east finchley primaries

[cupatea]

I'm about to move to East Finchley and have heard that Holy Trinity is a good state primary & nursery - can anyone recommend it (my ds will be 3 in July) and can tell me how far the catchment area reaches?
Thanks

Hi cupatea, I live in Muswell Hill, not EF, but know of some parents whos DC go to Holy Trinity, they are very happy.
I don't know how far the catchment is, especially as it is a church school, but I will ask for you.

That's really kind! Thanks. In case they ask, I can't honestly say I'm a churchgoer, so I won't be able to use that to help get him in.

I think your chances of getting into Holy Trinity without being a church goer are very slim. Brooklands is very good if live live on the borders of the suburbs. I know that Martins was one to avoid but I don't know if it has improved.

Hi cupoftea, Holy Trinity is one form entry, it used to be easier to get in without being a church goer, but is now very popular and difficult to get in to. At the moment nursery children have priority for reception places and it can be easier to get in to nursery, as the limited hours do not suit everyone, I have heard though that they may change the admission rules with regard to reception because of the school being oversubscribed, so it would be worth checking with the school on that one.

Brooklands is very difficult to get into unless you are close.

Martins is OK, has really improved results in the last few years, they are currently looking for a new head teacher who will run the infants and juniors (currently they have two heads) so this will be very important, as we all know what a difference a good or bad head can make to a school.

If you look on the Barnet website, and get the reception admission document it will tell you the distance that places were allocated for the last three years, all very useful.

Anyway, good luck.

Thanks so much isgrassgreener and goingfor3 . I'll try the Barnet site again - sorry I haven't spotted the info already and saved you a job! I've been in a bit of a panic searching for schools as we're suddenly having to move for work and it's a relief to get some advice.

Hi Cupof tea - just a thought, but depending on which side of East Finchley you are going to live, if you are on the East side, it may be worth looking at the Haringey website as well, as the borough boundy runs very close to East Finchley and so people do go to school in Haringey as well (like my children).

Hi Grassisgreener. Just been going through the Barnet site and can't for the life of me find the document you mention with the distances for the last 3 years. Could you link?? Sorry to ask and thanks!

Taliac - just checked the website and I am afraid that I can't find the info either, they used to list it in the admission to primary school guide. They seem to list the information on the secondary school guide, but not the primary school guide. Sorry to give you incorrect information.
It may be something that you can get from the borough if you call them and speak to the admissions dept.
I know that when they gave out the places for reception in Haringey this year, they sent out a form which listed all of the oversubscribed schools in the borough and the furthest distance from the school, for which an offer was made.

isgrassgreener, if you happen to check this thread again, thanks for the tip about Harringey. If Google Earth can be relied on for distances, we will hopefully be within the required third of a mile of a good Harringey school.

schoolsfinder.direct.gov.uk/

This does distances from your postcode to schools even in different boroughs..

Hi cupatea
just had to ask, which school you were hoping to be in catchment for, just being nosey really, as my children go to a Haringey primary, so it may be the same one.
I won't be offended if you don't want to say.

Hi isgrassgreener, if you still happen to watch this thread. Sorry I haven't checked/posted lately, we've just moved house (and country) to get back to London. We're within a third of a mile of Tetherdown, and you?

Hi cupatea, well hopefully you should be fine as they are taking 60 children from September, so the catchment has been a bit wider this year.
We are at Coldfall, which now takes 90 a year, we have been there for 5 years and although the school has changed quite a lot because of the expansion, it has also improved in many ways.
Just had an outstanding Ofsted, so we are very happy.
Good luck

I presume you got into Tetherdown; the expansion should mean an entry distance greater than a third of a mile. The next thing for you to worry about is how far are you from Fortismere.....(grin)

Oh god, don't get started on that one!