schools in Isleworth

[anukis]

Hi, re-posting this from local forum hoping there is more audience here.

I'm planning on moving to Isleworth soon, with my 3.5yr old daughter (she's due to start reception in September - yes I know regular registration deadline has just passed so I'm going for the in-year admission route).

I'm a single mum and not driving so proximity to school is very important. I'm also working FT so need to be close to either Osterley tube or the bus that takes me to Chiswick where I work (I believe it's #267). Also would be nice to be close to shops and in a safe area.

Giving all these constraints... now the main questions: considering the priority/catchment areas - which schools are considered good vs not so good and why? I've already looked at Ofstead reports so I'd really appreciate your opinion. I'm only considering regular schools since we're not church goers.

And, where should I consider renting (I guess the answer would be as close as possible to the good schools? :)?

Any tips are appreciated - I did a bit of walking and some viewings but would love to hear from a local.

Thank you!

ps. I'm interested in hearing especially about these schools:

Isleworth Town Primary
Marlborough Primary
Smallberry Green Primary
Spring Grove Primary
Worple Primary

Hi Anukis
My kids go to Marlborough and have thrived there ? certainly the pastoral care that the school offers is second to none. I?ve also heard good things about Isleworth Town and Worple in terms of being a welcoming environment. Don?t know much about Spring Grove, but it appears very popular but you would probably have to be nearer Hounslow to get in. Hounslow has got rid of individual school catchments for 2012 entry and the system seems more closely based on distance from the school (with sibling priority). So I guess you want to be as near to a school as possible.

I would be slightly careful with league tables as the church schools are much sought after and IMHO can distort the intake at the other schools. For example the church schools have 2-5% of kids on free school meals while Worple, which is 100m away from them, has 35-40%. Not surprising as the church school have very demanding (church) attendance requirements to get in and you have to be very committed for an extended period of time.

One other point to make is that although all the schools (I think) are full in the earlier years the turnover can be very quick so don?t despair if you are put on a waiting list. I think 5 or 6 kids have left my eldest?s class to move away in the last year and this is just one of three in the year.

The 267 route can be a bit rubbish so if you are wanting to go to Chiswick I would recommend being close to the 235/237 routes that regularly run along the London Road. This could be close to any of the schools on the list except perhaps Worple. Living near Osterley, though leafier, would limit the school choices a bit more and you are likely to be going the ?wrong way? to drop off kids at the Isleworth schools.

Isleworth is a mixed area so there are a few characters about but I have never felt unsafe walking around. You won?t find a wide range of shops but there are clusters of independent stores around St John?s Road and also in Old Isleworth. The riverside area is nice but less convenient for getting to Chiswick or the mainline station. There is a newly renovated playground in St Johns Road but there are decent parks across Isleworth but maybe less so as you get towards Brentford.

Hope this isn't too long ? let me know if you want any more information.

Thank you very much for all this information - it is extremely helpful for me.

Where are your favorite spots in Isleworth - if you were to move in now? And which areas should I definitely avoid? :)

Best,
A.

ps. I might get in touch closer to the move in date if you don't mind.

Avoid Ivybridge but I think it isn't on you rbus route requirements anyway.

That's a hard question and it will come down to things like your budget and if you want a house/flat etc. I really like the area between Isleworth Station and St Johns Gardens - Linkfield Road etc. Very convenient for buses/trains, shops and schools (I'm a non driver too). The Woodlands Estate is very nice as are parts of Old Isleworth such as Algar Road/Silverhall street. I'm less keen on Old Isleworth but purely because I need to be an easy walk from the train station. Spring Grove roads such as Thornbury Road and The Grove are also very nice but quite pricy! Houses to either rent or buy are harder to come by and seem to get snapped up quickly - you may have more choice if you go for a flat.

Ivybridge is a tower block estate so has its challenges though it has been improved in recent years. No other areas to avoid other than to point out that Isleworth is not Richmond or Chiswick so the area is mixed. You will find social housing areas next to owner occupier suburbia but as I said before I've never felt unsafe walking about.

