Moving to Fulham... Advise on state primary schools and rugby club.

[Lyndseyxx]

Hi,
I am planning to move to Fulham very soon and I would appreciate any advise on schools and activities?

I have been looking at a few state primaries and ofsted reports. I never truly trust Ofsted reports so advise on the best ones would be great.

I am a single mum moving up from Kent, I work full time and I have a nanny. So location is important but can travel a short distance.

Also anyone know of the fulham rugby club? My son plays U9's, so we will move him to a new club. Is it any good? Are the parents nice etc?

Any advise on the area with regards to family life would be good?

Thanks in advance.

For rugby the only fulham one I know of is this one

www.fulhamrugby.co.uk/

Though there are some south of the river (eg Barnes)

How many children are you looking for places for and what years? Schools here are very full tho easier to get places in KS2 than KS1. I would start by calling LBHF on Monday and finding out what schools have vacancies in the year(s) you want and going from there. Do you have an address in SW6 yet?

Hammersmith and Fulham rugby club is excellent (based in Hurlingham Park).

However, it is also worth looking at Battersea Ironsides (just over Wandsworth Bridge), Barnes and also Rosslyn Park (though they are very full on!).

All Saints is normally chocca, but they may have lost a few to Colet Court or Kings Wimbledon 8+ entrance.

LBHF will let you know which schools have gaps in your DS's yeargroup, then you can narrow down your search.

My ds is at All Saints, year 6. Been there since reception and loved it. Great families, he has made lovely friends, so have I. Very active PTA. Always some movement due to people moving out of London/going private so worth finding out - not sure if you approach the borough or the school directly ?

He also plays rugby at Hammersmith & Fulham rugby - loves it. He's in U11. Have heard good things about Rosslyn Park too.

re other schools, I know some children at St Johns Walham Green who are very happy. Holy Cross is RC and very good. Dont know much about the other primaries.

Hi there, just wondering if anyone else has any feedback on St Johns Walham Green? My son has been offered a place there for Sep 2015, would love to hear some good feedback as the league tables I've seen online don't seem to be that good for it... Thanks!

I know quite a few parents with kids there and all super happy. Have some friends whose kids starting there in Sep 2015 and again lovely people. I think results not yet as fantastic because used to have a more mixed intake, in recent years becoming more and more "middle class" so will probably automatically get stronger over time.

Thanks very much for your reply sanam2010, I have now spoken to some other parents with children at St Johns Walham Green and I think we'll go with sending him there. Will lose first terms fees at Fulham Prep as we were all set to send him there, but I think for the next few years St Johns will be great, and save us a lot of money as my daughter is just one school year behind my son!

Well, now you explain it's St John's v Fulham Prep, then you are making absolutely the right decision!

Spend some of the fees money you'll be saving on out of school sport and music. You'll find that lots of the St Johns kids sing in the Fulham children's choir and play football with Little Kickers at the Brunswick Club and Rugby at Hurlingham Park.

If you are aiming for selective at 11+ then you can always pay for tuition from Year 4, or move them at Year 3 (but for that you might want to look at Thomases, Newton Prep or Prospect House as well as FPS!)

Thanks Kingscotestaff! Yes definitely will do the extra curricular activites... And like you said possibly look at moving in year 3 or 4. Thanks for your reply!

I am about to pull my son out of St Johns School he will be going into year 3 and it was a tough call I have had to make but his learning has to be my number one prioirty, my 3 daughters went there and the standard of the education was good you had a strong Head Teacher she retired a few years ago, since they introduce a 2 form system there are just to many children the school is not up to the job, the expectations academically, spiritually and socially has gone and now they hardly attend church, the curriculum it not creative or well structured, poor lack of communication.

Just wanted to follow up, St Johns has been amazing so far for our son in Reception. He absolutely loves it, his teacher and TA are amazing. He seems to be happier and learning the same as his friends in Independent schools. My plan is to keep him at St. Johns for at least a few years and assess then if we should move, either way we'll have saved a fortune in school fees by then

I wasnt that impressed with St Johns, Walham green when looked round - yes middle class parents in the open morning but its a huge building for a child to navigate around (5 floors I think) and my gut sense was perhaps great at sports rather than academics? nice headmistress...its a tough call with the choices....