Help! Panicking about Clapton primary schools.

[Jane7]

I used to laugh at mums obsessing about primary schools, but now I realize what it's all about! We live in Clapton/Homerton area and my dd is 20 months. I've always really liked Rushmore school and Kingsmead sounds good too, but I've just worked out (from local authority) we are outside both these catchment areas - just. The only catchment are we're in is a school called Daubenay that doesn't look great at all. I know it's still ages away but we've only just moved here and now I'm thinking we'll be stuck sending our dc to a school we don't like. Is there any point in trying to get on waiting list for Rushmore or do you have to pretty much accept that the nearest school is the one you have to go for? And what if I get dd into the nursery class, does that make a difference? Feel a bit nieave and stressed about this whole thing.

HI Jane, are you in the catchment area for Millfields? My kids are there and its a great school, personaly think its a better school than Rushmore?

Hi AmyLJ - thanks for that, no, I think we're too far from Millfields. Its catchment area was only 0.27miles last year and we're about 0.5. I've heard it's good - glad your kids are happy

Nursery class doesn't usually make a difference. Catchments vary by year; they were especially small this year ie for sept 2010 entry. Check the areas again in Oct to see if anyone got in from further away, as those will be the waiting list people (you may have to ring learning trust to get that info)
On the whole, having trusted to luck myself and ended up 20-somethingth on the lists of the schools less than half a mile from us, and seen others get no place, I'd say you are not wrong to worry. You can go on any waiting lists, but it may be well after reception starts that places come up.

Thanks Cockles - can I ask you something about waiting lists? Presumably it's impossible to get on a school waiting list until your child is just about to start reception year. Is that right? Or can you get on a waiting list early than that? What do you wish you'd done differently.

Hi Jane7 - Have you been to look around Daubeney? If you have, then you'll know all this already but I'll say it anyway. Its reputation was poor but having failed its OFSTED it has had almost an entire new staff and has a wonderful, experienced new head who transformed her last school in Primrose Hill. We loved it when we visited - in fact we preferred it to Rushmore which we felt would not suit our son at all. Given Daubeney's reputation it's natural you're concerned but after a visit we felt really reassured.

You're right, you can't be on waiting list til after the admissions process ie May. But it makes no difference as lists are always organised by distance from school; newcomers who are closer to school will go on list higher than you. My advice would be to look round all the relevant schools very carefully and then decide if you are going to try to move. Look at the distances on the learning trust website every year. Don't put down 3 choices too far from you hoping it will work out, as then you will risk having no decent choices at all - put down a safe bet.

I agree cockles - and to move into the catchment for Rushmore you immediately add about 50k to the cost of any house (if you want to buy!) And very very little comes on the market in that area. However, bear in mind that schools can improve or worsen very quickly. If you look around too early then it could be a very different place by the time your child goes there.

thanks spongecakelover for your reassuring words about daubenay school. we haven't looked round yet but i have heard rumours about a new head and improvements so that's very good to know that it's really happening. and yes, know what you mean about adding 50k to a house in rushmore catchment. now that millfields is not thought to be so good, all clapton mums are focusing on rushmore which i also think will mean it has a smaller and smaller catchment area every year.
thanks cockles for the advice about making sure you put down a safe bet rather than assuming if you put down three schools you really like, you'll get into one of them regardless of distance.

spongecakelover - i'd love to know why you weren't convinced by Rushmore school. I know a few other parents who have said exactly the same thing- they didn't like it at all when they looked round. Yet it's considered to be the best Clapton has to offer. What struck you about it? Wld love to hear? Are you planning to send DC to Daubenay?

Yes, Daubeney will be our first choice. We went too look around Rushmore and it just seemed a little too hectic. We were seeing it in the afternoon and I think the school has a very strong 'free play' ethic but the atmosphere just felt a bit frazzled. The environment felt very over crowded. Also, it seemed as though a lot of the things the school had to offer, like art clubs, that made it different to others in the area were provided by parents - the same group of parents. We wondered what would happen if that group of parents left the school.

This was all totally our opinion though - there were parents who looked around it in the same group who were clearly very impressed. I also have friends with children there who are happy with it. I just didn't think it was for us, that's all. It's due an OFSTED soon.

However, the thing that swung Daubeney for us was the head. The head at Rushmore didn't leave much of an impression, whereas the head at Daubeney was just the right mix of scariness and kindness. We were impressed. DS starts Daubeney nursery in September - hooray!

Neighbours tell me Millfields is a great school and their kids certainly seem to be thriving there. Rushmore used to have a great reputation but not sure it's the best Clapton has to offer nowadays! Jane7 I wouldn't stress too much as most of the local schools are good! Best to go and visit yourself and judge what works best for you... everyone has their own likes and dislikes. Some favour uniforms some don't etc. etc.