Just noticed you work full time so you may want to check out after school provision at each of your options (unless you have alternative arrangements). The Marlborough after school club is full with a long waiting list for example so if you are relying on wrap around care you may want to check.

PS My advice about the 235 bus was wrong as it stops in Brentford - still think you would be better on the London Road area though!

@Logopolitan:

thank you very much again, this is priceless for me! and thanks for the afterschool club tip - yes I do need it, if not I will have to find a childminder option.

I wish I could afford a house but I'm afraid I can only go for a 2-br apartment at the most. I might actually rent at first, as I don't think I can find something that quickly - current lease expires in June.

Off a nice road and near to Spring Grove school. Not sure how far the catchment goes though...

A whole house really near to shops and station. I used to live near here and it was nice when I lived there.

Thank you very much cece, is the Spring Grove school a good option?

Priority area for Spring Grove is here. Some schools list their priority areas.

www.hounslow.gov.uk/index/education_and_learning/schools_and_colleges/primary_schools.htm#spring

I do not know much about the school. I haven't lived there for a few years now but I do know the headteacher and she is lovely.

Hi All, I am a bit confused can you please help.
I am planning to move to riverside walk, isleworth, any idea on this area ? I live in ealing so i dont know anything about this area. My husband looked the area and he liked it, which I beleive is not a enough reason for us to move so thought to ask on this forum :(, any inputs will be helpful

The other thing I am confused is, If the put the postcode of riverside walk, I get the closest primary school as Spring Grove but If I look at the Priority admission report, riverside walk is not at all mentioned anywhere. Will my kid still be accepted at Spring Grove ?

Thanks, Divs

I used to live in Woodlands Grove which is not far from Riverside walk. I lived there about 10 years ago. The woodlands estate was always nice I thought. Not sure which school you would get into from then as it was in my young free and single days. I think my old neighbours sent their children to Marlborough but not 100% sure abotu that.

Riverside Walk is nice - your husband has good taste. There is no through traffic as well as the river nearby which makes it quite peaceful.
Under the old priority admission areas, Riverside Walk was in the Hounslow Town school catchment but you would probably be able to get into Isleworth Town either. Spring Grove isn't actually that near - I think the problem is that the estate agent maps use the 'as the crow flies' distance' which makes it looks the closest on paper. However the railway track being in the way makes the distance by road/footpath a lot longer!

As I said before, Hounslow is getting rid of individual school catchments from September 2012 and moving to distance but I guess the old road listings are still the best indication of what is near the school.

Thanks cece and Logo :)
sorry for asking more :( but just one more question
I am feeling so good to see people responding, i am liking isleworthians..:)

The walking way from Isleworth station to riverside, is it safe ? I know it is a bit quiet area but safety is more a concern. I have always been living near the stations and high street, though high streets are more bad than a quiet residential area but to get a relief I wanted to check.
Looking around the area in afternoon, it was very quiet and decent people around but while coming from ealing crossing hounslow high street I was a bit down, saw alot of druggies on the hounslow high street :(.

And the second reason for why I ask this ques was, I noticed almost every house had ADT alarms setup, which is not very normal at least not in Ealing side of area. so was wondering why people had alarms, is it something to be carefull all the time ?

Hounslow is rubbish, rough and rank. You would have been better off approaching Isleworth from the Richmond/St Margarets side.

I would not use the cut through from the station that goes behind the shops on my own at night but you can go around the shop way. I always used to wonder around at night and felt safe. Not sure about the alarms situation.

divs59, it looks like Riverside walk is currently in the priority area for Hounslow Town primary.

www.hounslow.gov.uk/hounslow_town_paa.pdf

Hi anukis and cece,

many thanks for your responses it helped alot in building my confidence :)

divs :)

hi everyone, me again. how is the area close to W thames college? i found something on Spring Grove Road &Thornbury road. that would be north of the rail tracks. on google view looks quite nice but i'm wondering about safety, being relatively close to London Road. is that a concern, closeness to london rd?

thanks!