Opinions on St Stephen's Primary School in Twickenham

[ElenaMP]

Hi, I'm moving to Twickenham in December and applying for Y6 in-year admission in a Primary School. I'm finding it impossible to get any guidance from the Richmond Council over the phone or by email. Answering machine is all the time and they don't respond to emails either.
My first options were Orleans and Vineyard school but then I saw in the map that St Stephen's in close too, although this school is not listed within Richmond's borough Primary Schools list.
I had a look to the web and read that it is linked to Orleans Park Secondary School, which is first Secondary School choice.
Can anybody give me feedback on St Stephen's? we are catholic but do not go to church, will this be an issue? and also, can anybody confirm if my son will get a place in Orleans if he gets into St. Stephen's?
I contacted the school directly but the lady is charge for in-years was not available at that moment. Looks like they do their own admission and not through Richmond Council?
Any info on this will be greatly appreciated! Thanks a lot

Hello
St Stephens is nominally c of e not catholic. The link school system was stopped this year .The current year 7 are the first of the new system. Now admission to Orleans park and the other Richmond schools is just on distance. It is anticipated the Orleans catchment will shrink due to increasing birth rates. St Stephan is very well thought of locally. Until recently it was just a junior school. Orleans infants was its feeder. Last year I believe the both became through primary. Another good school is St Mary,s next to Orleans Park. Vineyard is also good but might be a pain getting over the bridge in the morning!reality is if you get offered any of the Twickenham primaries you are OK they re all good

Thank you for your help @Mary21 I didn't know about St Mary's so including it to the list as they are even closer to my home :-)

Richmond admissions office is usually very helpful so just keep trying. I think in-year admissions are still processed by the council but you have to fill in supplementary forms for church schools. St Stephen's is no problem to get into for non-church goers and may well have vacancies in Y6.

You'd have no problem getting into Orleans from St Margaret's area.

But as a late applicant to Orleans that will be harder and depends on waiting lists.

Thanks for your comments. I finally got in contact with the council, they sent very detailed information. I also visited St Stephen's, very nice staff team and nice kids too but the school is a little bit worn out, specially if I compare it with my kid current school which is more modern.
I already did application for secondary in October giving my new address, so crossing my fingers to get a place in Orleans.
If anybody has kids in St Stephen's I would love to hear their opinion.

Really what it will mostly come down to is which schools have vacancies in the relevant year group. You might be best advised just to phone the schools in question to find out. As mary21 says, most primary schools in the Twickenham area are good.