Does anyone know anything about Greenside Primary in Shepherd's Bush?

[irisblue]

Hello,

I am starting the whole (scary, hideous, stressful) primary school application process for September 2014 and just wondering if anyone knows anything about Greenside Primary in Shepherd's Bush, London?

I know it had a dodgy Ofsted last year, but it now has a new head and I was wondering if anyone has any experience of children who are going/have gone there?

Our other options include John Betts (too far away, I would be shocked if we got in!), WLFS (this year we'd have been too far away), Brackenbury (have heard it can be overwhelming), St Stephens (we're not church-goers - so I guess we're out) and Wendell Park (no idea what this is like)

If anyone has any input/experience I'd love to hear it!
thanks

Yes I do its a couple of years out of date.
I do think the education there was poor, there was a lot of oral recital instead of written work partly because of non English speakers in the class partly because it was seen as a quicker way to work. This became very apparent once they had the kids cramming for SATS.

But it did have a lovely community feel to it, very involved parents and PTA. I liked the tea and cakes get together after school on a Wednesday but I'm not sure if they still do it.

I do remember that a few of the P7 did go onto prestigious schools some on scholarships so someone at the senior end of the school was clearly doing something right but then again there were plenty of driven middle class parents so probably some tutoring going on at home.

The one thing I really hated was when they do their swimming (from fairly young I think y2) the kids would walk with teacher and TA to it across busy roads and horrible neighbourhood. I personally didn't think it was safe to do.

John Betts lol very little chance tbh unless you live very close or managed to get a kid into reception. Few leave but I do know one kid who got in after 4 years on the waiting list.

Wendell park is much the same as Greenside, a bit more over crowded but it is a bigger school. That said I did feel the had the edge academically but not as good as Greenside for community feel.

Brackenbury is huge so yes overwhelming but I think it was more academically focused compared to the other two.

I'm happy to answer any questions.

Forgot to add I was there during their last ofstead done it was fairly poor then but a lot of talk of improvements and parents sticking by it, its sad to read that it hasn't improved any.

Thanks LittleBairn - were there lots of non-English speakers in classes then? I'd worry if that was the case that they'd focus on the non-English speaking ones and just leave the English-as-first-language ones to it..

Do you know if it's improved at all under the new head (although I know she's new)

Did your children go there? If so, would you send them again if they had a choice?

Was it a caring school or did they just leave the kids to it?

Thanks for all your help.

There were quite a few non English speakers not quite sure how it impacted the classes as a whole but I suspect the oral teaching that seem to go on in one class was due to making it easier for all.
I should add that most of the schools in this area have a lot of non English speakers.

I haven't had anything to do with the school since the new head started but I'm betting she's been sent with a clear aim of raising standards.

I was a nanny for a number of years to one of the children who attended. It would have been a tough decision if it were my own child probably not to be honest. That said I'm not sure which school I would choose instead most likely Brakenbury but go on the John Betts waiting list.

It was the type of school were the top set kids did fine but the average to struggling kids really sank IMO.

I felt it was a caring school, I saw no bullying and the kids seemed happy with an active community surrounding it.
If the academic standards can be raised (teaching standards not getting the kids to cram which was the tactic I observed) then it will be a great school.
It had some nice after school clubs too that were either free or affordable.

Absolutely no knowledge about any of these schools - but thought that I should add a positive about children without English as their first language. My own personal experience is that these children are incredibly motivated to learn quickly, their parents are often extremely keen on education as the key to their children's success in the UK. Obvs a huge generalization, but a visit to see the classes in action will give you a much clearer idea of how it all fits together! Good luck with whatever you decide.