Moor Allerton Hall Primary School, Leeds

[Joppie]

Hi, we need to fill our primary school choice forms soon, and our nearest is Moor Allerton Hall Primary in Leeds. Does anybody have children there, know what it's like?

Other possibles are Gledhow, Talbot or Moortown primaries, so if anybody has any views on those schools too that would be great.

Many thanks in advance!

Very high % of Muslim students, enough that the lunches provide a Halal option. Lots of parents speak little or no English but I've never noticed an issue with the kids speaking English. 2009 SATS results were very poor but seemed to be a surprise following years of decent results. School has introdcued a writing scheme (Big Write) that appears to be making a difference.

+ve
The head is lovely.
The reception teachers are fab (Mrs G especially)
The quality of education is excellent.
Brighter pupils are identified and given more challenging work

-ve
There are no playing fields.
Communication between the school and home is poor (2 weeks notice of parents evenings etc is not enough for working parents)
Parental involvment at school seems poor
Lots of movement of kids throughout the year i.e. lots leave the school for other schools
Lots of pupil absences for extended holidays (to Pakistan)

To be honest, if you have a chance of getting into Gledhow or Talbot then why would you look elsewhere? Those are 2 of the most oversubscribed schools in Leeds for very good reasons and if I could have got my DS into either of them then I would have.

In all honesty if Moor Allerton is your closest you probably have little chance of getting into the others as they are very oversubscribed, particularly Talbot - I know a few who didn't get in despite it being their nearest school.

Moor Allerton probably has the poorest reputation locally of the ones on your list, mainly in terms of SATS results which last year were very very poor. Other have also said that they don't have much in the way of after school clubs but I have not checked that.

Talbot is very good academically but some have questioned whether it is restrictive (especially for boisterous boys).

Gledhow is not quite as strong academically but the Head is said to be really good and friends have commented that they think they deal with children more as individuals.

Moortown is much smaller than the others and has quite a community feel to it, has very good communication with parents and the Head there is fab. It doesn't, however, have much in the way of playing fields but has some great play equipment out the front (has limited access to the fields out the back).

Go to the schools and have a look round. A friend of mine really didn't like Talbot despite its reputation.

Hope that helps.

Thanks guys!

Hi, I'm a newbie and was just searching on google for Moor Allerton Hall Primary School and came across this post. MAH is our nearest and we've been allocated it (failed to get into Gledhow or Chapel Allerton). Sadly, we don't know anyone locally who has either applied or been allocated it. Was wondering if there was anyone on this site who lives locally who has been allocated it?

I know this sounds a little bit needy - but it would be great if anyone who has been allocated there who lives locally was willing to meet up - I'd really like my little boy to meet some potential school friends before he starts! He's currently at the University nursery (which is soo fantastic) but a downside of this is that his friends live all over Leeds.

Cheers
Joanne

Hi Joanne
Was just googling the school myself for the same reason and came across your post. My daughter has been allocated MAH despite it not being a preference and 4th closest to us. She is currently going to Adel Primary nursery.

If you are still keen to meet up with someone let us know. My daughter will not know anyone there either so would be good to get a familar face

Cheers
Kris

Hi Kris

That would be great, it will be good for me as well as my son! I'll message you my contact details and we can arrange a time to meet. It is our nearest and we did put it down as a choice as all the other schools near us are so oversubscribed and this year was even worse than last year for people getting their first or second choice. We're on the waiting list at Gledhow and Chapel Allerton, but won't know till mid May where we are and therefore whether we have any chance of getting in (Gledhow extremely unlikely I should think, and probably so for CA too). All the kids that my son knows locally are going to different schools (CA or St Mathews mainly)

I did go and visit MAH and actually thought the staff all seemed very friendly and the place did have a nice feel to it. The kids there seemed happy. From what I can tell, there's been some inadequate teaching in the past but they have actually replaced 5 members of teaching staff in the last year or so and the recent Ofsted report, though not glowing, suggests that children's progress is on the up. The new staff are all newly qualified so that could be good (enthusiasm, new ideas, not worn down by the system) but could also have -ves (lack of experience). They've also go a new head, (previous deputy) so that's got to be a good thing. A friend of mine went to look round and felt the school didn't have the same resources as other schools but probably not when you compare it to Gledhow or Talbot.

I've also spoken to the head of reception and she seemed to know her stuff and what I liked about her was their focus on treating children as individuals and ensuring children felt happy and cared for at school. I've asked the school whether they will have a website and they are apparently working on one. My husband, it turns out, actually knows someone at work who's son started last year and they say its great and are happy with it. The receptionist there I spoke to seemed to think the school was on the up (she has a daughter in year 6 there). This is also borne out by some of the parent responses on the Education Leeds website regarding the proposed plans to have primary provision at Allerton Grange - they feel MAH is improving and are concerned that a through school at AG would threaten MAH.

