West London free primary school: is it a good school?

[TildeCucinotta]

Hello,
We will move to London Hammersmith in April 2018 with our 6 years old daughter and I am looking for an academically good primary school.
What about the West London Free Primary School? Would you advice to enroll my daughter there? Any personal experiences you would like to share?
Many thanks!
Tilde

It's a great school, or at least it has a great reputation. I know people with kids there and they are very happy. But it's very, very oversubscribed so I don't know how likely it is that you would get in.

I think you need to look beyond academics - word is that this school only achieves good results by being pretty ruthless about edging out those with SEN and other problems.

Thanks. How would you compare John Betts, Brackembury and Miles Coverdale to West London free school?

If you can get into John Betts, you have effectively won the West London education lottery.

I think you'd be better off at West London Free. John Betts and Brakenbury are both rated as outstanding but are highly likely to lose this at their next inspection. Miles Coverdale has a more recent inspection.

FulhamParent: what makes you say Brackenbury and John Betts are likely to lose the outstanding?

St Peter’s is good too, but is a faith school so maybe not your thing?

By the way, what are the secondary schools like in this area? Where to children end up going after John Betts etc?

Hello,
would you advise Ark Conway primary school? is there any parents of children already attending the school ?
Thanks,
Tilde

I have been impressed by Holy Cross in parsons green, St Augustines, Larmenier (brook green) Thomas's Academy, All Saints....not sure about West London free school after reading all the reviews...live next to Melcombe but it looks run down....was keen on Queen's manor (landscaping play areas and gardens will be amazing) but mixed thoughts now.....as they dont have such good league results....got to submit by 11pm today!! marlborough primary in sloane avenue is state of the art but too much of a journey daily...

Any one have an opinion on Ark Bentworth or Ark Conway Primary/Academy Schools?

Hi, we are eventually moving to Hammersmith in a couple of weeks and we need to apply for a school place very soon.
The Borough confirmed that currently Greenside, Melcombe, St. Paul CoE, Lena Gardens and Addison Schools have places in my daughter's year.
I am a bit confused. Would you help me picking the school? What would you choose and why?
I really need your advice!

you won't get into betts or brackenbury unless you already live v close - J Betts was also pretty much all sibs last year too. WLFS seemed to us a nest of pretentious, pseudo-Latin-named wannabe prep school teachers who focused on discipline and academics at the expense of real creativity. (And I say that as an extremely academic person myself as is my husband). Super Tory in ethos too - you might find that OK, we couldn't go with it.

It will totally depending on where you live OP - what you can get into? unless your child has additional reasons why they might get in anywhere (adoption etc)?

I know academic is not everything but there's no where online or elsewhere that I can find any data that West London Free School has got any good academics? I find it really hard to benchmark against the others on the list like John Betts, St Peters, Larmenier and Brackenbury where their results are listed online for KS2. When I went for the open days the others seem to have better Art and Music aspirations but am I the only one who feel this way? Has anyone got into West London and also think they are not as good as they seem?

I found that for West London... due to the lack of data, we have to go with what the headmistress says about the school: for example like they have their science curriculum a year ahead of other schools at least and other general talk. I am not sure whether these are all sales pitches as I can't find anything to substantiate their claims! Does anyone feel the same or is it just me?

pseudo-Latin-named wannabe prep school teachers who focused on discipline and academics at the expense of real creativity
Wow. That’s a pretty harsh indictment. What was this based on - do your children attend?

Super Tory in ethos
I’ll admit that English political tribalism isn’t my strong point (I grew up elsewhere) - what does this mean I’m practice when it comes to primary education in this country?

Hi there... just wondering if you had an update on which school you chose... we're also near the area and looking... THANKS.