Ok, so she didn't get through assessment for Wimbledon High School... What are my options?

[designerbaby]

Our very local state primary is grim. I'd honestly be gutted if she ended up there

One which almost as close (literally 5 minutes walk away) we're just (10 houses) out of catchment for (Wimbledon Chase for those in the know).

Me moved to the area recently so far too late for those which operate a "put 'em down when they're born" waiting list.

Missed the lottery for the Study.

We're a committed Christian family, and would love a CofE primary but our closest ones are Bishop Gilpin and Holy Trinity - both a fair distance so we'd have to apply for foundation places and not sure how that works TBH...

I'm feeling really anxious about it - do I have any other options?

Any advice either generally on how the various systems work or on specific schools would be much appreciated.

Can travel a bit if necessary ad I will be working freelance by the time she goes...

Please help if you can!
Thanks
db
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You are in the position that I anticipate I will be in next year. We are entering the Study lottery .
What about Roche in Putney vale or the Hall. The latter I turned down for DS but may revisit for DD ( different children).
For the Cof E schools you write an additional blurb on your application form and get signed off by vicar.
I assume your local is Joseph Hood?

Forgot the Ursuline.

What about Ibstock Place? Hurlingham? Prospect house? Old Vicarage? The Merlin?

Yep, Joseph Hood... It's just such a grim environment - even if the teaching was superb...

We're literally half a street outside the APA for Wimbledon chase, it's almost worse. No children outside the APA hit in last year.

I think I'll throw the net wide with the independents and hope something comes up... The Hall, The Study, Ursuline, Rowans (£££???) and then go through the state forms including all the CofEs with foundation places available...

I have a horrible feeling that even though we win't be putting Joseph Hood o the list it may be where she ends up.

We probably should have moved here sooner, or researched Wimbledon chase catchment more thoroughly - all we saw was that most of the children on our street seemed to go there...

I feel a bit of a rubbish mum about it all tbh.

We're on Cannon Hill Lane - are you close by? [curious/nosey]

db
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Oh, thank you fleet - x posts.... I'll look into them and enquire about waiting lists...

Thank you for taking the time to reply...

db
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I don't know that locale particularly but having been through the whole west London school rigmarole for two girls before and after a house move, my advice generally is that there will definitely be room at an independent somewhere. In my experience, parents put their names down on several lists as well as applying to their top local state schools so they have a back up plan. Also, west and sw London has a high rate of people moving out, especially once child no 2 comes along. There is a huge amount of movement on the independents lists in the year before reception starts so don't despair. Find a couple of schools you would be happy with, make friends with the admissions staff, contact regularly to let them know you are still interested in a space so you are not an invisible name on a list and you will find somewhere. One head of an overly-subscribed prep school told me, "If you really want your child to come here, it will be apparent to us, and your child will get an offer of a place." A prep school's worse nightmare is a parent who says their DC will come and then swaps choices right , left and centre as other offers come in. Make it clear to any school you really want that should you be offered a place, you will take it and will turn up. In writing if necessary.

Sorry I can't advise on the state church applications but there are many experts on this forum who will have profound advice. Good luck.

For the church schools it's best to attend the preferred churches because they get preference over other churches. For Bishop Gilpin it's St Mark's in the town or St Mary's in the village and a couple more in the Wimbledon Team. For Holy Trinity, it's Holy Trinity on the Broadway. I'm afraid you might be viewed with suspicion rolling up during the application period. However, if you had a letter from your usual vicar, you might get in on a lower preference. It would be worth a try.

I'm afraid you're way too far away for Merton Park, but Dundonald school is expanding so you may have a chance there.

I don't know Joseph Hood or the area at all - but it's stats don't look too bad.

Plenty of kids got L5 at Y6. Not a particularly high number of SEN kids. The stats don't ring any warning bells to me.....

Dundonald expansion is facing opposition and even if it does go ahead getting in if definitely not guaranteed unless you are close by.
I would have a private back - up ; we did with DS and used it and will definitely do the same for DD. It is one of big problems with the area - no-one in our street has a non-church place in a state school - everyone I know has gone privately.

