Anyone have children at Lauriston primary school Victoria Park?

[brandnewtothis]

Hello
We need to move, so are having to consider the primary schools in the areas we are thinking about.. Does anyone have kids at the Lauriston? It obviously has an amazing ofsted, but I'd be really interested if anyone has any experience of the school that they could share.
Thanks so much, much appreciated.

I have family members there and know that they are very happy with it.

Just check how close you need to live to get in. I think you have to live very very close iirc. It is supposed to be very creative and has a brand new building. I've heard it can be very cliquey (parents and children) but that's just the grapevine. Go and see it.

Thanks to you both, very helpful. I have been to see it and it seemed great, but as you don't actually go into most of the class rooms I'm just curious to find out a little more... If it's really worth it we'd try to find something in the teeny catchment area, though that doesn't seem to be easy...

SIL's daughter went there for Nursery but failed to get into Reception because they lived about 40 metres too far away. Very, very happy with the school though whilst she was there - think it is the most middle-class school in the Victoria Park area but whether that's a good thing is another matter !

I live in the area and yes Lauriston it is the most middle class, but other schools are now getting so good that I think this will change drastically over the next few years. Schools like London Fields (i.e. also Outstanding, but a bit more formal and structured) seemed to be the favourites among middle class parents this year. The trouble with Lauriston is that you have to practically live next door to get a place there. I know someone who only lives a few roads away and her DC is something like 18th on the waiting list for Reception. Also, the lists don't really move - they take a high proportion of SEN children so thus the intake area is small. I also believe that Hackney is cracking down on people who rent temporarily to get a place there. I heard this year they were investigating people who moved into the area within a year of application to the school. so I'd be careful about that.

Other options are Orchard which has just had major refurbishment and is also lovely school. London Fields (as mentioned) is now excellent and highly in demand. Gayhurst, at the top of London Fields is the other school in the area that is very middle class and creative. It has a new Headteacher coming in September. It's intake is 75 so it is easier to get a place there. Other good schools in the wider area are Bonner, Queensbridge, Chisenhale, Globe or Columbia Road. HTH

p.s. I agree it has a reputation for being cliquey. And I've often heard it called 'the Boden school'.

There are lots of good primary schools the other side of the park as someone else said - but you need to live close to any of them. Not as close as to Lauriston though! Olga, Chisenhale, Bonner, Globe and Bangabandhu all have good reputations and I know children who are happy at all of them.

Thanks very much everyone, gives me a lot to think about, there does seem to be a lot of great hackney schools so think we'll definitely broaden our horizons beyond the Lauriston.