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Original poster

Primary Schools in Kew/ North Sheen/ Richmond area: where's best?

52 replies

Panteramum · 29/11/2010 22:19

Help!

We've just moved into the area (just off Manor Circus) and we have just learned that the deadline for 1my applications is looming and we have a daughter we want to get into a great school! we've heard Richmond Schools are great, but we've no idea where to begin and we're not sure we can get too much time off work at such short notice to visit all the likely schools.

Can you good folks out there give us the benefit of your insider knowledge and suggest which primaries are worht putting on our application form and why. Conversely, which ones should we avoid (or at least put WELL down on our list of 6!)?

Thanks.

OP posts:

ProfessorLaytonIsMyLoveSlave · 29/11/2010 22:34

East Sheen, Marshgate and Kew Riverside are all good. Sheen Mount is very well-thought-of but you have to live virtually within the school grounds to get a place.

Original poster

Panteramum · 30/11/2010 08:08

I've heard Sheen Mount mentioned. Isn't that a private school though?

OP posts:

ProfessorLaytonIsMyLoveSlave · 30/11/2010 09:36

No, state, but I'd be surprised if you got a place if you live off Manor Circus. Once the sibling places have been allocated there are generally very few slots available (sneaky local estate agents often advertise houses as being "in catchment for Sheen Mount" without tagging on "but 'catchment' is a pretty meaningless concept in this case and there is no way you'll get a place by buying this house".

From Manor Circus I'd be looking at (probably) Marshgate or (possibly) Kew Riverside (not sure what their technical catchment areas are so would need to check that).

Original poster

Panteramum · 30/11/2010 11:49

When I looked on the applications website it said Darell Primary School was near to me. Is that the one without a uniform?

I have heard the name come up a bit in conversation when I've chatted to people about our dilemma, but the impression they've given me is that it's not in the same league as other schools we could get into. Can anyone enlighten me about Darell? Does it have problems? Should I go and see for myself or should I just leave it off my list of places to visit?

OP posts:

sfxmum · 30/11/2010 15:28

Hi Darrel is the one without uniform, it was our second choice mainly because it is quite big and I felt it was less suitable for my Summer born, but I know a few parents who are very happy with that school

it sounds as if you are in the catchment area, but maybe not for Riverside, it is only one intake and this year more than half the class were siblings so the catchment was tiny

there is also Queen's which is CoE which we ruled out on those grounds but may perhaps be an option

don't have experience or much knowledge of Marshgate

sfxmum · 30/11/2010 15:28

Queens that should be

Kora · 01/12/2010 14:31

Hi, I'm also navigating school admissions this year. One other school near you that you could consider is Holy Trinity which I've heard has really come on in recent years, though I don't have any direct experience of it. One tip you might not have tried: If you e-mail the schools admissions office with your postcode and house number (see address here: www.richmond.gov.uk/home/education_and_learning/schools_and_colleges/school_admissions.htm), they can tell you what the cut-off distances were in the last two years for all community schools (you need to contact church schools directly), and give the distance measurements for your property to any richmond borough school (including church ones). It's just an indication, as the position varies each year, but at least you'll see which schools are more likely to be the ones you'll get and help narrow down the ones to visit if you can. Good luck!

Kewcumber · 01/12/2010 14:38

Manor circus is a tricky one - probably Marshgateand holy trinity and Darell, all seem wuite good to me from discussions with existing parents. Dareel does seemto have a less good reutation but not deserved form what I can tell - anywhere else you would think "what a good school" but because there are some really outstanding schools around here it doesn;t look so good in comparison.

Go to open days as you'll get a much better feel for it.

You need to be living in a tent in the playground to be sure of a place at sheen mount and virtually all of the children go on to private school so if you are planning to state educate probably better if your child has a chance at least of knowing some people going to secondary with her.

My choices were riverside, Darell and Marshgate as I didn't want a church school which ruled the others out.

castlesintheair · 01/12/2010 20:00

Not sure where Manor Circus is but assuming it's near Manor Road and depending on which end your best catchment options are Darrell (north end) and Marshgate, St Elizabeths (catholic) or Holy Trinity (c of e) at south end. All really great schools. As others have said though, you really need to go and have a look around yourself. I know that the catchment area for Marshgate is shrinking rapidly, so you might want to enquire with Admissions.

