Best primary school in SW11 (surrounding area)

[abbyfromoz]

DD is 2 and we need to start looking at primary schools. So far we have our eye on St Thomas' Battersea (very close to us). We are open to private or state- religious or non. Anyone with experience want to give me your personal opinions?

The parents I know who send their DCs to Thomas's are generally bankers or lawyers. They are extremely wealthy and describe the school as "monied". The foundation does a lot of good work in Nepal and in outreach to local schools. From what I understand children who do well there are extroverts, bold, want to go first types. It's a busy school with lots going on, which is fine if your DC is up for it. For what it is worth, these parents also have their DCs tutored out of school. Good luck with your decision.

The comment above by Amanda Payne is helpful but I'd like to add that
although I'm not sure of the situation in Australia ( perhaps could check on Wikipedia) it is not in fact compulsory to send your children to school between 5 and 16 in the UK. You must provide them with an education, but home education is completely legal. The majority of people do of course send their children to school , but I thought I'd add this comment because I am personally a definite supporter of the right to home educate in unusual circumstances. I think there is a website called Education Otherwise that would provide more information for anyone interested.

Yes, sorry, my previous post wasn't clear enough about the option of home schooling. It's right for a fairly small minority of people, but for those people it tends to be very right, IYSWIM.

Anyone has any experience with Thomas's Clapham or Newton Prep school? I can't really choose between these 2 schools.

Academically more or less the same, so I have to take into account other factors, which are very important too.
I like Newton Prep better (much more down to earth parents and teachers compared toThomas's Clapham, great facilities, etc.), but I just can't bear the location itself (on Battersea Road) Does anyone know where the Newton Prep families live...I am afraid quite far away as the school's location is very industrial, polluted.

As for Thomas's Clapham I agree with bluescissors' comments. Very snobbish feeling, and what I heard from other parents lots of extra tutoring (sometimes even hidden from other fellow parents). The only positive side compered to Newton Prep is the location.

DOes anyone have any other experience with these?

I think you've made your decision gobstoppers. It doesn't sound like you have a good feeling about Thomas's, and so I wouldn't send your child there just because it is in a better location. I too have heard that Thomas's parents are snobby, but I visited many schools, and found the parent reps I met at Thomas's to be very lovely indeed. I wonder is it an urban myth perpetuated by people who just want to knock it for their own personal reasons. Many also complained about the previous head, but the head changed last year. I've met the new head and was very impressed.

I know several families in Clapham who go to Newton Prep and so the commute is manageable. I visited Newton Prep and was also impressed by the facilities, but a bit concerned at the staff turnover (not just the head). I'm going with Thomas's myself (I felt they really distinguish themselves from other local schools with their broad curriculum and their "have a go" attitude to music, drama and sport") but I do think it is down to personal choice, and if you preferred Newton you should go for that. The commute will get easier as the kids get older, and Battersea Park isn't too far away.

I've got the Newton Prep Parents' Directory in front of me!

Children come from NW5 down to SW16 and TW1 across to E14.

It's a fantastic school, by the way. Inspiring teaching + learning and sparky kids.

Wow! Thanks KingscoteStaff, these are quite mixed locations..would be a bit tricky with the playdates!!

dinosaurinmybelly: Thank you for your comments, I agree with you, it is down to personal preferences to choose the right school...but as for me, sometimes it is enough to see some little thing that you don't like in a school and that could overpower your feelings towards that school and can be misleading.

So I am just about to understand what was the motivation of the different parents to prefer Thomas's Clapham to Newton prep and vice versa (bearing in mind that these schools are relatively close, so some parents might have faced with the same decision as me). There might be things that I missed, although I have tried to gather as many information as I could to ease this decision.

Well, we looked at both (admittedly 9 years ago...).

The difference we saw was in the Year 6 children who showed us round. We felt that the Thomases children were charming but a bit Stepford and a bit bland. The Newton children were all very strong personalities, clearly passionate about their school and their teachers. We walked out thinking 'I want DS to be like that in 9 years time!'

And he is!

Micro and Audrey101 - the admission distances this year's intake are here www.madeformums.com/local/wandsworth/discuss/24061.html