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Education

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Original poster

John Betts primary, Hammersmith

20 replies

MrsTulkinghorn · 24/04/2007 19:25

Does anyone have a LO at John Betts (or Brackenbury)? Is it really as good as the hype?

Our DD is only 1 but we live very near John Betts. We want to move to a bigger house but DH reckons we should wait until she gets into John Betts as he has heard it is the best in Hammersmith and Fulham and better than anything in Chiswick (where we would move to).

Is it as good as all that? If I am going to delay a move for it I want to be sure.

OP posts:

Original poster

MrsTulkinghorn · 24/04/2007 20:35

bump

OP posts:

Azure · 25/04/2007 08:54

I would have loved to have found out! We don't live that far away but DS1 didn't get into either John Betts, St Peters or Belmont. Belmont is very received at the moment as well (it's in this year's Good School guide) so if you do move to Chiswick make sure you're in the catchment area. Hopefully someone will have more specific info on John Betts.

Original poster

MrsTulkinghorn · 25/04/2007 12:36

Thanks Azure. I hope you found somewhere good to send DS in the end. I suppose that is another thing - we could stay in this house just for its proximity to John Betts and then DD might not get in! We are very close though and apparantly their top criteria is proximity. I cannot imagine there are 30 other kids in her school year who live closer.

I had heard about Belmont but have a friend who lives two streets away and her DS did not get in so that sounds like an impossible dream. Where is St Peters? Does it have as good a reputation as John Betts and Belmont?

Anyone else out there with kids at John Betts?

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foxinsocks · 25/04/2007 12:43

we moved just before ours started (but we had a place at Brackenbury and have friends who went there who loved it).

The criteria before proximity is siblings (and children in care/special needs with specific need for the school but they don't normally account for vast numbers) and that can make a huge difference if you happen to have a year with a large number of siblings.

I'm torn between telling you that if you really want a big house you should just move but I know too well the trauma of living round those parts and not getting a place at a nearby school! If you are really close to JB, I'd probably hang on and get her into the school tbh.

Could you compromise and move somewhere in H&F?

bakedpotato · 25/04/2007 12:48

have friend whose child is in reception at JB

all seem very happy with it

Azure · 25/04/2007 13:05

MrsT we reluctantly went private in the end. St Peters is near St Peter's Square W6 and used to have a reasonable reputation - although I would imagine not as good as JB or Belmont - but I have to say that I was unimpressed when I looked around the school and met the head. I don't think I would have sent DS1 even if I did get a place. I would recommend speaking to the school secretary at JB, who from memory is very friendly, and asking how likely you would be to get a place. It does seem a shame to delay moving to a larger place for up to three years, but it's a nightmare getting a decent school place.

Original poster

MrsTulkinghorn · 25/04/2007 13:22

Thanks all. I had not realised about the siblings point. On one hand that is bad news as it might reduce DD's chance of getting in. On the other hand it would mean that if she got in we could then move to Chiswick and any future siblings might still get a place at JB.

Fox - Can I ask you about Brackenbury. Some people seem to rave about it and others seem to consider it a really poor cousin of JB. What was your assessment.

I could think of moving somewhere else in H&F but it would not be as close as we are now so it would decrease our chances. Also this is my fav part of H&F if we move I would like to go into Bedford Park (might be an impossible dream).

Maybe I will have to think about extensions to keep me happy for the next three years!

OP posts:

Azure · 25/04/2007 13:37

As Chiswick is split between two borough(Hounslow and Ealing) you have to be really careful which one your house is in with regard to the Belmont catchment area vs the catchment area of other schools. Bedford Park is great though (sigh - I'm only 2 streets but a whole borough and postcode away!).

foxinsocks · 25/04/2007 13:45

ooh bedford park is lovely - most of it falls under Ealing doesn't it (or have I got that wrong?). We had friends who lived on one of the roads there but moved when their children were school age.

