Stroud Green or St Aidans school?

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Hello. Bit premature I know but I have to apply for dd's school in January and we are likely to be within catchment for Stroud Green primary and maybe St Aidan's too, depending on how many siblings there are this year. I know St Aidan's has the better reputation
and ofsted report but looking round them both I couldn't immediately see a difference and the religious connections at St Aidan's are putting me off a bit as I am atheist (though I know their admissions criteria are only based on siblings/catchment and not church attendance). I am wondering if anyone has recent experience of either school and could tell me honestly which they would recommend I put first choice? Is St Aidan's reputation still justified or is it only based on the 2007 ofsted report? Even the interim inspection is from 2010 which seems an age ago so I have no idea how to tell if things have changed.

Everyone says you can easily tell which school you want by visiting but I have looked round both and am not sure how you do. My impressions were that both seemed pretty good (30 children in a class does look loads and I do think wistfully of my own vast school playing fields but that is London for you). SG's building is falling apart but not sure how relevant that is. At St Aidan's they were doing more formal learning in reception - SG seemed more "play-led" but that might only have been during the 10 mins I was there. I have heard people say early years staff at SG are great. Does that mean the older classes are less so? My tour only took in nursery and reception as dd will be starting their nursery in September (didn't consider St Aidan's nursery as the hours were very inconvenient for working parents). I was impressed with Stroud Green's after-school and holiday provision and there would be the advantage of continuity from nursery.

Basically, I am wondering about putting Stroud Green as my top choice but would I be silly to write off the possibility of an Ofsted-outstanding school on the basis of its church affiliation and is there something wrong with Stroud Green that I am missing? I am wondering why it isn't always over-subscribed like the other local schools.

I looked round Ashmount too and do love their building and setting and the fact they have an orchestra as this is something I enjoyed at primary school but their head is leaving so it's a bit of an unknown and we are very unlikely to get a place anyway. Might put it down just in case we are lucky with their waiting list but still need to decide which to prioritise between Stroud Green and St Aidan's.

Thanks everyone. I know it's a while away but I'm not sure if I'll get the chance to look round the schools again before applying.

Hi, all my info is miles and miles out of date I'm afraid. I actually went to St Aidan's, and babysat children from there after I'd left. When I was there the religious element was extremely "light-touch", limited to the local vicar giving a talk every month and going to church for Easter/Christmas services. From what I've heard since, it has become substantially more religious, but perhaps talk to the teachers there if that is a concern? SGS also has a more diverse mix of kids which could make for a more fun experience, as St A's has got more popular (in my day it was the sink school people avoided like the plague!) the intake has become very very homogenous.

OP here. Messed up my account somehow so had to name change. Thanks Alyosha. It's funny how things change isn't it? Interesting what you say about it getting more religious. I could definitely overlook the church thing if I thought it was a better school than SG (I went to a church school myself) but at the moment the only thing distinguishing them for me are the Ofsted reports and the St Aidan's one is very old. Is it just the middle class catchment that makes it so much more over-subscribed than SG do you think?

It's a couple of things - it's right in the middle of an area with a lot of nice, big Victorian houses, typically bought by families with 2/3/4/5! kids. In addition to that, St. A's is one form entry, so it has limited space. Back in the day it was undersubscribed as many families went private. As private school fees have gone up, more local kids went there so it has become much more popular. Also St A's burnt down in 1995/96, which meant the school got a significant buildings upgrade - making it look a lot lighter/airier/more inviting. This is oddly not mentioned on the website, although it does mention the queen reopened the school in 1998, but not why it was reopened!

I wouldn't think it was a better school than SGS, given its intake you would expect extremely good SATS & kids with involved and motivating parents. They're much of a muchness really, especially now SGS has got a "Good" Ofsted report. You can't really go wrong!