Well, anyway, sorry for yabbering on. I think what I'm trying to say is that - its probably not as bad as local gossip makes out and that it is improving. And - probably what it is crying out for is parents to get involved and help support that change.

Joanne

Hello,
I just thought I'd some points, I know the last post was a few weeks ago but my little boy has been allocated MAH also even thought our preferences were gledhow,talbot and chapel A.
Joanne and Kris I would also be interested in meeting up for a familiar face if this suits? I know the school a bit because my little boy started the nursery there after easter, I realy struggled to find him a nursery place anywhere local after moving back to Leeds from four years spent living elsewhere and rang MAH as a last ditch attempt,I'd never heard of it until then when they said they had a spare nursery place. So far I've been impressed, as my little boy is settling in and is happy, but because i don't know too many people in the area it would be nice to get to know some more!
I agree with the points above; MAH will have stiff competition from gledhow and talbot but with 'parent power' and good leadership of course the school can improve. Plus I don't think bad sat results necessarily equals a bad school, the teachers I have met all seem enthusiastic and interested especially the reception/nursery head. This is the first time I've written on mumsnet so apologies if a bit waffly!

Hi Mberry

It would be great to meet! Good to hear that your little boy is settled into nursery there and happy. Yes, I agree, the staff I have met seem on the ball and SATs results are not necessarily reflective of the quality of the school. Besides - there is more to a school that its SATs results! I'll message you my contact details - I'm not entirely sure how it all works - does it just get sent to your e-mail address? Anyway, hope you can access.
Joanne

Hi all, my son is currently coming to the end of reception year at Moor Allerton and I can understand where you are coming from because I felt the same as you all last year. This was not my preferred school by any means but I have to say that all the positives that you are mentioning above are correct. My experience of the Foundation Unit are very positive and my son absolutely loves it. He loves going to school and his learning is coming on really well, I cannot fault the teaching and the way the staff interact with parents and children. When I speak to friends who have children at Talbot and Gledhow they are jealous of the friendly and welcoming relationship I have with the teachers - their door is always open and they are really supportive and caring. There have been changes to staffing and the school is currently looking to recruit a new head teacher, but at present the acting head (previous deputy) and acting deputy head are doing a good job. The governing body is working hard to improve standards and the recent OFSTED recognises the recent improvements which have been made. The school is heading in the right direction and the staff are committed to this. This year there are more local children attending the school and the PTA has been revived. The PTA are planning a summer fair on the afternoon of the 15th July and all new parents should receive an invite so I really would suggest you come along, you could chat to current parents and get a feel for what is going on. Hope this is helpful, but let me know if you have any other questions and I will try to help. Also the school website went live this month - so have a look for that too.

hi all
we have been having a look at MAH and are planning on visiting the school 24Th June and hopefully put our daughters name down.
we have been highly disappointed with the educ Leeds.
we are applying for our first born for a primary school, I didn't realise how stressful it can be.
we had originally applied for gledhow, Kerr Mackie and roundhay St Johns.
all were declined and we were allocated parklands primary. am sorry but that school shouldn't even be allowed to run. we are not posh but we do have standards. having given our daughter the best possible start in life by attending Leeds Montessori and then Gledhow, we needed a primary school to follow suit. having been told about MAH, we were unsure but after reading a few comments esp tphillips comment about after being with the school for a year and how the feelings matched as to we are feeling at the moment, it has made our choice easier. although room for improvements, am sure if the parents get involved in support, it can shine through

Hi all

tphillips - thanks for that information, its good to know that our impressions are accurate! I've now been to the open evening and we visited the school last Tues afternoon and my son really enjoyed himself (little boys bonding by running up and down the play ground together!). The teachers are lovely and everyone there seemed happy and friendly. Will put the 15th July in the diary - we might be away then but would really like to come if I can. Do you have the web address for the website - it doesn't yet come up when I Google the name of the school? Hope to get involved with the PTA and meet some new friends. My husband is taking my son for another visit tomorrow pm as we can't do the one on 5th July - teachers were really flexible and happy for us to do this.
J

Found it! School website:
moorallertonhall.leeds.sch.uk/

Hi

My kids went to MAH for reception and I have a bag of logo polo shirts and jumpers free to a good home if anyone wants them. I'm in LS8.

I thought you might like to know that MAH has just been given a rating of 'good' by ofsted and the full report is on the ofsted website www.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/files/2088091/urn/107915.pdf