Schools in Croydon - thinking of moving back

[GeorginaA]

Dh, ds1 and I moved away from Croydon 3 years ago for complicated reasons, but basically not really of our choice.

Recently, we're missing it more and more, are sick of being away from London and are contemplating trying to move back (obviously haven't got a job lined up yet - still in the "is this practical/possible" stage).

The problem is, when we moved away, ds1 was only 2 years old, so I never really knew about the schools/nurseries situation (ds2 is now 2... ds1 is in Y1). Areas we think we'll be able to afford are: Park Hill, Shirley Park/that end of Addiscombe, Shirley Oaks/that end of Shirley. I've been googling like mad but really can't find much info about the school catchment areas and how all that works.

Part of the dilemma is that ds1's current school here in Worcester is just outstanding - it has a real vibrancy and enthusiasm that we'd sorely miss (if only we could transplant it to a London borough and near a secondary school that didn't have an 80% failure rate at GCSE...) so I NEED to know that I'm not selling ds1 short by moving back. I would be really grateful for any insights about schools in these area (secondary and primary) - the ethos as well as the on paper performance, and also any comments about whether we're being totally insane for even considering it...

Thanks

Riddlesdown has 12 per year!!

hello ! Hope the new job is going well cheesy

Message withdrawn

My secondary school growing up had a 3 form intake

Park Hill still has a good reputation. I know a lot of mums there. It tends to be oversubscribed, but you might be lucky with Yr 1 - it was a low birth-year. The other good school is St Peters. Park Hill is larger, and does have Infants/Juniors, whilst St Peters is one form entrance all the way throught to Yr 6. Parental involvement is more encouraged at St Peters than at Park hill if that would swing it. Park Hill does have a fair amount of homework - expect a list of spellings each night and having to form a sentence for each one in Yr 1, as well as reading.

Other primaries in the area are Oval Road (large number of children with English as 2nd/3rd language, and large turnover of children due to proximity to Lunar House); Woodside (3 form entry), Davidson (my god daughter has just started there - undersubscribed, therefore small classes, friendly, but without stunning SATs), and Howard (near the TreeHouse/Blue Anchor). Latter has a large intake from the Duppas Estate, but teachers are excellent.

I agree with Soupy that the Sanderstead schools are amongst the best in the borough. Give the secretaries a ring to see which may have places - there is a regular turnover. They all have a very different feel, so it is worth lying about the age of your child to see around each of the schools, otherwise you won't understand the comments from other parents! If you can meet the church criteria then Christchurch Purley and St Johns Shirley are both good.

For secondaries you need to look at church schools, private or else outside of Croydon IMO.

In terms of process, once you know your address then approach the schools (they will let you know whether you have to approach the LEA as well). As places come up then all relevant children on the waiting list are considered in accrodance with the usual admission criteria. So it is not a matter of waiting for your number on the waiting list to come up - if a space is available, and you live nearest then you get it.

As far as nurseries go, I presume you remember Tunstall road?

Ds1 goes to Park Hill and the waiting list is quite long. He is in Yr2 and everytime a child moves from the school, they move abroad and there is always another child to take his/her place. We live in the Park Hill area and that was the only school I wanted him and soon ds2 to go to. One mother I know whose children are still at Park Hill moved from East Croydon to Selsdon and her children still go to Park Hill because she thought it was the best school for them to attend.
As for Senior schools I have given it some thought and we will probably send them both to Arch Bishop Tennesen hopefully as that has a good rep too.

Are you church-goers then? Otherwsie you won't have a hope with ABT.

Hmm, hadn't quite appreciated that Park Hill was so oversubscribed. Does seem like we've missed the boat on that one then. We do need to go down and look at schools, although I'd prefer to be in a position of dh having at least a few interviews before we do that. I don't want to waste their time, after all.

Still up in the air at the moment. Were pleasantly surprised at the house valuation here, so all hinges on whether dh can get a job at the appropriate salary. We also have an option of Enfield as dh's parents live there - but while dh grew up there, I don't know the area at all, so feels like going in a bit more "blind".

So much to think about. Was a lot "easier" moving with a pre-school child

But read my earlier note on the waiting list - it is not a matter of getting to the top of the list as such, proximity would be key.

I think that you can download all the admission info from the Croydon Council site, which might remind you of other schools you had forgotten about.

Yep I will do

Oh, and I loved Tunstall Road. Being able to send ds2 to that nursery would be a large want, tbh. Do you know if that's heavily oversubscribed too and how far the catchment extents (i.e. is Shirley Park within it?)