Primary places in Tonbridge

[Mawi49]

Hello
We are almost about to exchange on a house in Tonbridge and I have just found out that My DD (currently year 5)does not have a space in any of the 3 schools I choose. We live out of county, so It is not easy to visit.
She has been offered a place at LongMead school. We are really not happy with this selection but the admissions don't seem bothered. We were told we could appeal but after going through the horrendous process I have no faith in the system.
So, has anyone else gone through the same thing?

Does anyone know anything about Longmead in Tonbridge? It seems to be the only school with a space for a year 6.

Has anyone won on appeal?

We're are sceptical about exchanging now as we dont want her to go to a bad school when she is already achieving above average grades.

Thanks in advance:)

Hello,
I dont really know about Longmead. We moved to Tonbridge a couple of years ago & went directly to the schools we wanted & were offered a place at one. When we went to the council with our forms, they told us the school was full & offered us Longmead. We knew there was definitely a space (two actually) at our preferred school but they insisted it was full & that we took Longmead until the Head intervened.
Check out the schools in person (Note - over the phone is not so effective as turning up in person & showing keenness!) as they may have a space or know if one will be opening up shortly. Have you looked a little further afield such as the schools in Hildenborough?
good luck

That's really helpful thank you.

I am going to visit Hildenborough tomorrow and a school in Shipbourne, which is a small village school. I know nothing about either of them but at least it will be in person. Looking forward to the 7 hour round trip!

I'm just not sure how it will work at the moment with the Kent admissions because I did not get any of my 3 requested schools on mynapplication and I have to appeal against the decision. My worry is that if I request different schools I will not be able to appeal against the original 3 I requested.
Who made this system so complicated!

Are you planning for her to sit the 11+? That is in September I think, so not too much time for the school to have an impact, on performance. Could you tutor for 11+ home educate for a while until a place comes up?

The Long Mead/Waveney estate in Tonbridge isn't a good address. I don't know what the school is like or whether their intake is entirely from that area so I may be doing the school a disservice. Hildenborough is nice, Shipbourne is very pretty.

Thanks for responses. I will visit the two schools mentioned above and if they ar not going to work, then I think I will homeschool for a while until the appeal is heard.
That's really interesting flapjack hamster about the Longmead/Waveney estate. I'm now a bit concerned that we may be purchasing a property near there!!! Could be wrong but I will check it out.

Will update you all Friday.

Thanks for the support.

Mawi49

That's really interesting flapjack hamster about the Longmead/Waveney estate. I'm now a bit concerned that we may be purchasing a property near there!!! Could be wrong but I will check it out.

Well, if you want to let me know which road you're buying in I can give you an idea of its lovely-rating. Tonbridge can be so hit-and-miss, because you'll get a fantastic road with a fabulous school right next door to an area which isn't quite so nice.

The best school, AIUI (haven't reached that stage yet) is Woodlands primary, but there aren't many bad schools around here. The Grammar and Private sector is strong here, so the comps are kept on their toes.

Hi
Yes, Woodlands was my first choice. Followed by St Margaret's, then The Slade.

The house is on Hawthorn Walk, which is believe is classed as Willow Lea! Not sure if that is what the development is called. The word Weald Park springs to mind.
Really honest opinions would be very welcomed.

Thanks

Haha, you're about 150 yards from me. I'm in Willow Lea. We've been here since December.

Hawthorn Walk is nice, same group of Gough Cooper 30s and 60s houses as Elmshurst Gardens and Willow Lea. No pub since it was turned in to a Sainsburys () apart from the Ivy House (45min walk) and the Chaser (45min walk across fields), but safe and friendly.

Oh wow, what a small world!! I can't believe it. I live hours away and one of the two people that answer live that close, unbelievable.

How do you find the area and have you settled in well?

Oh wow, what a small world!! I can't believe it. I live hours away and one of the two people that answer live that close, unbelievable.

How do you find the area and have you settled in

Thank you Toughasoldboots, very useful. Appeals still looking the most likely option, not sure if it will get me anywhere though

I wish we could :(

Yes have thought of it but we currently live in an area where there is no 11+ and she has not been tutored for it. We would like her to try as she does have good attainment levels(5cs) but not sure with all the upheaval and stress of moving that we will even have time to do anysort oftutoring. Iveread that children are tutored for years beforehand so feel like we've missed the boat on that one.

Yes have thought of it but we currently live in an area where there is no 11+ and she has not been tutored for it. We would like her to try as she does have good attainment levels(5cs) but not sure with all the upheaval and stress of moving that we will even have time to do anysort oftutoring. Iveread that children are tutored for years beforehand so feel like we've missed the boat on that one.

I think tonbridge school do some suummer intensive courses, also you can buy/ download test papers. Some of the tutoring is to fill in the gaps, e.g. If someone is poor in maths. Other than that it is about familiarisation and understanding what is expected on the reasoning papers. Not that my dc have got that far yet. I would certainly look into doing example papers, as I remember from my 11+ (which I passed in the days before tutoring) that some of the questions were just wierd unlike any other exam.

Mawi49

^Oh wow, what a small world!! I can't believe it. I live hours away and one of the two people that answer live that close, unbelievable.
How do you find the area and have you settled in^

Well we've rented in Tonbridge for 7 years (waiting to buy) but only moved here recently. I like Tonbridge. The high street isn't anything to write home about, but the people are nice, there's a farmer's market in Shipbourne every Thursday morning, one in Hildenborough every Tuesday morning, a huge one in Tonbridge 2nd Sunday in every month.

To answer a couple of your other questions, Tonbridge School does offer a huge range of educational and sports courses during the summer hols. It is worth trying to squeeze in some tuition if you're considering Grammar, and if you're moving to Tonbridge you should consider it. There are plenty of people who offer it and plenty more who want it for their children. My mum retired from teaching in a prep school in April, and has been inundated with requests for tuition for 11+ and GCSE.

If I had to choose between shipbourne and hildenborough I'd go for shipbourne. Hildenbrough is 2 form entry whilst shipbourne is a v tiny school with only 2 classes (maybe 3 can't remember it was about 4 years ago when I last went there) Easier to get to from williow lea you don't have the rat run riding lane to negotiate.

smc sometimes go over the 45 in one year if there is a deficit in a neighbouring year - if you get nowhere with Hildenborough or Shipbourne go and knock on the door of smc and ask to see Mrs Whittle. When my dc were there, (youngest left 3 yrs ago) they did a walking bus from Willow Lea area

Toughasoldboots

flatpackhamster I might know your mum- very small world in west Kent

With a name like that, you probably are my mum