St John's Green school and others

[HackneyHackette]

Hello! I live in Hackney, as the name suggests, but we have sold our flat and are trying to move to Colchester or Wivenhoe (I'm originally from Braintree and went to school in Colchester).
We have found a house we like in Colchester and only belatedly looked at which schools it is in the catchment area for. It's hard to tell but it looks like the nearest schools are a Catholic and a Cof E one, which we wouldn't consider, and then St John's Green, which is Ofsted rated 3.
I wondered if anyone knew anything about St Johns Green? Reading the inspection, it doesn't seem bad, and I wonder if I am being picky objecting to a 3, but then again it seems silly to be wasting an oppoortunity to move into the catchment area of a really good school. We have looked at some in the catchment area of Hamilton, which is rated outstanding, but didn't like the houses so much.
We have also looked on the Poets Estate and people have told me the Home Farm school is good, although it too is rated 3. (I also have misgivings about whether I would feel too far from the town centre. I hate driving).
Anyway, sorry to come in with such a long post. I hope soon to be a constant member of this board! I may have to change my name.

I don't know much about St Johns. I'd go and take a look at it and see for yourself. Have you looked at why it has a 3 from Ofsted? It may be something that doesn't affect you and your children at the moment. You could quiz the head about what they are doing about it and how they are going to improve on it.

The problem with moving into Hamilton catchment is that you are unlikely to get a place, as it is so oversubscribed. That would mean that you compromise on the house and then end up in a school you didn't want anyway.

Again, I dont know much about home farm, but I have heard people say its good.

The Wivenhoe schools are good. I know people who send their children to both and they are happy with them.

I'm sure you know this, but its more about whether you feel the school is right for your children rather than what OfSted think of it.

Good luck...let me know how you get on.

I've heard that St Johns Green is a good school.
I have a friend who's a primary teacher and who knows someone who works at St Johns Green.Don't know how true this is but she was saying that it has a lower rating than Hamilton Rd due to the fact that it has more special needs pupils. The reason for this is that Hamilton Rd are so keen to keep their outstanding rating that they recommend St Johns Green to those parents who have a child with special needs. As I said not sure how correct this is.

Good luck with your search!

I am so sorry that I didn't reply to this post - I did check back a few days after making it but then I thought for some reason I'd get emailed if anyone replied, duh. Thank you so much for your replies. We have moved now, to the Maldon Rd area, and we managed to be completely rubbish "pushy parents" by moving a mere one road out of the catchment area of Hamiltons, so I think St Johns will be the one. Thanks again for your advice, others I have spoken to have also said it is a good school.