Struggling to decide between 2 Camden NW1 primary schools

[ZinniaL]

My child will start reception next autumn and my top two primary schools are Holy Trinity & St Silas and Hawley Primary in NW1. I really like both. I need help deciding between the two. Can anyone help?

I like that Holy Trinity has an Outstanding Ofsted rating, focuses on the arts, is small and has a nice outdoor play area. But parts of the school are really old, am concerned the religious education will be heavy handed (we are not religious) and may not have updated technology in the classroom.

Hawley is in a new building, the classrooms have up to date technology, the kids seem to go on a lot of trips and they all seemed very engaged in the classroom. But the outdoor area is small and didn't entirely inspire me. The Ofsted rating is Good (not great/not terrible).

I'd love some feedback if you have more info about what you like or dislike about either school.

BUMP

realistically how likely are you to get into either of them?

If you really can't decide, and you have a chance of getting in to both, out the closer one first. Being really local at primary is a huge plus point.

I live close to both. Closer to Holy Trinity/SS.

Good point

I know both schools - I think both are excellent. In this case I would judge it purely on your thoughts about a religious education, which are very pronounced at holy Trinity.

Are you close enough to Holy Trinity?

I think both are lovely schools.

I chatted to a y8 boy at a secondary school open day and asked him what Primary school he’d been too. He said he went to a Catholic school although he wasn’t Catholic, the school was Holy Trinity and St Silas!

St Silas have to cross the road to go to Assembly and to lunch. That would put me off if I had a better choice.

I’d put Hawley first and St Silas second if it was me.

Hi. Probably late but I went to stsilas. It was good till they forced you to pray and a lunch lady Sandra was very rude shouting at us as kids then forcing us to pray before food. Some of us kids were put in the school becuz parents found it easy due to how close it was. The teachers were horrible. They were so strict if it was now they would be sacked. I remember as a child seeing Mr Stewart hold my classmate hand and drag him out of the classroom. You have to Cross road for lunch one time a kid got hit by a car while puck up. Im 31 now and carrying trauma from this. But I hope the kids now find it easy. It was horrible back in my time. But hope your kids chose a good school for them.