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Original poster

Do you know any of these school's in Poole as they all have spaces for dd

65 replies

twinsetandpearls · 02/06/2008 20:54

Canford Heath First school

Hamworthy Firs School

Stanley Green First School

Sylvan First School

Turlin Moor First School (due to become a combined school from September)

Hillbourne school & Nursery

St Josephs RC VA combined school

Manorside Combined school

I have already had negative feedback about St Joseph's so reluctantly have scrubbed it as it is the only catholic school.

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Original poster
twinsetandpearls · 02/06/2008 22:00

Although the ofsted for St Jospeh's is OK and the others apart from Stanley Green don;t look that good.

I hope I get better news from Dorset LEA

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Original poster
twinsetandpearls · 03/06/2008 20:39

shameless bump

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aintnomountainhighenough · 03/06/2008 20:54

Ok so I am sure you have done this but just to check. Have you called the LEA - they will have/should have a list of schools with availability.

Are you moving? If you are moving near your preferred school then fill out a transfer form and if there is no reasonable alternative the LEA will have to place your child there.

Could you elaborate on your situation a bit more as it might help.

Original poster
twinsetandpearls · 03/06/2008 20:57

Yes this was the list given to me by the LEA with availability. Poole LEA can only hold places for a few weeks so they want forms in at the begining to mid July.

We are moving, I have a new teaching post in the area although there is flexibility on the area we move to, which is why I am hoping Dorset LEA will provide me with some alternatives.

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wessexgirl · 03/06/2008 21:00

Just seen this, twinset - it probably won't surprise you to know that all the least desirable areas of town are represented on that list. Of those, Canford Heath, though it's not the nicest area, has the 'best' school (rated Outstanding).

Tbh, I'd hold out and see what Dorset offer you - on the Poole outskirts, they're all pretty good.

I suppose with you being a teacher yourself it won't be possible to take a day or two to look around some of the schools?

(Also, have you applied to Bournemouth too?)

Psychomum5 · 03/06/2008 21:01

stanley green....fab school....I went there and AFAIK it still has a very good reputation.

it follows onto oakdale, or did, and again, that too is fab....unless it has merged with someone.

hillbourne....also went there, and was fab then, no idea now...sorry.

sylvan....did training there...lovely lovely school

turlin moor and hamworthy.....would not touch, sorry!

st. josephs, not heard good things about, dustystar I think had a bad time there.....not 100% sure tho so don;t quote me.

manorside.....again, no idea

canford heath......nephew went there and to canford school from there....both good school. but no real clue as he is my only experience.

hope this helps

wessexgirl · 03/06/2008 21:03

Manorside's new, I think?

Original poster
twinsetandpearls · 03/06/2008 21:03

Yes I notciced that about Canford as well and worked out very quickly that they were quite undesirable areas.

Do you know what the are around Stanley green and St Joseph's is like?

I can have a day to go to my new school and I have requested an extra day to look at schools, I should know tomorrow if that has been approved.

We have not applied to Bournemouth as I was warned by my school that although it was not far the traffic could be a nightmare in the morning.

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Original poster
twinsetandpearls · 03/06/2008 21:06

Thanks psychomum. From the Ofsted report which if I remember quite rightly was recent Stanley Green had a nice feel. But being a teacher I also know how misleading they can be so I would visit the school of course.

Canford Heath had a stunning OFSTED but I don;t think the area is right.

We do really want her to go to a Catholic school if possible as she loves that side of her present school and she will be maknig her First Holy Communion next year. I am aware of Dusty's experience with St Joseph's so again would visit.

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wessexgirl · 03/06/2008 21:06

I'm not sure where Stanley Green is; Psychomum'll know.

There's so much to think about isn't there? If you move to area A, can you get to dc school B and your school C in time/on public transport etc. You'll be qualified to teach Logistics by the time you sort all this out!

I used to work for Dorset LEA, so I'm more well up on schools in their area really.

wessexgirl · 03/06/2008 21:07

The RC primary in Wimborne has an excellent rep, I know.

Original poster
twinsetandpearls · 03/06/2008 21:07

Manorside opened in 2004 and was inspected in 2006. Its ofsted put me off tbh.

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Original poster
twinsetandpearls · 03/06/2008 21:09

The RC school in Wimborne (St Catherine's) sent us a prospectus and seem to have space. It is on our list but dp is worried about te travelling between Wimborne and Poole and property prices. I will make an appointment to view it though.