Some of the stats for Joseph Hood ring warning bells for me. It is a typical 1 form entry primary school with an average number of special needs pupils (17.9%).
The average points score (which is a measure of maths, english and science at KS2) is going the wrong way, 28.0 in 2008, 27.5 in 2009 and 26.5 in 2010. i would be very interested to see the 2011 figures which should be out by now. Other concern would be the CVA figure which measures progress from KS1 to KS2. If the pupils all progress to the level expected then the score would be 100, actually it is 99.2%, with most of the pupils being in the school from KS1 to KS2. Looking at the figures the issue is maths where only 69% of pupils are making average progress.
The other document to look at is the OFSTED report, because they were inspected in July 2011. The result was a satisfactory school, but interestingly the inspectors singled out english for improvement not maths.
Again I would make the point that these results are more than 12 months old and before making a judgement go and see the school and ask for the most recent results for 2011.

Wow, thanks for all those carefully considered/researched responses - really useful stuff...

To be fair Joseph Hood's stats aren't terrible, but they're not all that encouraging either... But what really puts me off is the environment - run down, cramped, no outdoor space to speak of, shoehorned behind an Adult education centre and a Surestart centre... It's just a bit depressing, tbh, especially for my lively, outdoorsy run around girls, and not what I hoped for them.

Re: the church places, we made the decision very early on not to "play the game" rightly or wrongly... We've been attending our church (very out of area) for ten years - both as single people, then as a couple, now as a family. The church is our family, to an extent, and we wouldn't dream of leaving it for a school place... Don't get me wrong, in my weaker moments I do sometimes think "oh why didn't we just..." but really, it was never a realistic option for us. Bishop Gilpin at least 'stream' applicants by their level if involvement, and really, we couldn't be more involve where we are, so at least we're in band 2 for foundation places, we'll just have to hope for the best. I don't think we have a snowball's hope in hell for Holy Trinity, Priory or St Matthews, but we might as well fill in the forms and stick 'em down, it's not like we'd be cutting out heaps of other options!

Hillcross looks really interesting - I'm going in a tour on the 1st Dec. I'm a little puzzled why a primary with an 'outstanding' Ofsted report managed to offer places to 100% if applicants last year... I can't believe that the SW mummies haven't caught on and have a nagging fear it'll be hugely oversubscribed this year... Still we're only 800m door to door, so we ought to be in with a chance.

In other news (I've been a busy girl) I'm going to look round the hall school next Wednesday and they seemed optimistic about the prospect of a place being available... Something to do with being able to expand to meet demand? Anyone know anything more about this?

Also the Study seemed to indicate that they have a fair but of movement within their waiting lists and a place may well come up, so I'm registering there (they're waiving the fee until they are able to offer a place, which I thought was a kind gesture, and going to visit early January.

I'm also going to visit Ibstock and Prospect House, who were less optimistic but said it couldn't hurt to register in case a place arose mid-year or even for entry at yr1 if we weren't happy with where DD1 ends up... I really liked the look for Ibstock - a little unconventional a bit Steinery/Montessori-y was the impression I got.

Haven't contacted Hurlingham, old Vicarage or Merlin, or the Ursuline yet. Need to do a bit more homework on them first.

My plan is to basically get as many irons in as many fires as possible and see what happens...

Thanks so much again for all your help - any more info on any of the above - especially the Hall and The Study great fully received...

Sorry for the mahoosive post

db
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designerbaby I know one of the teachers at the state school you mention. From what I know, they are as hard-working and committed as at the other nearby schools. Be wary of a forensic examination of the stats or any fluctuations - the fact remains that children benefit from continuity and a child following through from Reception to the final year will do best of all. But in areas where there is a lot of mobility - particularly just before secondary school - small schools have a choice of either losing funding with the pupils or accepting e.g. two children at an early stage of learning English. So while your child is not disadvantaged by that it could lead to a fluctuation of 7% in the stats for a single year group. So don't panic or prejudge too early.

Putney Park? - They have a waiting list as well but I know people who got places easily very late in the day. A fair few people I know had it as their back up place should they not get into the state schools they wanted. I liked it a lot.

Also- Putney High's assessment is usually in January- unless they have changed it. (Although if were keen on WH you may not be so keen on PHS?).

if you want to better your chances of getting into bishop gilpin you need to get into the nursery first - it increases your odds - i dont undersand the criteria (!) but there were people living quite close with children NOT at the pre school who didnt get in , while those further out who had been at pre school did.

