Opinions on King Athelstan Primary School

[Falcon1]

Can anyone provide me with their experiences of this school please? It is my nearest non-faith school and the only one my children are likely to get into, but the results seem rather poor compared to most other primaries in the borough. If you have a child there, can you tell me what you think of the school? Does it cater well for children with higher abilities? Is behaviour generally ok and do the kids seem happy?

Many thanks.

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Local Editor

I suggest you do a tour of the school and have a look around for yourself, and ask the teaching staff any questions as we have done. You can also contact the parents association for a parents perspective, they have their own website. We were very impressed with what we saw, the staff were very happy to address the questions like yours.

Also to note there was a waiting list for reception last year....

Lovely head. Has been in a soft federation with St Johns recently.

Many thanks for your replies. I shall request a tour.

Both my children attended this school from nursery all the way through to year 6 and they have LOVED it. I remember when I went to visit the school over 10 years ago the deputy head asked some of the students in the corridor what they thought of the school (on our school tour) and they enthusiastically said they loved it.

Both my children joined in the fantastic early years section of the school flooded with light and a wonderful outdoor space. The class was decorated with art and really beautifully taken care of examples of children’s work. I’m Montessori trained myself and I thought what a wonderfully prepared environment. There was clearly such a wealth of learning opportunities on offer.

In that first year I remember attending a parents forum and being really impressed how the head and the then deputy head answered the questions and how seriously they took each question. I thought to myself, yep this is where I want them to spend their primary years.

Reading is heavily encouraged and the school makes time for reading for the sake of reading during their school week, which I think is fantastic. Learning has always been fun with thinkers projects for the children to engage in, which is a wonderful way for children to celebrate their learning in their own learning style. There is so much going on in the way of after school club activities, a great way for children to engage with their peers outside the classroom and keep fit, or learn a new skill. It’s also wonderful that the school has their own (long standing) PE and music teacher, who are just great. The head is a very strong and driven person and knows all 700 children by name by heart (maybe that’s normal I don’t know?) is on the gate every day and always has time. The staff in the office are exceptionally friendly and it always felt like a hug walking in. When my eldest daughter (who is now in secondary school) visits she screams when she sees her year 6 teacher and they give each other a big hug. On the last day of school there is not a dry eye in the hall. It was sad when my eldest left, but when my youngest left I had a pain in my chest for the rest of the day. So yes I recommend it heartily. 100%.

Oh and to address the original question about grades. Chidlren who go are 'homegrown' who move througgh the school from start to finihs do really well. KA just receives a larger portion of children moving though the area than other schools in the eara which brings the average down. (at least that was the case a number of years ago)