Schools in Wanstead, Woodford, Aldersbrook

[maggie75]

I wonder if anyone can give me some advice on what are considered the best primaries in these areas? I am looking at league tables and ofsteds and getting thoroughly confused.

(btw - which is the best column to be led by on league tables?)

We are close to a good school atm in Walthamstow, but are considering a move to the slightly leafier LB of Redbridge - Wanstead, Woodford, Aldersbook areas potentially. We want more living space and good schools - which of course you pay for over in Redbridge ... anyhow - where would you recommend?

Many thanks

Churchfelds in Woodford is an excellent school, if I still lived there I would send DD to it, they do well at 11+ plus too. There is a school in the middle of Aldersbrook which I don't rate myself, cant remember what it is called, could quite possibly be Aldersbrook!

We moved from Wanstead to Luughton and because of massive over subscription to the decent schools didn't get a place at one so had no choice but to go private, wish we had thought more about that when looking at houses! LOL

Hi - thanks for replying. Yes - I've heard about Churchfields as a friend lives near there and is hoping her dd will go there.

Scary news though that you didnt get a place - which schools in Wanstead itself would you recommend? If you dont mind me asking - which school was it that you didnt get a place at? Was it because you lived too far away?

Hi - I live in redbridge and work for redbridge and I can honestly tell you that there is a massive problem with oversubscription with both primary and secondary schools. The distance of those that are offered a place at their school of preference is getting shorter, with some kids missing out by 0.1 mile in some cases, and you almost have to live ontop of the school to get a place! There are no catchments for primary schools and it's based on distance.

Due to all of this my dd will be going private, even though we have a very good primary not far from us, the area is so populated, with people moving into the Borough for the good schools, that even though I've lived here all my life my dd will most probably not get a place because we might be a fraction too far away from the last child offered a place.

And with the Infant Class Size legislation you are very unlikely to win an appeal.

Agree that Churchfields is very good - they are currently rebuilding the school, I believe. Snaresbrook in Sth Woodford and Nightingale in Wanstead both have playing fields, which is a bonus! If you are practising C of E, Wanstead Church School is very good as are Our Lady of Lourdes (Wanstead) and St Anthony's (Woodford); both RC.

And you know that we still have the 11+ exam (secondary selection) in Redbridge? One boys school (Ilford County High) and one girls school (Woodford County High). The girls gets better results than the boys as far as a I remember. A few good private schools for secondary school too, Bancroft's, Forest and Chigwell schools.

I am told that for Churchfields you generally have to be within around 0.5 miles walking distance of the school, although obviously that varies from year to year.

Nightingale has also been rated 'Outstanding' by OFSTED recently, and I believe it is not quite so over subscribed as Churchfields. In previous years they have accepted children living as far away as Leytonstone, although perhaps that might change now they have a higher OFSTED rating remains to be seen.

The two good state primaries in Wanstead itself are both religious - one CofE and one Catholic - so you need a priest's reference or suchlike to get priority in those!

Hi - thanks for the info. I thought as much about Churchfields - limits the area pretty much to the Laing estate as far as I can see. Nightingale looks worth a look then. Like the thought of a playing field as well, as mentioned by the previous poster.