Primaries advice STANLEY RD/SMSP/HHJS - moving in & stressing out!

[melf76]

Hello, We are mid-move to Fulwell Road and I have 2 girls going in to Y3 & Y6.
It's too late to visit schools (we were looking elsewhere until the holidays started!) and I'm sure it'll be a case of "we'll go where there's space", and possibly 2 different schools if needs be BUT as I have to put schools in order of preference, I thought I'd request input on our 3 nearest!
To complicate things, my eldest is super-bright and needs lots of challenge (but only has Yr 6 to go) whereas my littley has been average/below though catching up (summer babe) and obvs has 4 years of primary to go... We're moving from Bristol, planning for Waldgrave for secondary...but primaries first so...

STANLEY ROAD - the recent Ofsted seems to have been a shock - were parents shocked? Are you happy with the school? Are kids suitably challenged? Has building work finished and are the facilities/outdoor space good?

ST MARY & ST PETER - we're not religious - will it matter? The Ofsted is fab but very old - do parents think it would retain its 1 if spot-checked? I've heard rumours of "over-crowding" - fair or no?? How would you rate the facilities & outdoor space?

HAMPTON HILL JUNIOR - am worried we'd be a little "out" of the community as imagine most of our road is Stanley but on paper it looks amazing - any reality checks from HHJS parents? Facilities & outdoor space? Clubs look good and breakfast club at 7:30m will be helpful...

Lastly, my 10 year old is tennis-mad, and my 7 yr old a keen gymnast...any recommendations for local clubs?

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE. I'm off to clear out half our belongings to charity and hope the girls don't notice...
Mel

They're all great schools and far too good to be reduced to one-liners. You'll find parents generally talk up their own choice of school and talk down others, so be wary of skewed opinions, but I know families who are very happy with all three of these schools. And yes, the Stanley judgement was a shock and parents are fiercely loyal. The school has been messed about by poor LA management of its building work and suffered as a result, but hopefully the light is at the end of the tunnel.

Re Waldegrave, the only way is downhill given its massive deficit, and don't assume your eldest will be stretched in KS3 or you might be disappointed, but they all do well in the long run, and the new head sounds like a safe bet.

Thanks so much oneoff - it's great to know that local families are happy with all 3. The Stanley ofsted did seem out of the blue hence my worry about it. They're all pretty big schools so I'm optimistic-ish of getting places...

Can you clarify what you mean by the Waldegrave massive deficit?

Latest in a series of begging letters ... 0e58658be539ee7325a0-220f04f871df648cf4a4d93a111e3366.ssl.cf3.rackcdn.com/waldegrave/uploads/document/2_564_funding-letter-march-2018.pdf

All schools are stretched though so its hard to tell if it's worse at Waldegrave than elsewhere.

Hello I live v near you and am at HHJS, there are many of us located this side of the school. I'm nearing the end as a parent there after many years, feels like forever! I like it, both my children have been happy. Outside space not brilliant, no field, but they do go to the rec or park when needed. Clubs are great, and there are some that are free!
I'd recommend it, but would have been happy for my children to go to any of the three schools you mention, honestly I think you will be fine! If you want to pm with specific hhjs questions I'm happy to help!

Thanks so much. Sadly that house is no more - we got gazumped after doing the survey, getting the mortgage sorted etc! So am currently licking my wounds but looking for similar properties in the area so all schools advice will still be relevant and much appreciated!