I think, re Brackenbury, it depends what you are looking for in a school. It's a lovely place, that's for sure but it has (to try and be delicate) a wider social range than JB mainly because JB's catchment area is so small, its intake is largely its neighbours (so those living in the nice houses surrounding it!) whereas Brackenbury's intake stretches a bit further. I liked that - thought it made it quite dynamic.

foxinsocks · 25/04/2007 13:48

the other option with Bedford Park, is to move near the H&F border and try for Wendell Park Primary.

Azure · 25/04/2007 13:56

Have you heard good things about Wendell recently? That was actually closer to us but we didn't apply.

foxinsocks · 25/04/2007 13:59

yes, I think it's on the up. They take 2 classes now - it's certainly becoming more popular. Your ds is exactly the same age as dd - we probably saw each other at playgroups/cafes! I used to take her to Wendell Park every now and then.

Azure · 25/04/2007 14:26

It's a funny thought - shame you moved away (well, from my perspective).

sinclair · 25/04/2007 17:24

Yes John Betts is always top of the league tables but bear in mind that since the admissions policy there has come in line with the rest of the boro as outlined down the thread the social mix is broadening out. However the tradition of academic excellence is well entrenched and if you have a confident bright child he/she will do well there.

But I honestly think that there isn't so much difference between the schools round here, some are sportier/ more artsy but generally it massively depends on the 'tone' of the class yor child goes into - which is the one thing you can't know in advance. I know kids at JB who are struggling and kids at schools that are less 'academic' getting scholarships to top London day schools.

Finally these things can change relatively quickly - an ambitious head moves on, a better than expected Ofsted - if you are short of space or otherwise desperate to move I wouldn't delay in the hope of getting a place somewhere in 4 years time.

HTH

Original poster

MrsTulkinghorn · 25/04/2007 17:56

I did not realise that this was a new admissions policy? What was it before? I wonder how much the change will influence things.

It is very true that things can change alot in a few years. I just don't know what to do...

OP posts:

foxinsocks · 26/04/2007 10:34

it is a shame azure!

Clary · 26/04/2007 23:26

Oh yes a lot of sense in sinclair's post.

I don't know the schools or the area but I do know that my kids' school has changed out of all recognition in the last 2 years due to a new and much more outgoing and friendly head being appointed. We were there anyway as it's out local school but I like it better now (tho some may not)

Things like that can make all the difference. I find it depressing when people talk of a school being "best" - it's all relative, good results in SATs are not everyone's be all and end all.

Mrs T if I were you I would move to where you want to be - area, space in house etc rather than staying somewhere small to get into a school that you may not like in 3 yrs' time...

sinclair · 27/04/2007 20:21

Mrs T I think the admissions policy is the standard SN, siblings, proximity to the school (info may be on boro website - not sure) When we first moved to the area 8 years ago a number of friends advised us to ring up and get our DD's name down asap - I have no idea how admissions worked then in practice - but those days are gone.

loubyuk · 31/08/2007 16:12

hi. thought i would recativate this thread..we are looking to buy a house that is in belomont catchemnt but right on border of H&F. in fact johnbetts would be closer by a long wat to walk to. spoke to both boroughs this am and hounslow said last yeara in belmont, 30 of the 60 places went to siblings and 12 children didnt get a place..she said that those in w6 which this house would be are more likely get bumped off even tho in catchment area as further away.

H&F said not catchment areas as such for them and said being in diff borough does not count against us. but said that j betts alwats v oversubsribed and said really only viable if you live within half a mile. we would be 3/4 mile ish. what are wendell park and brackendbury like? and are there any other decent ones near stamford brrok ravencourt park way?

and then coming back to hounslow, anyone know anything about william hogarth school?

loathe the thought of paying private fees for (hopefully) two kids for 14 years each....a bit of frre decent education up till age 11 would really help!!

thanks
loubyuk

amicissima · 01/09/2007 12:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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