Marchpane · 01/12/2010 20:10

The nct are hosting a talk about the school admission process in the borough on the 15th. That might be a good place to pick up info from all the neurotic parents who've been researching schools since before junior was even conceived? That's why I'm going any way

I did load it as a local event but it's disappeared

I found it on the nct facebook page www.facebook.com/richmondnct. It might be full though as I've not seen it advertised

Kewcumber · 01/12/2010 23:12

Don't bother with St elizabeths unless you are a practciing catholic and practicing really hard!

mummyquilliam · 03/12/2010 19:20

i would recommend marshgate my daughter started there this year and loves it my son is 2 1/2 and desperate to start there we as parents love it a lot of parents whose children i used to look after from grena road nursery sent their children there because they like it too would def say have a look we didnt like darell at all but had problems there

SantaIsMyLoveSlave · 06/12/2010 10:13

Oooh, you probably know my friend's DC, mummyquilliam -- she's had three through Grena Road nursery and into Marshgate.

Horton · 06/12/2010 11:01

Hi there. I am also doing school admissions for my four year old this year and live close to Manor Circus. We looked at most of the schools and eventually went for Darell as our top choice. I think it depends very much what you are looking for in a school. I really liked the head there, thought the building was really interesting and a beautiful environment for children and I very much like the non-uniform policy. Also keen on the emphasis on arts. I thought it seemed quite a bit friendlier than some of the others we saw.

I honestly don't think your child will end up in a bad school - these are all good schools which do their best for the children. I know people whose kids have recently gone to or are currently at Marshgate, Queens, Holy Trinity, Darell, Kew Riverside and St Elizabeth's and I don't know anyone who had a serious problem with any of these schools.

I also didn't want a church school so we have opted for Marshgate and Kew Riverside as our next two choices.

I'd highly recommend going to see as many of the schools that are really close as you can - they all have a different feel and only you know what may suit your child.

Original poster

Panteramum · 06/12/2010 17:35

Thanx 4 the help everyone.

My boss now understand the mire were in so have booked to c marshgate, holy t, and kew riverside.

sorry horton but im going to give darell a miss. The OFTSED really got me thinking but i also got talking to some new folks at the playground on sunday. They said that there are A LOT of unhappy campers with kids at that school. it just doesn't seem right for my DD. hope they sort it out

OP posts:

Horton · 06/12/2010 17:58

Hope you find a lovely school for your daughter! I'm sure any of the ones you mentioned will be great.

mummyquilliam · 07/12/2010 20:48

santaismyloveslave by any chance would mums name start with an E?

SantaIsMyLoveSlave · 08/12/2010 10:40

Yes, children T, H and R...

mummyquilliam · 08/12/2010 23:06

yes i know her she is lovely did your children go to grena road when it was happy times by any chance

SantaIsMyLoveSlave · 09/12/2010 09:32

No, we are in Putney so a bit further along. E was at college with DH, and worked with him later on, and is DD1's godmother.

mummyquilliam · 09/12/2010 16:53

ok just curious if you were another parent we both know lol. They are a great family my daughter is in Rs class at school its nice seeing how the other 2 have got soo grown up

stepfordwife · 10/12/2010 13:35

Sure the school you choose will be fine and your dc very happy there - good luck!
we're lucky to have such good primary schools in this area.
must say as a parent of 3 children currently at darell - it's not perfect - no school is - but have been very happy with it, especially its vibrant arts,frequent school trips to enhance classroom learning and caring environment.

Horton · 10/12/2010 21:26

vibrant arts,frequent school trips to enhance classroom learning and caring environment

These were the things that stuck out for me on my trip to visit the school, so I am glad to hear that they are as good as they sound, stepfordwife. I am really hoping my DD gets a place there as it seemed so much calmer and happier than any of the other schools we visited. I particularly loved the way they were playing Mozart and Vivaldi in some of the classrooms as children worked and the absolutely stunning artwork all over the school. I don't think there was a corner left undecorated. I thought the head was lovely and seemed really down to earth but at the same time full of aspirations for the children she looks after.

DD is only four but also liked Darell a lot more than other places we visited. So hopefully we will both be very happy with it!

kateandmax · 19/12/2010 18:14

If you live in manor circus there is no way you would get kew riverside or marshgate on distance.
You would get offered Darrell .Holy trinity you may be lucky if low siblings and church.If you dont want Darrell you need to move.check with admmsions though.

SalsyPicnic · 21/12/2010 13:15

Hi. We live bang on Manor Circus and DS1 got place at Marshgate on first round of offers. He's now in Yr1. DD2 to start reception 2011. If you decide that this is the school for you I would say that you have a pretty good chance of getting in. Good luck.

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