State Primary schools in Balham - Help!

[Mosurgia]

Hi All - I have always had priceless advice from this forum so here I am again. This time for my niece. She is in year 2 and so far she has not found a school which seems a good fit for her.

She is sporty, creative and currently lacking a bit of confidence - We are now looking for a great State school in Balham which would improve this confidence. Any suggestion would be gratefully received. Thank you!

have a look here: www.beatrixpotterschool.com/ it is in Earlsfield but according to google it is only a 12 minute drive away from where you are.

Whereabouts are you as catchments are tiny.

Weir road, Balham

Thank you!

I always hear positives about henry cavindish & telferscot, they are both outstanding.

they are both under Lambeth I think & if you look on the website you can see furthest distance offers (probably taking metres). Not sure how it works transferring in different years though.

Thank you! Will check the websites and distances.

There’s also Ravenstone, Trinity St Mary’s, Rutherford House (free school) and Holy Ghost (Catholic).

Thank you Pud2 - I have heard horror stories about Holy Ghost but will definitely check the others.

Thank you All for taking the time to reply, appreciate it.

As location is Weir Road there is one in Brixton Hill that’s the best in Lambeth, I think it’s catholic.

Don't bother with Beatrix Potter - not that it isn't a great school, but you have to live more or less on top of it to get a place.

I've hear really good things about Ravenstone, especially for EYFS and KS1

@SquirmofEels - Yes Beatrix Potter seems quite difficult.
I have contacted Ravenstone - Quite liked what I have seen on their website. Thank you

@Batshite1 - Thank you, do you remember the name of the school in Brixton hill? Thanks

For Year 2 entry ( an in-year admission) the distances given for Reception are meaningless though.

You need to get in the waiting list, and hope a place comes up. The waiting lists will be in order of admission criteria, though, so closer will be better.

The London population is very mobile though, and places do come up.

You need to visit the schools. Primary school websites are often very minimal.

I know lots of kids who went to Telferscott and loved it.

Corpus Christi, it was highly ranked in the Times. I think St Anslems in Tooting Bec is excellent as well but again probably impossible to get in to.

there is defo lots of movement as previous poster said. I know people who were no 10 on the waiting lists & got into reception for Henry Canvindish & Telferscot.

Its Corpus Christi...Unfortunately, you would have no chance from Weir Road. Henry Cavendish Balham or Streatham site are very overusubscribed as is Telferscot. But these Lambeth schools may be your nearest outstanding schools although availability for in year transfer may be scarce i'm afraid.

Sometimes the catholic schools have much bigger “catchments” though & the furthest distance offer will be a lot further then a non faith school if that makes sense. I’m
catholic, born & raised in SW London & all the schools I attended were quite far from my home.

There’s Alderbrook in Balham too.

You have to be a committed practising Catholic to get into Corpus Christi.

There are loads of excellent primaries in Lambeth and Wandsworth, it’s getting a Yr 2 vacancy that will be the issue. You can go on the waiting list for as many as you like.

You don’t necessarily have to be a Catholic, especially for entry beyond reception. Catholic families get priority but it just depends who else is on the waiting list. There are spaces in many schools at the moment as there are more places than children in the area.

Oh I just assumed op was a practising catholic, I’m not so my dc will be going to a non faith state school much to my parents chagrin!

@ Pillow of society - Thank you so much. I will definitely visit every school before applying as my niece cannot afford another poor choice of school :(

I rather prefer a non faith school as in my opinion these school might offer a partial prospective of the world but I will visit all the other schools mentioned an try my luck with as many as I like.

Thank you All so much - As usual this forum proves more valuable than any Great School book.

What are the qualities in s school that you think might suit her?