do not trust the Brookfield's n19 school performance and ofsted ratings!!!

Brookfield Primary School N19 is money orientated school, first of all!!!

It has many restrictions on everything how your child has to be and so on, and they do not teach children about behaviour manners/etiquette!

Some teachers are very picky on your child, if you are especially a working class person and your English is not a first language!!!

The school has a racist behaviour, especially the teachers and
headteacher included!!!

The academical issues sucks, as the headmaster Mark Stubbings always refer to the government's cuts and there will be never enough money for him and the school, and the teachers will not help/improve/boost your child's education!!!

My children had had a very traumatised experience since the Nursery and in the school itself of Brookfield Primary School N19!!!

Stay way from Brookfield N19 school!!!