Feedback on Charles Dickens Primary school and Cathedral School in SE1

[parri1]

hi, we live very close to both primary schools, and we should be in the catchement area of Charles Dickens, but I have heard that Cathedral is also a good primary school. Can anyone share their experience with both schools please? thanks

I'm hitching onto this because I'd love someone to explain exactly why Cathedral merits a special rating in London primary schools. Do the children really attain far above what can be achieved in other "outstanding" schools? Charles Dickens 200m away just seems really good, having visited them both. And we're really stuck as to which we should go for too.

I don't know about Cathedral but I do know staff are treated terribly at Charles Dickens and so morale is very low. The school dinners are boring and poor quality. Staff turnover is high. For me if the choice was between Charles Dickens and no school at all I'd go for no school.

Hi, I'm a parent of three children at Charles Dickens. I also know parents with children at Cathederal. They rate it very highly too.

I have high praise for Charles Dickens. For me it is the absolute best school I could hope for for my children. Before it we had experience elf two other schools and they weren't in the same league.

The school is reactive, disciplined, caring. It is incredibly innovative in it's continual quest to find ways to make learning interesting and fulfilling. I feel like they are never doing solely one subject - learning about the Caribbean included maths and literacy, and a resident artist, and a professional composer, and a professional dance teacher. The result was a really rounded learning experience for the children.

The school takes full advantage of all the arts and science organisations in central London. Once I actually had to choose between going with them on a trip to the Royal Institution or a workshop at the Globe Theatre on the same day. All the trips are free as they use public transport too. They have scientist visiting, and are always keen to go on trips related to current topics.

Here's a link to a survey published last week and you can see how much parents appreciate this.

www.charlesdickens.southwark.sch.uk/blog/?p=8938

My experience of staff is that they are mostly dedicated teachers of the highest standard, and similar for TAs and other staff. I've had lunch there which I enjoyed.

I have been looking at both cathedral and charles dickens schools and they look like 2 of the best primaries in the borough. I am interested to find out how possible it is to get in if you do not live in the immediate area. We actually live in walworth but i work really local to borough. wonder if it is worth putting them down as choices if no hope of getting in ??