Halstow primary school activities, 11+

[se3me]

Any info from Halstow parents greatly appreciated.

What do you think of the school in terms of extra curricular activities?

Also, do you think the school prepares children to face the 11+?

Any other observations, info on the school hugely appreciated. Obviously, I hear it is a great school, but is there anything you have been unhappy with?

Has anyone considered Halstow vs. Blackheath prep or Heath House, and what did you conclude?

Sorry for the broad and slightly vague question, but going through the private vs. state decision making fog now, and very confused.

se3me - I am going through the same dilemma - Halstow vs private (and which private for that matter!).

Tbh I don't know why Halstow is considered so good - I felt the school lacked outside space, sports facilities and diversity. But then, every local parent on MN seems to rave about it, so there is probably something to it - would like to know what though!

I am considering Blackheath prep as well. I felt Heath House was too academic, not what I am looking for. I liked Pointers and thought it had the right mix of academic vs extra curriculars.

I would ideally like to send DC to a state school - halstow, meridian, or john ball.. anyone with experience, please enlighten us!

Hi there
I can speak from experience as the mother of two children who are at Meridian Primary school (currently Y2 ad Y4). Funnily enough, I'd always thought we'd educate them privately, and went to have a look round the local preps (Blackheath was definitely top of my list) but then a friend who's a teacher insisted I went and had a look at Meridian before I made a decision. I'm so glad I did! It's not for everyone - it doesn't have a uniform, the children call the teachers by their first names, but these and lots of other qualities are characteristics I've come to love about the school. It very much celebrates the individual - whether you're a geeky chess-loving reader or a football-mad sporty type. There's a lot of music in the school, thanks to its position next door to Trinity College of Music (some of the parents are academics there) and in all honesty, I would say it advocates the best of the Steiner approach to education, whilst also making sure they learn something along the way! (Forgive me, my brother went to a Steiner school, and didn't get a great education, so I'm a bit sceptical about the Steiner approach). The new head's ringing the changes as well and is keen to move its academic record forward. Go and have a look round: you'll be hard pressed to find a lovelier school. And do by all means message me if you want any other info.

Hi Newbiegal,

Brilliant to read your experiences at Meridian Primary school. Its now March 2015, do you still feel the same way? My son is currently at Halstow Primary school and generally unhappy. But the way you have described Meridian sounds much more like our kind of school.

Hi, I saw this and wanted to respond. I've had the benefit of seeing my eldest DD blossom at Meridian over 8 years (nursery through to Yr6). The beauty of Meridian is that each child is allowed to be who they want to be and reach their own potential - as newbiegal stated beautifully above. I really don't think I have ever seen my DD overly stressed or worried about work. Yet the work (a lot!) gets done, and she has reached a very high standard of work in that time. The teachers have a brilliant way of engaging the children in work that is enjoyable. It is not a SATS factory, yet each child has focused attention to ensure they reach the levels they should be for their year. Last year (2014) was an exceptionally high level 6 SATS success, but that was based on the children's potential and a focused teaching approach rather than a forced regime. I believe each child reaches their own potential at the school and in such a way that school remains fun and enjoyable. The school celebrates achievement at all levels and recognizes that a level 4 at the end of year 6 is as much a triumph for some children as a level 5 or 6 is for others. This message doesn't come across when you just look at the stats in the school league tables.
I'm a big fan of the school, but I now have the security and hindsight of knowing my DD has reached her potential there, while having fun and being able to enjoy her childhood. I know I have been stressed when she was younger about whether she would, as in the thick of it, you never quite know what the outcome will be and whether that cash at primary is well spent on private fees. In our experience it was a very sound decision to send our kids to Meridian!