Ok, so DD1 didn't get through the assessment for Wimbledon High School (Reception) what are my options?

[designerbaby]

Our very local state primary is grim. I'd honestly be gutted if she ended up there

One which almost as close (literally 5 minutes walk away) we're just (10 houses) out of catchment for (Wimbledon Chase for those in the know).

Me moved to the area recently so far too late for those which operate a "put 'em down when they're born" waiting list.

Missed the lottery for the Study.

We're a committed Christian family, and would love a CofE primary but our closest ones are Bishop Gilpin and Holy Trinity - both a fair distance so we'd have to apply for foundation places and not sure how that works TBH...

I'm feeling really anxious about it - do I have any other options?

Any advice either generally on how the various systems work or on specific schools would be much appreciated.

Can travel a bit if necessary ad I will be working freelance by the time she goes...

Please help if you can!
Thanks
db
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Hi. I'm not sure where exactly in wimbledon you are, but if you want to try for Bishop Gilpin and Holy Trinity foundation places, you would have to have an additional form signed by the church you attend (doesn't necessarily need to be in wimbledon if you just moved there). Alternatively, you can still apply for the Study or Ursuline prep - it is not uncommon to still get offered a place before reception starts (you are talking about Sept 2012, aren't you?). I do have some friends that applied to the Study after the may ballot, and still got a place in time. Good luck!!

Thanks Cas and BelgianBun,

I understand about the letter from the church - that shouldn't be a problem as we are personal friends with several members of the clergy and active in a variety of ways... I'm a bit unclear about how that works alongside the standard state entry forms? Do we put them down on the standard list and then support it with this church letter? Or is it a separate process? Does it matter which school you put down in which order?

I think we will try and get ourselves on the waiting lists for the non-selective independent primaries and see if anything comes up there - TBH if she ends up at the one closest to us, I'd have no qualms about shifting her at a later stage, yr1, whatever.

We were under the impression you had to be Catholic to go to Ursuline so we'd ruled it out on that basis - we couldn't and wouldn't pretend to be something we're not...

Belgian, I think St M.s is actually marginally further from us than Bishop G or Holy Trinity and I read somewhere that you can only apply to your closest CofE? Us thus right?

There's barely anything in it distance wise for the other two, but as I understand it Bishop G has a somewhat more rigorous set of selection criteria for its foundation places than Holy Trinity - it distinguishes between 'active' and merely 'regular' worshippers - which might work in our favour (being active) though it is, mathematically, I think 10 meters further away from us that Holy T (but actually easier to get to!?) Do you know how this works / how much it matters on distance?

DH and I have 3 degrees, 2 MAs and a brace of professional qualifications between but this whole process has us beat... I've made phone calls to admissions secretaries and everything but I still don't get it...

[blush

Thank you both for taking the time to reply, though, and sorry for being a bit clueless...

db
xx

From what I remember, to apply for a foundation place you need to still fill the LEA form with all schools you want in the order to prefer, but also send the supplementary forms directly to the relevant schools.
Schools used to say that you had to put them first to have a chance, but I don't think that is the case any more (I think it changed about 4 years ago)- it all goes through the LEA.
I haven't tried Bishop Gilpin, but have the impression that it is much more difficult to get into, as there aren't that many schools close to it, so tends to get full with children living quite close by -but don't let that stop you applying!
Holy Trinity has a much wider "catchment area" (although not srictly speaking catchment area, just where children come from!) (I know cause dc1+2 used to go there!).
Ursiline prep is catholic, but are happy to take other faiths - they were happy for mine to go (didn't go in the end) and we are christians but not catholics.

I totally understand your frustration! We also have 5 degrees between us and at some point I was losing the will to live!(not really....) :-)

Hope it helps!

oh, and you cannot only apply to your closest CoE school - people around south park gardens all apply to HT, Priory and BG at the same time!

Hi Cas,
Was doing a lot of research last night and saw that Hillcross (Morden, but only just, got an outstanding ofsted report, and all applicants received a place last year. It looks like its a massively improved school and people might not have caught on...

I might have a look as a back up...

db
Xx

My DD1 went to the nursery on the grounds of Hillcross (Little Caterpillars) and I have friends with children there. It looks like a lovely school - big playing field and the buildings are freshly painted etc. My friends are very happy with the early years section. I think it is definitely worth looking at.

If you are looking at faith schools, you could try St John Fisher. That is a Catholic school but I think children of other Christian denominations get preference after Catholic children. My DD1 is now in the nursery there and so far I've been very happy with it.

We had a look at Ursuline as well. Ultimately I decided against it (school run from where we are would be a nightmare) but it seems like a nice school. The grounds are quite small and they are planning more building (which they do need, but will reduce the grounds further) which also put me off.

I have a friend who lives much closer to BG than you who is applying for a foundation place there and is very concerned she won't get in. It can never hurt to put your name down but I gather it is a very difficult school to get into.

Good luck - it is a nightmare! We find out by Friday whether DD1 got into Holy Cross, where I'd really like her to go. If she hasn't we'll put her name down for St John Fisher and Hillcross and hope for the best...

Thanks for responses - yoy've all been really kind. Hadeda - that's really encouraging to hear, though I'm finding hard to fathom why a school with an 'outstanding' ofsted report was able to offer places to 100% of applicants last year. Wondering if the SW mummies took a bit of time to cotton on and that they will have by now and it will be hugely oversubscribed this year ... Still we're only 800m away so we should be in with a shot, right?

Hadeda, with that name you must have SA/Zim connections?!

db
Xx

Yup - SA though rather than Zim! (and v close to Cannon Hill road, though we are up hill past the park)

On Hillcross - it got the outstanding report late last year. I believe the head used to be deputy head at Dundonald and has really turned it around. I've heard the early years has been good for a while and it has now filtered up the rest of the school. TBH I think it's a bit too close to Morden for the yummy mummy's which is why it hasn't been oversubscribed in the past...!

My neighbour's daughter started reception this year so she looked into EVERYTHING last year and I heard it all from her. Lucky for me as we are applying for reception for my DD1 this year!

Head at Hillcross came from a Surrey school.

MrsD - wherever he/she has come from they've worked miracles... It's good to see, it goes to show that schools really can turn around with good leadership....

Hadeda - we live really close to each other, have children the same age and my DH is from SA... If you'd like to, PM me and we could maybe arrange a play date at David Lloyd or something?

Thanks for all the responses - this thread had taken off in Primary Education topic (posted here before I realised there WAS a Primary Ed topic - that's how clueless U was...) so if this is relevant to you, have a look there.

Things are looking optimistic, anyway... So bug thanks for everyone's help here too.

db
xx