Blackheath Primaries

[BubandMiniBub]

I have ac1 yo DD and am trying to decide whether to accept a 3 day a week job offer.

If I go back to work, we can afford private schooling for DD and another sibling, if I don't, then we would struggle. I am having to look at schools now to help the decision about what to do.

We live 5 mins walk from Blackheath village but on the Greenwich side. Our nearest school is Brooklands but from research, it doesn't seem great. Does anyone know whether it's possible to get into John Ball if you live on the Cator Estate?

Last time I looked (2010 stats) Brooklands catchment was about 0.2m.
So hardly any of the cater would even get in!!!

John Ball's catchment has really shrunk this year as well (and I think it will stay the same or shrink even further next year). It's 540 metres this year (previous year was closer to 800/900 metres). There is a free map tool that you can use to map a radius around a postcode to see if there is a chance you will get into the school but be warned, we just learned from bitter experience that there is no 'guarantee' as such - we fell into a 'black hole' this year where all our local schools (we are in the Lee area, so next to Blackheath the other way from you!) are over-subscribed and practically halved their 'catchments' this year. And it looks like the problem is going to get even worse in the next few years in London. DS1 will now be going to a private prep school.

If you are keen on private, you need to start checking them out soon. There's plenty in Blackheath. We have seen most of them. Blackheath Prep has excellent facilities and brilliant atmosphere but takes only the 'best' (however you can define it at that tender age!) and will assess them at the age of about 2 and a half (??!!!). The Pointer School doesn't have as nice facilities and entrance is via a 'family' meeting with the head so it really depends on whether you like him or not (and vice versa). However, I think they are quite academically driven, which I like. There's another called Heath House, which is quite small and we haven't heard much about them one way or the other so never went to see it. There's also Colfe's (on Lee side) - massive school (nursery till 18) with excellent sporting facilities. Know parents who have kids there and it's very sporting-focussed and the primary very much feeds into the secondary so it's whether that's what you want. Good luck.

I'm not sure where you did your research but Brooklands is top of the league tables and recently got an Oustanding Ofsted. Did you go and visit the school as that is the best way to find out about schools. We didn't get into Brooklands at first but luckily our DD is there now and is loving it!