Primary Schools in Hove

[cherisebh]

Hi,

We are moving down to Hove in June from Surrey and need to find a good school for my son Charlie who will be 4 in June. So will be looking for a reception place.

I have spoken to local council/education dept. and they have said i cant request a place until we have exchanged contracts which should be in the next 2 wks.

The 10 closest schools to the new house are:

1.West Hove Infants (Connaught Road)
2.West Hove Infants (Portland Road)
3.Blatchington Mill
4.Davigdor Infant School
5.Goldstone Primary
6.Stanford Infants
7.Benfield School
8.Hangelton Infant School
9.West Blatchington Primary School
10.Middle Street Primary School

Any comments good or bad about any of these schools (or any in the areas actually except religious schools) would be really really appreciated.

Thanks,

Cherise

Blatchington Mill is a large senior school so cannot understand why they gave you that one?

You have not been given the three Hove Church schools? (Aldrington CE, St Andrews CE and Cottesmore RC.) All seriously oversubscribed but then again so are most Hove schools!

Middle Street is right in the middle (hence the name) of Brighton centre. Absolutely no chance of getting in there if you live in Hove. Stanford is also in Brighton but there's a chance of a place.

Benfield was a junior school up until last year and now has reception and I presume yr1 pupils.

I honestly wouldn't be unhappy with any of the schools listed (and my DCs went to one of them and were both very happy). All depends where you fancy living in Hove as this will dictate which school your child will get into.

Good luck

I used to live in Brighton. You need to be realistic as you will be a late application or in year admission which means that you will be looking for a place after everyone else has theirs. Most of those schools are over subscribed so you would need to live very near to be in with a chance of a place off the waiting list.

I disagree with Mutteroo re Standford - it was very popular and unless things have changed you need to be very near or you don't stand a change. I know someone who applied in year, was only a couple of streets away and didn't get a place until they applied for the junior school a couple of years later.

Davigdor, Middle street, Hangleton Infants and West Hove have also been oversubscribed in the past and I imagine still are. Goldstone and Benfield were less popular so I don't know where you would stand with that one or if there is good reason for its lack of popularity. On the plus side most of the schools are 2 or 3 form entry so there may be more movement on waiting lists.

Have you considered St Peters in Portslade - also normally oversubscribed - it might be a c of e school but I can't remember. A friend of mine was very happy with it. Portslade Infants is another to consider as they might have places.

I know someone with a DC at Hangleton Infants and they are happy.

If you look on the school admissions bit on the council website you should be able to see the distances (and other criteria) that children got into schools in previous years. I image that this years info will be out at some point soon ish.

I can't image you will really have much choice re schools. It is hard enough to get a place (especially in Hove) when appling on time. I know it sounds depressing but you need to be realistic. On the plus side it is a lovely place to live and there used to be (and I think still) is another round of admissions for junior schools if you don't get what you want.

Good Luck!