Primary schools and catchment areas

[ubwlondon]

So we moved to Oxford last autumn, and have since realised (great planning, I know) that we are in the catchment area of a state primary that is, um, less than desirable. The idea of moving again within the year to get into a different catchment area does not appeal, even if we're only renting.
I understand from the council website that by January I have to put down a list of my three preferred schools. Just wondering if there is much point visiting the other state/church schools nearby, or even putting them down as my top choices? The primaries in North Oxford generally seem very oversubscribed so do we even have the remotest chance of getting into a school outside the catchment area?

We are right in the middle of Summertown, so officially in the catchment area for Cutteslowe. Our neighbour opposite has a daughter at Phil and Jims, but told me that was quite exceptional. St Aloysius also not too far away. Apparently some local kids go to St Barnabas although we are not anywhere near the official catchment area. Wolvercote doesn't even seem to have enough spaces for Wolvercote children... Any advice gratefully received.

Yes, the North Oxford black hole is a it of an issue I believe. Wolvercote's catchment area being redrawn, so a lot of their previous catchment are being shifted across to Cutteslowe. In- catchment children who didn't get a place at Wolvercote got sent to Kidlington last year, I think. Phil and jim's haha! Not quite sure what you have to do to get a place there...... St Aloysius is a) Catholic and therefore has separate admissions policy and b) as a catholic school is taking all the overspill from children in Marston/ Headington who can't get in to St Joe's.
Might be worth thinking about going well out of catchment/ asking council which schools are taking extra reception classes in the year of intake for your DC. Primary school over-subscription applies to the whole city, sadly.

Can you afford to wait for a place to come up? Home education is quite popular in the area. Some people do it in the short term while waiting for a place at their preferred school. Oxford has quite a mobile population and children will be leaving the area at various times.

Once the September comes and goes, parents who have failed to get a place at their preferred school will often resign themselves to sending their children elsewhere. If a place later comes up, they may hesitate to unsettle their children by moving them... and if enough people are reluctant to move their kids, it puts you at the top of the list.

Of course, there is no guarantee that a place will ever come up at all. But you could go on the waiting lists of a number of schools and see what happens. If the school you are offered is totally unsuitable and no other options appeal to you, then you could try that.

www.ohed.org.uk/

Some interesting advice, thanks. Home schooling not really an option as we both work (plus I can't see myself being very good at it!). We are now investigating the private route, I just have to get over my long held ideological objections. And try to forget the fact that we moved out of the catchment area of two outstanding state primaries in London...

Phil & Jims is COE selective on religious basis, so you might want to become a churchgoer! :)

Hm, wonder what they make of German protestants? Still undecided, we are wavering between waiting for a miracle at Cutteslowe (they are getting a new head this summer) or moving into another catchment area after all. Although that doesn't sound like a fail safe option to get a place either!

From the Admissions info for Phil and Jim:

a child wanting a ?Church place? means a child of a family of any Christian denomination, as defined by the National Schools Council, whose application is supported by a reference from a priest or Christian minister confirming a current Christian commitment and affiliation of the church. A baptismal certificate is not sufficient.

More information on the Admissions page here: www.ss-philip-and-james.oxon.sch.uk/admissions.html

Well, Cutteslowe Primary have now announced the new head, who will start in September 2011. Sounds like a good choice (experience in turning around failing schools, apparently). But not sure how fast things are likely to change even if he turns out to be fantastic. I have never met any local parents who send their children to Cutteslowe (everyone seems to opt for private if they cannot get places at their favoured state schools). Anybody here who can share personal experiences?

We are in the same boat - moving in from London to Oxford and thinking about where to buy but Summertown looks the most likely.

Have you been to see Cutteslowe? I met the deputy head this week and was suprised by how much I liked the school. The staff seemed very caring and the children were friendly - dd was was running around with the children in the playground within 5 mins and she is normally very shy. The first year (foundation year?) is very good so the improvements would have time to happen by the time your child moves up.

I went to see phil and jims too and wasn't taken with it. It seems that there is a lot more money but it seemed very large and impersonal to me. i could have been on a bad day though.

cutteslow will be my first choice . i've just got to convince DH who wants phil and jims - i'll be taking him round to see cutteslow soon..

We did three school visits in the last week! Went to see the Montessori school up in Elsfield, Oxford High again, and St Barnabas in Jericho. Only went to look at Cutteslowe from the outside, and did not like the area very much - but you are right, it is probably worth a visit to actually meet the staff/pupils. Interesting re Phil and Jims (known as Phil and Teds in this household) - we haven't even arranged a visit as everyone tells me it's so hopeless unless you already have three siblings there. At the moment we think we might bite the bullet and move in the autumn to get into the catchment for St Barnabas, it seems like a nice school and would be super-convenient for work/school run.

My children (year 4 and nursery) both go to Cutteslowe primary. My youngest will be in next year's reception class. I encourage you to have a look around and not believe everything you hear out there in the community. The new deputy head is brilliant, and the new head is looking to be the same. The staff are caring, and excellent at tailoring learning to children's individual needs at every place on the spectrum. The children are well behaved (contrary to what you may hear!). The school is very diverse and very inclusive and celebrates all cultures and faiths.

Every school has its ups and downs and Cutteslowe is no different. The parent governors and members of the parents' association would be happy to talk to you if you'd like to hear the experiences of the parents who send their children there.