Would love insight to John Burns PS, Shaftesbury Park and Ark John Archer please

[Nessie19]

Hi there. We're new to Clapham Junction and have been advised there's space available at John Burns, Shaftesbury and John Archer for our year 5 DD. Does anyone here attend those schools and can offer opinion on what its' like there for kids? Would you recommend any of the above?

I used to work at an Ark Academy. Not that one. And no children of mine will go to a school run by that organisation.

I second the views on Ark. In the right community, for the right children is can be good but I would not recommend John Archer and would avoid the Ark schools that have taken over Local Authority schools.

I don't know much about John B or Shaftesbury except Shaftesbury is billingual. John B is very small (one form entry) which has advantages.

Most people aim for Belleville Wix or Macaulay C of E this side of the common. Belleville and Honeywell are fought over - everyone wants a place there. Clapham Manor is good too.

Thanks for your input here. It's certainly a challenging time to move with all the schools closed! The council wouldn't process my application until 4 weeks prior to our move date and that fell just a few days after the schools closed for summer. I will have to be patient I guess and wait to have a look at some of the schools once they re-open... and let my girls stay home for the first couple of weeks of term...

My friend's kids when to John Burns and they really liked it - parents and children. I don't have any detail though. Other than they were happy with it.

And I forgot to say my friend is a teacher - sixth form though, not primary.