Views on Richmond primary schools?

[thetartanexplorer]

Posted this in Primary Schools topic originally, but not getting many responses there, so thought I would re-post here!

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Starting to look at primary schools in Richmond for DS (just turned three). We're overseas at the moment, so don't have much local knowledge / gossip about the various options.

Our closest schools will be Marshgate, Vineyard, Darrell and Holy Trinity. On paper Marshgate looks good and is probably our first option at the moment. Vineyard also looks good, but realistically we're probably too far to stand a decent chance unless they have a bulge class. Hadn't heard great things about Darrell, but want to keep an open mind. And we're not religious, so really not sure about Holy Trinity, but don't want to rule it out.

So, can anyone tell me anything (good or bad) about any of these schools? Which ones get the best reputation at the moment, and is this deserved?

Thanks!

School choices around here are very subjective - Darrell has a poor reputation on mumsnet and yet I know people whose children are very happy and have done very well there. However new head mistress this year so who knows how that will work out and lot sof building works planned for 2012 so big changes there too.

Marshgate is rated quite highly but is quite large and catchment area seems to be quite small.

I don't think trinity is very churchy so I wouldn't worry too much about that side of it unless you are (like me!) an evangelical atheist which probably wouldn;t make you any friends!

Don't know Vineyard at all.

Best way is to visit the schools and make your own mind up - you can actually tell quite a lot from a visit, just whether its the kind of school that would suit your DS. Are you going to be back here with enough time to visit before making an application?

The reality is that there aren't really any "bad" primary school on your list - just ones that will suit your DS more than the others maybe.

Thanks Kewcumber. I'm planning to do a trip back to look at the schools before we apply. Hoping it might be obvious from that which one to go for, but always good to have a bit of insider info.

Good to know that none are "bad" as such. The Darrell OFSTED report was pretty off-putting (in comparison to the other schools), but interesting to know there's a new Head / building works.

Darrell's latest SAT's results were the best in Kew I think! Certainly better than Queens or Kew Riverside. You will find plenty of people who don't one or other of the local schools but if the truth in known in any part of the country any one of the schools would probably be considered to be pretty good!

Now secondary schools on the other hand...

Definitely you should visit the schools and get a feel of the atmosphere. Also, while KS2 SATs results may be important to you do bare in mind that for small schools especially they can be heavily influenced by the cohort. My DD is at Kew Riverside which is a single form entry school so she has really benefitted from being chosen to represent the school at a huge number of events. Pupil voice is very important there too BUT in her year there are a few kids who will not do well at SATs so while she will get L5/6 across the board (as will a good 50% of the class) the results for the year (only 21 in the class) won't look great on paper, I really do not think this reflects the school in any way.

I don't mean to sound too bitter and twisted but it is something of an illusion that you have a 'choice'. Yes you can put down schools in order of your preference, but unless you happen to live right next door to your preferred school there is no guarantee you will get in. We put down all the schools nearest to us in order of preference and got no place at all! We spent weeks agonising before we were eventually offered a place at a school deemed 'outstanding' in Kingston. It is the 4th or 5th furthest away from us but it is a great school nd DD is very happy. So I guess all is well that ends well. Richmond is proud to boast the best primary education in the country so rest assured that even your 3rd or 4th choice is likely to be a pretty good school in the grand scheme of things.

Thanks for the reality check WildRumpus

I guess we're lucky to be in an area with generally good primary schools; I know some of my friends in other parts of London aren't as lucky and are having a fairly stressful time with school applications.

I've checked distances with the local authority and think / hope we're OK for at least two schools. If I put a school which is further away as a first option, would it count against us when it comes to allocating places to our two nearest schools? I wouldn't want to scupper our chances of getting into the two perfectly decent nearest schools by gambling on a preferred school which is slightly further away.

WildRumpus is right. i would put your nearest school, the one you have most chance of getting as the chance of not getting any is i'm afraid quite high.

Yes do put them in order of preference, but the algorithm they use won't take that into account when first processing your application. As far as I understand each of the schools you list is processed with equal weighting according to their list of criteria (ie distance, sibling attendance). I probably haven't explained that very well but do speak to the school admissions dept for clarification. And rest assured that they are all good schools. I had set my heart on a single form entry school and DD has ended up at a far bigger school but the advantage there is that there is a lot more funding sloshing around and the school has excellent facilities.