Franciscan Primary School in Tooting

[andagain]

Does anyone have children there and could you share your opinion/experience of the school?
Thank you

would be interested in this too - anyone? i have heard that there is a new headmistress who has a great reputation. does anyone know any more?

For what it's worth, we went to their open day last week and I was so disappointed I am now really worried about sending my child there. The new headmistress gave a talk which was straight from management school, didn't say much, nothing useful really, it was incredibly bad. She appeared very defensive when faced with perfectly reasonable questions by prospective parents, I was gobsmacked.
I would love to hear from someone whose child is there. But from what I saw at the open day it is really not good.

Mine was there for Nursery and loved it, but she's now at Sellincourt (which she also loves). I sort of know what you mean about the headmistress and "management school".

It doesn't seem to have a great reputation amongst the parents I've spoken to (which is partly why we applied for Sellincourt as first choice rather than sticking with Franciscan). I've never quite got to the bottom of why its reputation is so bad, but it seems largely to do with the intake, and I'm not sure whether that is a justified concern or just snobbery. They do seem to get good results and it all seems very friendly and organised. Is your child starting in Sept 2011?

Hello Zephirine,
yes my child is starting Sep 2011 and the school is round the corner from us so was really hoping that she will go there with local kids but am now pretty sure we'll put them as our last option. Links, near Tooting train station, is pretty good and we might go to that as our first choice.
Thank you so much for your comment.

hello andagain, we must be nearly neighbours (St Boniface is closest to us but we're not Catholic enough).

I somehow failed to investigate Links when I was looking for schools, but good to hear that it looks good. Have you been to visit it? Sellincourt seems pretty good. It has improved a lot (in terms of results), is quite enthusiastic about music and the arts, and has a lot of very involved and committed parents.

Hi Zephirine,

Yes, we must be very close, we are round the corner from Franciscan, and just up the road from St Boniface (but not religious so not applying to there)
We have had a look at Links and did like most of it. The only thing I wasn't sure about was that their two reception classes are together in one room. It is a huge room with lots of little "stations" with different activities on each but it does seem quite chaotic in reception. The rest of the school is really nice.

Do you find Sellincourt to be too big? That is my worry as my child is very shy and I think will not benefit from a big school.

I wasn't going to apply to Sellincourt but I see it has improved since their last inspection. I better arrange a visit.
Thank you so much for your comments.

Hi andagain,

I think all the community schools in the area are about the same size with 2 classes of 30 in Reception.

It's probably rather short notice, but there is a Nursery/Reception Open Day at Sellincourt tomorrow with sessions at 9.30am or 2pm.

Do PM me if you want to chat about it more.

Hello andagain,

Just jumping in after reading your thread with Zephirine, as I'm wondering if there are any other parents on here whose children are due to start reception at Franciscan this coming Sept 2011. We live just round the corner from the school too, and my DS is set to go there from September. We didn't put it as first choice, but I'm hoping that it'll be okay, especially if I can find some other local MN'ers who are in the same boat!

Drop me a line if you're all set for Franciscan this year. Meanwhile I'll start a new thread on here about Franciscan and see who else gets on board.

Thanks

Becky

I've just come across this thread and am aware it is old and very outdated, I thought in case anyone is looking for reviews on Franciscan primary school they may well read this and be put off, so here is my review as a parent of Franciscan primary school As a parent of children at Franciscan primary school I felt I would post on here to give a fair view of the school after seeing a few posts on local sites of people being horrified their children had been offered it as a choice of school, it is also upsetting to read !! I have 3 children currently in the school one with special needs and I love the school (my oldest went through it is now in secondary school in Top sets and achieving possible a and a* (or equivalent to the new grading system ), the teaching staff are so supportive and really get to know the children individually also knowing the parents/carers, we have a great PTFA that we have really worked at getting together and being a great help to the school and putting on extra events and treats for the children, I love it's a real community lots of the teachers and support staff are local residents who the children see often and they always get acknowledged whether on the way home or at the local shops, all my children are thriving emotionally and academically, my Autistic son is supported well and has his needs meet, please don't discount the school just from its bad reputation that for some reason people hold that may of been true 10 or so years ago, pop in view it, speak to the parents and teachers who are there Day in day out and really enjoy being part of Franciscan primary school ☺️