West London RCs ...

[duedec2]

First, apologies for asking so many questions about Catholic primaries in London. It's really boring of me.

But, I'm in India and preparing to move back to London after four years, with two new children, and I am trying to work out where we should live. Am Catholic and want to send my children to an RC primary that is sound academically and pastorally.

It seems that there is a greater number of such schools in West London than any other area. Which are the best? Larmenier? (pricey housing I know)? St Augustines nearby? Is the Good Shepherd good? Does anyone happen to know any suh schools that have a good track record of getting children into selective private schools at 11? (ones in expensive areas I am guessing).

THANKS

Ealing - St Benedicts? private
or St Augustine's private girls

lots of lovely Catholic primaries in Ealing (you have to look at the Ofsteds and decide for yourself) - don't know about getting them into private secondaries though - most of us move onto Catholic High Schools which are also sound academically and pastorally Most state primaries aren't there to train dcs to get into private secondaries. That would be up to you as parent to re-inforce with extra tutoring etc if that was your choice.

I do find it rather an odd question to ask which state primaries will get your children into private school. Surely the question is, which are the good schools?

You might not have a choice. Good schools are oversubscribed and catholic schools have there own criteria. For example children have to baptised before 1 year or some schools even 6 months old and you have to be active in the local church.

Larminier is prob the top catholic school in that area.

Most children that I know of who go from state to private get tutored privately anyway to get them through the entrance exams.

What ages are your children now? I just moved out of Hammersmith but I have a 4 year old so done lots of research on the catholic schools in west London.

Not necessarily true of the primaries (the baptism rule I mean...I know plenty of children baptised after two years who are in our RC primary school. The application might include some information about how often you go to church or contribute to the life of your parish, but if you have young children you are not expected to be all singing dancing pillar of community, just to go to mass regularily.
London has lots of good state primaries which are not church schools btw! But their catchments can be much smaller than church schools.

Saint Vincents -Acton
Mount Carmel- Ealing
I think they are feeder schools for Gumley House and Gunnersbury as well as sending some children to the Oratory and Cardinal Vaughns. Private schools in Ealing are St Benedicts and St Augustines, neither of them are known to be highly selective academically.

Thank you ... My oldest child is 2.5, sienna - which schools in and around hammersmith do you rate? Swanriver, I know, I phrased that Q poorly, but I don't think I'm alone hoping for a school that gives the best chance of children doing well in exams later (with other help, tutoring too of course). Of course I don't think its their job to get children into private schools. a thorny area, this!

I mean entrance exams. Tho I'd prefer a stellar comp, of course. Thanks all

Not sure if is far enough west, but the Oratory in Chelsea is very prized and sends its graduates out to a mixture of state and private.

St Osmund's in Barnes. Pricey housing though.

Sue52, I'm at one of those two CV is now very difficult to get into from Ealing area, as they've changed admissions criterion. Oratory is lottery only.

I meant the Secondary Oratory.