Good (or better!) non-denominational, non-uniform state primaries in N Ldn?

[NewJewels]

Due to a (potential) change in circs we may have to move from an area with good non-denominational, non-uniform mixed primaries to a North London suburb.

Would like to be able to provide the kind of education we'd planned for our children... So, any tips for areas with this kind of school very, very much appreciated! At a bit of a loss atm...

The 'tricky' bit of this one is likely to be the 'non-uniform wearing' part, as IME primaries that don't wear uniform are now quite rare (although the extent to which they enforce uniform rules varies).

How much of a non-negotiable is this for you? The presence or absence of a uniform may not, in itself, indicate the 'flexibility / freethinkingness' of a school, so you may be ruling out schools that you would absolutely love because they happen to have implemented a uniform policy.

I suppose what I'm saying is that uniform, of itself, is not necessarily an indication of 'kind of education' - so if you make this of over-riding importance you may miss out on schools offering exactly the type of education that you want IYSWIM? Could you perhaps define the 'values' that you would like the school to have, and then ask MN to suggest schools with those values / that ethos, regardless of the children's clothes? (My old school had an extremely 'un-uniform' approach to children and their learning BUT a uniform jumper because there had in the past been issues with a particular subgroup within the school 'looking different', and with the huge disparity in parental income across the school population. By having a school jumper, all children were seen by their peers as 'one of us' (bizarre, but true)

Have you looked at William Tyndale in Islington. I think the tick all those boxes

Have you looked at William Tyndale in Islington. I think the tick all those boxes

I think children actually like having a uniform. It makes them belong. It makes putting clothes on in the morning easy. It costs less. It stops competitive dressing, especially for girls. How many children have ever been held back because they have a school uniform? I have never met anyone, apart from Mumsnetters, who are anti uniform! Your child should go to the best school you can find to suit them....uniform wearing or not. There is a reason why most schools have a uniform and it is mainly because it promotes a sense of belonging and purpose. What is not to like about that? They spend more time out of uniform than in it.

Any particular N London suburb?

How far out are we talking? Islington isn't what I'd call suburbs!

Highgate Primary should work, also Rhodes Avenue Primary in Muswell Hill, maybe also Martin Primary in East Finchley (not sure if they have a uniform!)

No uniform at Muswell Hill primary or Tetherdown either.

Tetherdown!

Eleanor Palmer in Kentish town and Yerbury in Islington would meet your requirements. I think Brookfield Dartmouth Park is non uniform too. However the politics around getting any primary school place, let alone a sought after one, are for another thread .

This is what I mean - 'change in circumstances' to me sounds like tightening the belt, so I'd be surprised if it meant OP was in a position to get into the catchment of some of the most sought after schools in inner London boroughs. Presumed s/he meant further out - Finchley, Enfield, Barnet? Am south Londoner so can't help, but have read enough on here to know that Tetherdown is pretty much holy grail territory. Unless the OP is downshifting from Chelsea maybe...

OP, please can you clarify, what kind of areas are you considering?

Wow! Thank you all for the helpful suggestions (and the unasked for opinions on uniforms - I shall ignore them in child rearing but enjoy reading them here as I do appreciate I hold a minority view at present!).

We're currently in zone 1 so actually even Islington is further out although I know it wouldn't be for most - there are better value properties around than you might think!

If the career change happens we'd be best somewhere as close in as possible (bus/bike to work), on the Northern or Jubilee Line, or somewhere near large green areas (we have outdoor hobbies) such as Barnet or Mill Hill. Basically pretty open minded at this stage as schools v important to us and we'd def look at ex LA properties to be in the right area at an affordable price.

Reading the suggestions above I realise how much effort my parents put into this - I went to secondary school /very/ near Tetherdown myself. :-)

Thanks again all.

Have a look at Columbia Primary- near to old street for northern line, close to Victoria and Haggerston park, no uniform, great ethos and generally a fantastic school.

Perhaps not as far north as you'd like though.

William Patten N16

It may be worth having a look at the catchment areas for schools you like the sound of - I know Islington council show this. William Tyndale has an insanely small catchment area and it probably won't grow.

I agree re uniforms - I'd like our kids to go somewhere without a uniform.

Cru, I too would have liked my children to go somewhere without uniform - but I suppose the point I was making upthread was that it wasn't an absolute 'red line' when choosing schools (lucky really, since it's over 30 miles to the nearest school with no uniform from where we live). All other things being equal, I would have loved to send them to a non-uniform school.

Hey teacher - you're right, it probably shouldn't be a deal breaker.