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Original poster
twinsetandpearls · 03/06/2008 21:11

Wessexgirl it is severely stressing me out. One of the reasons we are moving is because I am so unhappy with the schools here but her present primary is very good, although with 32 in the class I feel she does miss out. She was due to start at a private school up here in September but we thought it was daft working all the hours that God sends in order to pay huge fees when we could give her a better life by moving. It will break my heart if she ends up somewhere worse.

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Psychomum5 · 03/06/2008 21:11

yes, do not apply to bournemouth unless you are willing to add half hour to your journey. good schools, fab people living here (me!!), but an utter mare for travelling quickly from!!!

stanley green is set in oakdale area, and some is ok, some not.....much like anywhere really. my nan's house was in milestone road and that was/is an ok road.....big detached houses, but then, no idea now so cannot say for certain. all I can say is that each of stanley green and oakdale schools (they follow on) have three classes per year, and when I was there 100% of the top class went to grammer.......

st josephs, where abouts is that?? could give more of an idea if I knew exactly. only reason I have heard of it is because of sustystar telling me about her experience.

canford heath...some ok, some not...mainly estate with some councel many private, but....tis estate mainly.......depends on what you are wanting.

sylvan school.....near parkstone/poole (upper parkstone)......I grew up 5mins walk away......some ok, some not ok, but lots lots better than canford heath

Original poster
twinsetandpearls · 03/06/2008 21:13

St Joseph's Catholic Combined School, Poole

Sancreed Road, Parkstone, Poole, BH12 4DZ

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Original poster
twinsetandpearls · 03/06/2008 21:14

According to autoroute Wimborne to My school in Poole is 15 minutes, is the traffic likely to make that worse.

I do like Wimborne and maybe we just need to look at our budget again.

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wessexgirl · 03/06/2008 21:17

It must be really testing your nerves - but don't stress too much; there are very few bad schools in Dorset and it IS a lovely place to live (and teach, for the most part).

Psychomum5 · 03/06/2008 21:21

ok, big fat NO for st josephs.

tis in the middle of one of the the worst (in my opinion) council estate's in poole.

now, I live on a council est. in bournemouth (altho privately owned), and it is not good rep wise, but even so, I would not more there!!

grew up nearby, and neice and nephew went to rossmore school nearby and had an appalling time, so my veiws ar every biased I must admit, but.....don;t go there.

that is my opnion tho, so you may be swayed otherwise and others may find that they are pk, but.......psycho say's no!

Original poster
twinsetandpearls · 03/06/2008 21:21

It is keeping me awake at night at the moment, but I am quite an anal control freak and at the moment it all seems out of control. I am sure I will here better news from Dorset.

Have just been on rightmove again and we cannot afford something we like in Wimborne

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Original poster
twinsetandpearls · 03/06/2008 21:22

Well that is 2 big nos from mumsnet which counts for a fair bit.

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wessexgirl · 03/06/2008 21:25

No, Wimborne is blardy expensive .

Hope you hear from Dorset soon. Have to agree with Psychomum re. that estate. I knew a woman who worked as a lollipop lady there and she had a rough enough time of it.

Psychomum5 · 03/06/2008 21:26

personally.....with the fact that you have a confirmed job in a school near to wimbourne, and knowing the traffoc/travel situation, I think you need to look at broadstone or wimbourne for houses and schools.

the worst of wimbourne and broadstone are nothing compared to rossmore (by st. josephs) or canford heath......and that may get me slated, but I have known those areas, I have grown up knowing people from those areas, and all those people were lovely but they did not have the same opportunities as those from wimbourne and broadstone.

you seem like a mum who wants the very very best for her daughter, and also one who needs as least stress as possible (meant in the nicest possible way), so please, think seriously about wimbourne and broadstone.

Original poster
twinsetandpearls · 03/06/2008 21:28

I am taking it in the nices possible way

If we can afford anything in Wimborne we will take it but we can't really go much above 200K and preferably below.

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aintnomountainhighenough · 03/06/2008 21:31

You are absolutely not a control freak, well if you are then I am too! We are very disappointed with the school that my DD is attending and we want to move her but are not moving. The school I want to send her to is full but I am filling in a transfer anyway and are racking our brains for alternatives. From what I understand if you move to a catchment of a school even if it is full the LEA can make the school take your child (as long as there isn't a reasonable alternative). Does this help you at all or is it too much of a risk?

Again sorry if I am stating the obvious but the housing market is strange at the moment perhaps the house you think you can't afford might be in your range now. I always say - make a low offer - the worst thing they can say is 'no'. Stick to your guns, your priorities are right, your DCs education is very important.