primary schools in crouch end

[ThisIsBloodyHardWork]

I've just looked at distances and catchment areas for the first time since moving to my house 3 years ago. When we moved, we were in catchment for three of the local schools - all good, community schools with great ofsted reports. Now, we seem to be just out of catchment for all three! My son won't be applying for another year, as he is only 2 now - should I be worried about him not getting a place? Should we think about moving? I'm suddenly super stressed about this, which seems crazy as he's still only just two!

Check with council to see if any of those schools are expanding. I thought Coleridge was supposed to be expanding to 3 form. In the absence of expansion, the trend in Crouch End & Muswell Hill has been shrinking catchment areas. Sorry

Actually Coleridge has already expanded to four form entry, and due to a larger than usual number of siblings the catchment was smaller this year. However it should be larger again next year, as one would expect the number of siblings to be smaller. Rhodes Avenue School in Muswell Hill is going to three form entry ie additional form being added,

The trouble is that its very difficult to predict two years ahead.

Check to see if you are close enough to a fourth school as back up.

Thanks. Coleridge is one of our local schools, I couldn't believe we were out of catchment for it this year. I'm thinking if we're very close to the catchment of THREE local schools, surely we'd get a waitlist place from one of them? Or is that bonkersly optimistic of me? I've got all sorts of possible plans revolving in my head, including the dreaded private school option. But that seems to be fraught with difficulty as well. Arrrgghh, my son only just had his second birthday, I shouldn't have to worry about this stuff yet!

All the schools in crouch end as supposed to be good from what I have heard.

I just settled my nephew into Rokesly and it seems very nice. I really liked to layout and that all the infant classes had an outside space. The staff were friendly too.

I spoke to a parent from Coleridge earlier this year and she really likes the school but told me most of the children including hers had tutors outside of school explaining their high scores in sats.

My son just started at Campsbourne yesterday is seems too very nice too. The school is said to have improved a lot over the last couple of years due to a new head which is reflected in the recent ofstead report.

Good Luck

Actually at the risk of seeming to provide really unhelpful and patronising advice (something along the lines of "calm down dear" Hmm thinks am I far enough from Crouch End to be out of range? ) I would make the point that if he is just two then he is going into reception in autumn 2014.

It is simply impossible to predict what the catchment areas will be then.

You do need to keep an eye on the situation, and if you were planning to move house inside the next three years anyway bear it in mind.

But for at least the next year and a half no point worrying as there is nothing to be done.

The Coleridge catchment was unusually small this year. It will be bigger next year. But the year after next?

Really cant say.

And the year AFTER that?

And that applies to all the others.

Well sadly he was two in August which by my calculations means he will be in reception in September 2012, and we have to apply by end of January 2012, which is just over a year away.

I do see that there isn't much to be done about it and impossible to predict catchment areas - but my fear is not will he get a place at Coleridge or not, but rather will he end up being offered a place at a school in Tottenham because we are out of catchment for ALL the schools in the area - Rokesly, Campsbourne, Weston Park are all great schools, I'd be happy for my DS to go to any one of them - but I'm worried in case he won't be able to.

Would it be worthwhile thinking about keeping him on waiting lists for all these schools and potentially sending him to a private school for reception in the hope that he'd get a place for Year 1 at least? Does anyone have experience of this sort of situation?

If you are considering private as a back up can I suggest you put your son's name down now? Private schools in the area are very oversubscribed too.

I know! We've already missed the deadlines for various schools I've called - am horrified by the whole thing to be honest. Especially as I'd really prefer not to go down the private school route (did I mention, we have THREE very good, local state schools within less than half a mile of our home - why the hell should we pay vast sums for our child to be educated with a load of kids who probably don't live locally and who I possibly unreasonably believe will be all over-privileged and entitled and generally awful?)

Sob. I can't bear the idea of sending my perfect DS into the bearpit that is the school playground, anyway. maybe I should just home-school him and avoid the whole thing ...

We are in the same position in a neighbouring borough (Enfield), midway between three excellent state primaries but this year would have been out of catchment for all three. The alternative options are pretty ghastly tbh. Private not an option for us.

We are trying to move house before we have to apply (DS1 starts in 2011 so we've left it a bit late really!).

Have you asked Haringey what happened with waiting lists? The admissions people are happy to tell the distance of the last child accepted at each school by Sept. That may give some comfort. Also consider some further afield schools - e.g Highgate primary has a wide catchment as its located besides golf courses and is in an area where many automatically go private.

We figured that spending a few thousand on private school for a year was cheaper than actually moving house at the moment. But now that the private schools are all oversubscribed as well ... it's a complete nightmare. Help!

I understand your worried as I was exactly the same. Do you live in crouch end or on the borders? I know the schools are highly oversubscribed but if you are in crouch end you should be ok.

you will have to be really careful you put your nearest school as your first choice,then put a second and 3rd.dont think you will get first choice if you only put that one. i know 3 people who did this and ended up with no place in crouch end. you usually get offered noel park or another school in tottenham.each year there are 150 to 200 children who dont get offered any school in crouch end.
friends children who were no,20 + on waiting lists did get in.
agree about highgate.
i put dd down for private a year before she was to start and she did get a place.

Thanks, this is really good advice. I'll look into Highgate primary and see if I can find out more about waiting lists.

Well given that you are much closer to applying to school than I thought I can see why you are worried.

However it is quite possible that this year, due to siblings, was exceptional. Can only suggest that you both monitor the situation carefully (which obviously you are) and check out Highgate Primary (which you are doing as well) but also check out St Michaels Highgate which is a C of E school. Also check out the nearest schools in Islington which are probably St John's C of E and ashmount Primary.

Do check the waiting list movements, as Roastchicken says. The figures published in the admissions booklet are based on the places offered in May. It would be very unusual for there to be no movement before term starts.

I feel sick. I live on Tottenham Lane around the corner from Rokesly. Why can't my son just go to the school closest to him?! WHY!!!