Primary schools in Headingley/Meanwood - recommendations

[superdenki]

We're relatively new to this area and will have to start applying for DC's primary school soon. Any knowledge/advice welcome, especially about Shire Oak school. Thanks

Hi, welcome to the area!
don't know much about Shire Oak, but we are very happy with Burley St Matthias. Small and friendly. Excellent new head and v positive recent offsted.

We're not far from Shire Oak, and I wouldn't have gone for it. The one friend I know who looked at it didn't choose it because the head told her that the children aren't allowed to play outside in case they get wet/dirty/hurt. Our nearest is Weetwood, and it's generally regarded as the "best" of the state options, with Meanwood C of E running pretty close (though they are, I gather, quite strict about applying their religious criteria). Both have long waiting lists, and getting into Weetwood can apparently be quite a vicious process. It's probably best to go and get a feel for the schools yourself. You'd not struggle to get places at Shire Oak or Spring Bank, as neither is oversubscribed (which may tell its own story?) I know various people who've had children at Spring Bank, and have removed them due to lack of discipline/education - but I also know of some who like it very much. Good luck!

Meanwood C of E has a fantastic reputation, and afaik the class sizes are tiny for a state school.
I believe church attendance is compulsory though, not just a few token visits as with some other religious state schools.

Ooh Rachel7 I think we may have got your old head at our school now, Mrs Robinson?

that's her!

Dottoressa - not sure about your information regarding Spring Bank, which is most definitely over-subscribed and has only 2 spaces vacant (Y4).

We have visited Shire Oak and were quite impressed. The head was really helpful and welcoming and the classes we saw were good. We certainly weren't given the impression that kids can't play outside - in fact the opposite! They have a veg garden and a really good space for KS1 children to play in. Haven't been to Spring Bank as head reluctant to have individual visits, prefers to have people come to organised open days.
Weetwood and Meanwood next on the list...

Thalia5 - I would be happy to be corrected. My info comes from parents whose DCs started there recently, and were told that they had lots of space in all the classes (unlike Weetwood and Meanwood, where there were no spaces and long waiting lists) - I have no personal experience of the school.

Superdenki - I wouldn't touch any school with a bargepole where the head didn't welcome prospective parents at any time. You need to see a school on a normal working day, not just when they've got their best pupils and work on show!

A word on Weetwood: friends who recently moved to the area tried to look round Weetwood. However, the head said they were already oversubscribed and really didn't need any more people on the list, so she'd prefer them not to bother. This put them off! They said Meanwood, by contrast, went out of their way to be accommodating, despite having no places. I have lived around here for a while, and the local feeling is that Shire Oak is okayish, but Weetwood/Meanwood are much better.

LadyH, I totally agree - I was quite taken aback when the headmaster turned down our visit request, especially as the other school had been so welcoming.
Love the look of Meanwood actually, esp the location right by the park.

r.e. individual parents' appointments - trickier if it's a one form entry school and the head teaches, I guess.

Is Carr Manor too far out for you?

My DS is there and although there is a rough element, it is a really good school and gets great ofsted reports and has been ofsted outstanding for the last two years (not the be all and end all I know). They also do really well on sports and regularly win athletic's trophies.

It is quite disciplined though and they get loads of homework.

I know someone who took their DS out of Meanwood CofE as she was unhappy with their teaching in reception. I was in the park with my younger DC last summer and the kids were all out eating their packed lunches in the park though...looked lovely.

The Meanwood School location is lovely. I was there at coming-out-of-school time recently (occupying my DCs, who have ridiculously long holidays), and all the children were playing in the park. It was very nice!

Feenie, you do have a point - but I'd still find it off-putting if the school couldn't find someone to cover for the head while s/he woos prospective parents!

But what kind of a teacher/headteacher would drop everything in the middle of a lesson to show parents round individually?

at the idea of 'finding' cover in an instant - if it were that easy, the head probably wouldn't be teaching in the first place!

But if it isn't possible, that might make you wonder what other problems staffing/budget a school has...

Um, I meant 'staffing/budget problems'! It's a good job I don't run a school.

Dotoressa - nope, my children go to Spring Bank, and every class is full apart from Y4 (2 spaces). Reception is also full for next year - 28 first choices and 2 nearest second choices. Big waiting list!

Feenie, never thought of head actually teaching, that would make it perfectly understandable i guess!

LadyHofH - we don't have staffing or budget problems - in fact we are also over-subscribed, so have a very healthy budget. But in a one form entry school, the head often has to teach!

Thalia - I stand corrected!

Friends have just failed to get into Weetwood, despite living 4mins walk from the gates. Other friends are really pleased with St Chads.