Dagenham Primary School?

[Bluewednesday]

Are there any mums from Dagenham area that could advise me on school choice? My closest one is Southwood, but I've heard Valence is the best (actually the only ok one). Any thoughts?

I went to Valence a very very long time ago. Sorry I don't have any up to date information. It always had a very good reputation, but just like anywhere I'd go and have a look around.
(BTW I knew someone who ended up At Oxfrod and I think she started at village?)

Valence has had several changes of head in the last few years. Current head came in after an acting head had to rescue after a poor Ofsted. Monteagle featured in an inspiring C4 docu-series about 3 years ago about reading. Head then seemed totally fab, but she too has possibly moved on. Depending on your DC's age, you might want to think ahead and look at which secondaries they feed into, because Robert Clack is by far and away the best.

I was thinking about either Valence, or Southwood. The latter is the closest, has no bad Ofsed reports and more kids passing their exams, but it doesn't seem so popular with applicants (last year only 155 people applied, when Valence had 230 applications). So I was wondering why, maybe there is something about the school that I don't know?