Moving back to West London. Primary School advice would be great

[ljm2]

We're UK doctors working abroad & will return to the UK in time for our daughter to start reception class, but not in time for the Jan Deadline, probably returning the summer before, ie after all places allocated.

We were originally going to return to Hammersmith & Fulham, but am worried about primary schools there, were previously living between Melcombe/Sir John Lillie/Queens Manor, wondered if anyone had any good/bad experiences there. Given their large intake, I suspect they're likely to be the schools with left over places that would be allocated to us, though could be wrong. Any other suggestions for H&F schools? Unfortunately we wouldn't fill criteria for any of the Church schools, or be able to stretch to schools in private sector, unless is "alternative" school with significantly lower termly fees than 4K & upwards, I've seen in local area.

Alternative is to move to a surrounding borough ie Richmond, Hounslow, Wandsworth, Ealing. Any one know of areas to rent in that would give us a realistic chance of getting into reasonable schools in those areas? I appreciate we won't get much for our money housing wise in many places, but one of us will be working in NW London hospitals & one of us likely Surrey hospitals (we won't be told which till return time) so that part of London only realistic option for commuting.

H&F say we can't apply till we're resident in the borough, but I've bot yet heard from other borough's on what their rules are.

Any help gratefully received. Thanks.

Renting is not cheap around here, but SW13 has great primary schools and is a good mix of leafy suburb, mixed nationalities, and estates - if you like mixes (I do).

Both my dds are very happy in one of the primary schools, and that one definitely has a couple of Reception places unfilled as is just starting out as two-form entry - and is near Hammersmith Bridge, which gives you the option of Brackenbury Village/Hammersmith for rentals.

I suspect there are loads of great primaries in West London, though - secondary schools (at least in Richmond Borough) have traditionally been the Problem. Primaries are fine.

If you move to North Barnes, near Hammersmith Bridge (Richmond), you will be able to rent in the Lowther catchment. There are lots of former council properties, but lovely ones, with big gardens, parking spaces etc and in a gorgeous area. I don't have dcs at Lowther but know many people who do and from what i can see it's a fantastic and ever-improving school. L is increasingly oversubscribed but I think there were one or two places left this year. Easy commute to both Surrey and NW London from there. Good luck.

Sounds like Elibean is referring to same school as me!

Chiswick schools are mainly good but oversubscribed. Gunnersbury tube has the overground to north London which might work for a commute in that direction. I know children very happily at Maple Walk school in NW10, which has fees of £2,000 per term - I think there are a couple of schools in the group which strive to provide slightly more affordable private education. Heathfield House school in Chiswick is also more affordable (£2500 ish), but it's still an expensive route to go down.

If you rent a flat in Courtlands in Richmond you have a very realistic chance of getting into Marshgate Primary School as it's bang opposite! Also places in and around Manor Road (TW10) offer you choice of Marshgate/Holy Trinity. All primary schools in Richmond are excellent but some of them (Sheen Mount and Vineyard) are extremely expensive to live really close to. Weirdly, it's cheaper to rent (still bloody expensive but the places I mentioned are cheaper and still v nice) in Richmond than Barnes but you can get some more affordable (ha ha) houses to buy in Barnes than Richmond.

Yep, areyouthereitsmargaret, same school. There are definitely a few places left in Reception, maybe 4 or 5 across the two classes.

ljm2, if you decide you want to investigate further, feel free to PM me for information if it helps.

hello Castles

I've never asked a question on a mumsnet before, and am bowled over by how helpful the advice is, thank you so much all of you for taking the trouble to write. Richmond sounds like a good option. Don't suppose anyone's heard anything of H&F schools? Sorry, I wasn't clearer in my initial post, but it's actually for the next year all this is happening (embarrassingly I hadn't quite realised the time would come around so quickly & was a year out!), though it's encouraging to think that if there are places left over now, maybe there will be again..

My friends daughter is at a primary school on dalling road or v near there. She is v happy. Otherwise sheen temple sw14 or barnes primary sw13 excelleny

We're in Richmond, but be aware once the class applications close the classes are typically full, very, very full. Even if you live next door you won't get a spot unless someone else takes their child out of the class (and siblings, even if they live further away than you) get preference.

So lovely area, but getting into schools is a problem. Can't apply until you have a council bill showing your address, so basically if you don't move back until the summer you won't get a spot at Marshgate or the Vineyard until someone leaves.

We waited 8 months and still didn't have a single child move out of the class we were waiting for... so although the population is transient, you can be unlucky.

I agree that Lowther is a great up and coming school, the head teacher really impressed us. Also Holy Trinity seems to be a good school with places.

If you are interested in any Richmond schools, contact school admissions and see if they can tell you which schools are likely to have the extra intake (bulge year)... no guarentee, but might be easier to get in with an additional class.

Best of luck

We are in H&F and there is a good choice of primaries, including some Ofsted outstanding and good and some church schools. As others have said it has generally been more tricky at secondary but we have two new secondaries here now too. There are 3 schools that are operating bulge classes from Sept 11, which i would look into in the first instance, from memory Flora Gardens, Wormholt and one other, sure the info will be on the borough website.

The rules on when you can apply are the same nationwide - ie i think you will be classed as a late application wherever you end up, need proof of residency etc - but there are some very knowledgeable people on here who can help with admissions queries generally.

My daughter's alt loathed and we are happy with it too. Do you need a council tax bill? I only ask as I didn't provide one last year! Do they check electoral role maybe?

Haha, iPad!! I meant lowther not loathed!

Same other end of Richmond (south Twickenham /teddington) - good primary schools but if they are very oversubscribed so you may be in same position as other poster describes with vineyard if no place. Definitely worth ringing council admissions to ask but suspect answer may be that no guarantees on local place.

Could anyone recommend good schools in the twickenham area? Thanks

Can I suggest you post in Richmond local as lots of knowledgable people there- most of Twickenham ones I can think of are church (save trafalgar) .