Reception drama in Bromley (again)

[MissReg]

Hi all,
Am a new poster to Mumsnet (long time reader!) and wondering if anyone can offer some advice. Apologies in advance for long post. We've just moved to Petts Wood (August 4th), partly for more space and partly for good schools. We're 0.4 miles from Crofton, which is our preferred school for DS (who was 4 in July). There are 180 reception places at Crofton.

When we first checked with Bromley BC, they said we were 5th in the waiting list. When I called again on Thursday, they said we'd moved to 7th because people had moved in closer (HOW is this a waiting list??). I spoke to the Crofton admissions lady (lovely) who said even 5th seems a long way down the list ,as movement isn't likely to be that high. Called Bromley again who then say that they can offer a place at Poverest (0.7 miles down the road), which hasn't got a great reputation and is further away. Currently Ofsted says it requires improvement, but from what I've seen on their website, they are 'on the road to outstanding', so they've got a new head (the old deputy at Crofton) and other new teachers/initiatives which can obviously make a big difference. None of the schools would let me go in to see them so am operating a bit blind. Although I can go and see Poverest this week now we've got an offer).

Of course the council is saying that he doesn't need to be legally in school until he's 5 - but he's a bright little fella, who's already been in a state preschool in Wandsworth (so used to the school environment) and is going a bit stir crazy with me and his sis (age 1) in the house as we're not really getting the chance to meet any peers. My other worry is if we get in to Poverest, don't get on there but get stuck there, then my DD is also going to have to go there too. Aghghghgh, all so sodding complicated.

So questions are:
Anyone know Poverest school? What's it like?
Am I better not accepting Poverest if I'm unsure and then waiting on the list?
Does anyone know whether if we accept at Poverest and remain on the Crofton waiting list how that affects our chances of movement later in the term?
Anyone got any tricks up their sleeves to help us improve our situation?

Thanks in advance for any help/advice you can give Mumsnetters...

Oh, and also, any advice about what to do to stop us going stir crazy while we get this sorted?

Thanks tiggytape. Are you in a council? You're very knowledgeable!

As others have said, accept the place or you could end up with nothing. You can still stay on the waiting list at your preferred school, although 7 places is quite a lot to make up. It may of course be that the six children ahead of you have started school elsewhere and, should a place come up, not actually want it if they are happy where they are.

You can always apply to your preferred school for DD, if you were able to manage the logistics of the children being in different schools.

Tiggy is your expert friend here. Hours of advice giving and amazing help for people

Everything that Tiggy said. Take the place, and defer as long as you can if that's what you want. But a new head is good and one of the first places they will pull things up is in early years.

In the meantime you can still keep his name on all the waiting lists you want to.

Finally, your daughter doesn't have to go to this school. You can apply for any school for her. If she gets into the one that's closer and your son is on the waiting list, this should bump him up as sibling priority. To do two schools may require a mix of before/after school care or clubs or childminders etc though. But worth considering if at that point you still want to move him.

Finally, a school that is on the way up can be a very good thing. Extra resources for children plus a lot of additional focus on pupil progress etc.

Thank you ladies - you're making me feel a little better. That is sort of what a thought about the school on the up aspect - all eyes on it is never a bad thing to be sure. Just phoned Crofton who have had 2 no shows, so now back on to BC who may be able to tell me what's going on on their list. Thanks again...

I would have thought a few places will come up in a 6 form entry school. Stay positive

Missreg, I couldn't believe it when I read this post. We have been in exactly the same situation for months. We relocated down to petts wood from Sheffield earlier in the year and have sat patiently on the waiting list (which does go up and down). It's been the most stressful part of our move and having left an outstanding school behind in Sheffield we have constantly questioned our decision to relocate for our new jobs. Our son turned 4 in July. We have just scraped in today so I encourage you to persevere. Although, proverest sounds like a very good alternative. We were offered princes plain which was the option we were going to take. We had a look around the school on Tuesday and it was really lovely and I believe there are places. We have done lots of research and apparently after Xmas there is some more movement so I keep my fingers crossed for you and more than understand the stress involved. I have spent hours staring at my phone just waiting for a phonecall. Anyway, if you fancy a schools rant, we'd be more than happy to meet for a coffee, we don't know many people yet and it seems like a big scary world compared to Sheffield x

Ahhh - Jenvik! Bless you for posting that. Be great to meet. I've not heard of Princes Plain? Where were you on Crofton's waiting list when you scraped in??

We were number 2. We were at the top for months but kept getting bumped further down. We are 0.1 miles from the school. Just wish I had some magic to get your little un in also :0( We had exactly the same thoughts as you- with 180 kids we though it was a dead cert to get in. I totally understand how awful it is and seeing all the kids start school.

Definitely google princes plain though and have a look around, it is an ofsted good and has previously been an outstanding. If you do fancy meeting, I am off all week next week. We've just been to the play centre at walnuts if you fancy meeting there one afternoon next week or maybe costa in petts wood? I can meet you in the mornings or we could meet with the kids one afternoon.

You should be much further up the list now and I believe that there is some movement as time goes on so you could take one of the others and the switch over later. That was our plan. Apparently the first few years are an extension to nursery anyway. Our boy is young in the year too but also a nursery kid and ready for school so I am also with you on getting him into a school ASAP.

Jen

My advice would be accept school offered. Defer if you want to but I'd be tempted to start him now. Keep him on waiting list for preferred school. If you get offered a place you can then decide whether it's worth moving him at that point.

You should ignore the ofsted and what the website says and view it yourself. You nicht really like the school. Go there open minded. New head means only better things can happen. If you really don't like it then you could look at other schools with spaces. As long as you don't mind traveling further a field. The La have offered you this school as this is the closest school to you that has space. But you could always ask for a list of schools that have space within reasonable distance

Hi there,

My husband and I are hoping to buy our first home in South London. We currently rent in Hampstead Garden Suburb where we have been living for the last 8 years. We really value safety, community and nature.

I work from home but my husband works in London- Warren Street.

We are looking at 3 main areas at the moment:

1. Bromley South, Bickley, Sundridge Park
2. Sidcup mainly DA14 within 25 mins walk from train station
3. Orpington, mainly focusing on BR6 and the areas around The Knoll and Crofton

We are hoping to buy a 2-3 bed terraced house with a garden for around £400k. We don't have children at the moment but we hope to start a family in the near future.

We both value nature and community and would like to feel safe and connected to the people in our local area.
Because my husband works in London, transport is important and we would like to be within a mile of train station.
Because we are planning to have a family, schools are also important.

I'd really appreciate your advice and experience on the areas we are looking in.
Do you think these are good options?

Do you have any other suggestions for areas that might suit our needs?

Thank you in advance.