I'd imagine if you really get on the case and show you are keen you will get a Study place. Well known in the area that a (variable) number drop out each year having paid the deposit if they get WHS places. Lovely school.
What about Holy Cross? Catholic school, great reports (longer drive though - in Kingston).

I would definitely look at holy cross. Have friends with daughters there that rave about it and the girls all seem to go onto good schools.

The Study is your best bet. As Wildhaven said, it's a lovely school.

The Hall School's primary section is no better than most of the local state schools. Ursuline is better but not worth the money at this stage, IMHO.

You may be too late but it's worth trying The Rowans - very good mixed pre-prep school; they may have a place for a girl.

Having moved out of london a few years ago all I can suggest is that you develop a clear plan, not just for now but for later becasue the schools connundrum gets no easier. What you do now will effect any seocndary decision you make.

If you are genuinely commited christians then I would suggest ( if its not a wrench in terms of belief) that you choose a church with a school and worship there, become part of their community and they will look after you. There are probably thousands of pretend believers out there so your faith should shine through.

That would I think be your best bet for a good c of e school. As others have said there are lots of indepenedent schools. My experience is they are not all good but have all learnt to charge, so choose carefully.

My sympathies. it's a really difficult thing to go through, but everyone has the same problems, and like you I expect most just wish there was a nice little school around the corner they could go to..... not to be for most unfortunately.

Good luck

Ok, so my leg work seems to be paying off, but I now might have a dilemma of a different kind in my hands.

Spoke to the Study, Ursuline and the Hall (amongst others) on Thursday.

The study said they may have places available over the next few months, and it's well worth going on the waiting list as there's a fair bit of movement. My feeling is it looks like a great school if possibly quite pressured academically. Location ok - not really walkable (45 minutes up mahoosive hill) but a swift drive up back roads. A colleague at work (who went through all this three years ago) said he thought they were a bit uptight!? In the end he went with...

Ursuline. A fair bit less hot academically, it seems to me, but very nurturing. A smaller school, which might be nice. Location would be great as walkable from house. Another bonus is the fact that they have a nursery which we could put DD2 into when she hits 3, operating same timetable as primary - the idea of having both of them in the same place at the same time after six months within walking distance is REALLY appealing. The fees are less that other too - which since we're far from loaded would be, well, helpful... I am a bit concerned that the lack of academic focus might impact negatively on secondary options though.

The Hall says they can make space, apparently. We're seeing it on Wednesday. It's lovely to know there's a firm option out there, but I have a few concerns - I've read some negative stuff on other threads about it, and while I love the look of the site from what I've seen on the web it might be a bit of a pain to get to... I've questions about academic rigour, staff and pupil turnover... Just don't feel that convinced at the moment but will reserve judgement.

Our only likely state option I think will be Hillcross. I've a feeling it will be oversubscribed this year, but we're fairly close... I'm seeing it on Thursday morning so I'll have a chat with them and see what they're expecting. Re secondary, I figure the 8-12 k we'll be saving will pay for a heck of a lot of tutoring for any entrance exams/11+

So that's where we are...

I'm really so very grateful for all the thoughtful responses so far. It's been a real real help, I wouldn't have known to do what I've gone without your suggestions and encouragement.

Any opinions on my opinions on what you'd do in my position great full received, if that's not too cheeky

But really, thanks...

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P.s Sorry I can't scroll back (on iphone) to find out who said they had a friend teaching at Joseph Hood... I don't doubt the teachers are as hard working (if not harder working) than any others, I think they're doing an amazing job, but it's a tough gig, and in a variety of ways I want a lovelier environment for my girls if I can get it... I meant no disrespect to the staff who I don't doubt do their best for every child in their care.

Oh, and Helen, I know you're right about the church school thing.

But really, our church of 10 years is like family to us, and to make a move from there, and for somewhat cynical motives, really I don't think we could contemplate it.

That and the fact that theologically the local churches, despite also being CofE, are of a somewhat different style/attitude. We'll get support on the forms from our Vicar and just hope for the best, but I very much doubt we'll get anything.

So ironically our faith, and our commitment to our church family will probably rule us out of a going to a church school...

Go figure...

db
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