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Original poster

Mary Exton / Our Lady schools in Hitchin

11 replies

pennyapples · 28/07/2013 10:29

Hello all
Should have done this sooner - only just discovered the local board! About to have to make a decision between two houses to offer on in Hitchin - tomorrow basically - and just wondering about these two schools, the two houses are each close to one of them. We are a catholic family so may have a good chance with Our Lady anyway - but if we go for the other house the journey would be prohibitive I think as I don't drive.
I know they both have outstanding from Ofsted - but I also know Ofsted can actually not be the best guide. Does anyone have any real life experience? Be very grateful if so.
Thank you so much!

OP posts:
hertofdarkness · 29/07/2013 23:20

They are both great schools. You may not get in to OL though if you live by ME. ME effective catchment is very small, if you really want that school you do have to live very near.

Original poster
pennyapples · 01/08/2013 12:23

Thank you! But if it is the closest primary to the house you would get in wouldn't you? Or does it not work they way?

OP posts:
hertofdarkness · 01/08/2013 13:53

It sort of does. You get priority for your nearest school (not inc. faith ones) but if in your child's year there are 30 kids who live nearer and or have sibs or are looked after children then you won't get a place. It will come down to distance from the school. So if you really want a school you need to live close even its your nearest school. Obviously this doesn't apply for undersubscribed ones, but for popular ones it does.

For OL you also need to fulfill the baptism and church going requirements too.

Original poster
pennyapples · 01/08/2013 14:59

Thank you for the info - am so naive! New mum, not clued in yet!
Appreciate it, not going as smoothly as planned anyway so have time to mull over

OP posts:
Original poster
pennyapples · 02/08/2013 09:17

could I also ask about Whitehill?
thank you!

OP posts:
hertofdarkness · 03/08/2013 07:34

Also nice, it is just a junior school (yr3-6). Highbury is the infant feeder. So it is your location to Highbury that counts, Highbury kids get priority in admissions to Whitehill.

Original poster
pennyapples · 05/08/2013 08:08

Thanks so much, thats so useful!

OP posts:
twittergirl · 20/08/2013 21:56

Hi, just wanted to let you know that we got a place for OL this year, even though we live over near the border with Letchworth so I don't think living near Mary Exton would necessarily be a problem.

Having said that it's the luck of the draw as there are only 30 places and in recent years there have been as many as 90 applicants. Don't think there were that many this year though.

Your child does need to be baptised and you need to be a regular Mass go-er and need to have a meeting with the priest where he "approves" you based on how much he's seen you around etc. Without his approval you will not get a place.

twittergirl · 20/08/2013 21:58

I should add his approval doesn't guarantee a place either! E.g. if he approves 40 people, only 30 of those will get a place based on siblings, distance from the school etc.

Original poster
pennyapples · 25/10/2013 12:34

thank you for the info - we will be going to mass so hopefully all will be well if we want to go that way, going to be hard to decide between them I think

really appreciate your help

thank you!

OP posts:
twittergirl · 10/01/2014 12:25

Just saw your reply. Just wanted to add my son started OL in September and loves it! Hope you have house/school sorted now. Both are complicated!

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