Riversdale primary school wandsworth

[sashmeister]

Does anyone have any experience of this school?
The ofsted report isn't very good, but I've heard good things about the school and the staff.
I would have loved to hear more parents view.
Many thanks!

Is this the one in Balham? If so, thought it was a very chichi school full of the chattering classes?

In Southfields? It did have a reputation as an under achieving school but I think it has improved a lot in the past couple of years.

Problem is that children who have failed to get into their first choice schools go there until a place comes up in Wimbledon Park Primary, or St Micheal's etc and they then leave which may be a bit disruptive.

Have you visited? There's a swimming pool in the basement apparently!!

...St Michael's

Yes, I meant the one in Southfields, Merton road.
Thank you for your answers.

I haven't visited yet, but I saw that they had their own swimming pool, and also that all the playgrounds were brand new. I am not worried about the building or facilities which look great but more about their results and the fact that, as you rightly pointed out, parents tend to avoid the school (although surrounded by 3 " outstanding" schools with the tiniest catchment areas).
That's why I would love to hear from parents who have some recent experience of the school.

I'm sure better help will come along but it the meantime I know a few children who started at Riversdale in Sept 2009 (reception). All left by the middle if yr 1 when places in chosen schools came up. However my friends reported that they were v impressed by teachers, standard of teaching and their children's achievements.

On a negative note they said there was a real lack of parental involvement and interest in the school, something the school was trying hard to redress. I also don't think there was/is a culture of after school etc which is a shame.

So thumbs up for teaching, but not for parental involvement in school or after school socialising.

Damn IPhone .. Culture of after school playdates...

I live just around the corner. My kids aren't school age yet but what I have heard echoes what celia76 said about it being second choice school for kids that didn't get into Sheringdale, St Michaels or Wimbledon Park. I have a heard a few people saying recently that it gets a bit of unfair bad press & that it seems to be 'on the up'. Sorry not to be able to give more info.

Just to update this chain to 2015 comments, Riversdale is much improved. See recent inspection report - www.riversdaleprimaryschool.co.uk/ourstandard.asp?pageid=153

Just topping up an update as I know ofsted is coming out this week and concerned parents flock to the internet as we did last year. Our daughter ended up at Riversdale and we were gutted, hoping to join friends and enjoy a shorter commute to WP. That said it turns out Riversdale is a fantastic school, the PTC is extremely involved, and raising fund for this and that has never been an issue. Comparing notes and our experience has been similar as other nearby state schools thus far in terms of finding a communal fit and quality of teaching.

Also because of the oversubscribed outstanding schools nearby that draw in many area children, Riversdale tends to have smaller (more intimate) class sizes akin to a private school. So for the time being, I'd call it a diamond in the rough.

The only downside is that it does seem a bit more transient than the already transient London city schools. Basically by Y4, many children peel off for private school or state schools out of town.

Anyway, fear not, Riversdale rocks!