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Original poster

anybody in hackney?

15 replies

eastendgirl · 21/02/2006 13:20

I would love to hear from anybody who knows this bit of London. We are about to move close to London Fields, our closest school is Gayhurst, I believe it is good, does anybody know anything about it? Is it still oversuscribed? I loooove Hackney by the way, great place for kids, so much free stuff for pre-schoolers, my friends from west London are all madly jealous.

OP posts:
goldenoldie · 21/02/2006 15:26

'Great place for kids'???

Have you looked at the school league tables recently, the crime rate - 'murder mile', the litter and dog crap everywhere - esp. in the parks, and not to mention that useless bunch in the town hall who have managed to ensure our kids don't even have a decent swimming pool - clissold leisure centre disaster..............................

Err, and the free stuff for pre-schoolers is surestart, paid for by our taxes, so hardly free.

God, west London must be really, really bad.

lanismum · 21/02/2006 16:26

i live very near london fields, not much to say about free stuff for kids, but my dd does go to a really nice toddler group nearby, which only costs £1.50. theres a nice open air paddling pool in london fields which is lovely for younger kids, and also splash in victoria park which is near too. its an ok place to live, nice parks, broadway market sells some nice bits, pub on the park is also very nice wouldnt walk about when its dark though........

goldenoldie · 21/02/2006 20:55

Which is after about 3pm in the winter.................

Original poster
eastendgirl · 21/02/2006 22:00

Goldenoldie why do you live in Hackney if you hate it so much, it isn't that bad, have been here more than 10 years, never been hassled. And soon there will be an open swimming school in London Fields. And lots of people have bought cheap property and made lots of money, so nobody can complain. ...And I have been out and about after 3pm and even 3am, never had any trouble. I really wanted to know people's opinions about Gayhurst.....or are your kids all at private schools?

OP posts:
kid · 21/02/2006 22:03

I live in Hackney and although my kids don't go to Gayhurst, it is a good school, one of the better ones around here imo.

I have lived in Hackney all my life but to be honest, I don't feel safe going out after dark. Nothing has ever happened to me (touch wood) but I still don't go out, especially alone, at night.

goldenoldie · 22/02/2006 09:05

Eastendgirl - sadly, a whole range of reasons keep us in Hackney.................

Can't help you with info about Gayhurst, and yes, I am one of the 20% of hackney parents that send their kids to private school. Wonder why?..............

hoxtonchick · 22/02/2006 19:40

hi eastendgirl, we live in london fields too, & have just put gayhurst as one of our choices for ds, who starts school this september. it does have a good reputation, & is indeed over-subscribed - 40 out of 75 places went to siblings last year. how old are you children? do you know that the deadline for applications for sept/jan entries has passed so you may be at the mercy of the learning trust....

we love the area, have lived here for 4.5 years.

kid · 22/02/2006 19:45

(HC, I thought you were on holiday? - can't stay away eh?!)

hoxtonchick · 22/02/2006 19:47

hee hee, kid, the place we're staying has a sneaky internet connection! buggy doing v. well . speak soon. xxx

lanismum · 22/02/2006 19:50

gayhurst school has a website if you havent already seen it, sorry, cant do links looks like a lovely school

kid · 22/02/2006 19:51

Hope you are all having a great time and that its not raining as I still have the raincover here, I will pop it round when you get back.

hoxtonchick · 22/02/2006 19:52

20 degrees!!

Original poster
eastendgirl · 22/02/2006 23:37

Thank you hoxtonchick, my ds is only 2.7, but I am gathering information now. I saw the Gayhurst school website, I immediately saw a spelling mistake, English is not my mother tongue, but I immediately noticed it, so I guess we will have to teach him to spell, I just want him to have a positive school experience.
I really like the look of the parents waiting at the school gate, a very mixed bunch. I understand you have to live very close to the school to get in...... we are fairly close, what a hassle though. Is Queensbridge school your other option? Thank you, you have all been very kind.

OP posts:
goldenoldie · 23/02/2006 08:49

Eastendgirl - re: spelling mistakes - did you see the one in the last Hackney today? Article about Haggerston School - school was mis-spelt in the headline.

goldenoldie · 23/02/2006 08:52

But - the Learning Trust do have fab. well staffed offices, above the central library, all paid for by our council tax.

And what have the learning trust produced for all the money they have devoured - someone please tell me????

Shame the money was not spent on our schools instead.

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