Cutteslowe school Oxford - experiences please

[zmaj]

Hi, can anyone please share recent experiences of Cutteslowe primary school in Oxford? My DS got a place there, but it wasn't our first choice. He's a bright kid, but also quite sensitive. Any help would be appreciated, I'm so worried that I can't sleep. We could go private if needed, but would be a financial stretch, and I was hoping to avoid that.

thanks

Hi zmaj,

We've not got any insider knowledge on this school unfortunately but we wanted to pop in, say hi and give your thread a bump.

We hope some of our users will be along who may be able to help soon.

Hi, I've not got personal experience of it, but have known people who taught there (lost touch, so they may still do), and they were always positive about it. Also know people who had kids go there and were happy with it. Mixed socioeconomic intake I'd imagine.

To be honest, with our kids, we would have sent them to practically any scool for early primary - academically we felt we could offer enough at home to push them along if we needed to supplement for whatever reason, and they'll socialise well in any school. We always said we'd consider moving them to private/ try other state schools if it was proving to be an utter disaster by the end of ks1, but actually we've been really pleased with the schools we've ended up with.

If private is an option in the future, maybe give Cutteslowe a go and then switch later if you're not happy. Is there anything in particular that is worrying you about it? Did you visit? I do get where you're coming from! It's a big thing, starting school, and getting your first choice is more reassuring :)

hi thanks so much for replying. I guess what worries me is their previous performance (was put in special measures back in 2011 I think, but since then got a Good rating) and that the new School Head just joined. Worried a bit that a very mixed intake school may focus on averaging results out and keeping attendance levels rather than focusing on specific ed needs of each pupil (DS could do well academically I think). It's makes it all the more difficult as I did not go to school in this country so have limited experience of the system. I was pleasantly surprised when I visited last autumn though, it seemed positive and nice place, kids well behaved (but the old Head was still there)
Was thinking along the same lines - to keep private as an option if needed, for a later entry and give it a go for now.....it helps to hear someone thinking the same, so thanks. We should be ok to support academically at home so hoping that it's an ok school socially. Need to decide if we want to keep on waiting list for the other school - that bit puzzles me, as it seems as if they automatically give/take away the places - but I would like to be given an option to accept or not, surely that is normal, especially once DS starts school?!

Hi there Zmaj,
I'm just wondering whether you ended up going to Cutteslowe? My son is due to start school in September and I'm hesitating. Seems like quite a nice school these days but not sure about whether to put it as first or second choice!
Thank you! :-)

Hi lavender222,
sorry for late reply. yes we did end up going to Cutteslowe school.
My son is very happy there, they made a nice effort to get them all settled in, he likes his teacher and his new friends. For all my worrying - the first day of school he came out all smiles and said: "school is great!". The headteacher values discipline which I think is good in a very socio-economically mixed school, and they have a nice forest school with resident goats and chickens. So far so good on the learning front too, and it's good to be able to walk to school. The classes this year are quite small - around 18 kids in each class. The home learning is OK at the moment, they could have perhaps done a bit more to provide a wider variety of topics. Hope this helps a bit! x

Hi Zmag and Lavender222,

It was good to read your posts as I’m in a similar position to where you were - trying to work out whether Cutteslowe school will be a good fit for my bright but sensitive boy! I’m finding it all rather stressful and having sleepless nights worrying about it all...

I’m hoping that schools will allow visits again soon which will help decision making but obviously it can be tricky to get the full picture just from a quick tour round. It sounds like there are a lot of positives to Cutteslowe but one thing that does worry a bit about it is the relatively new head. Google searches bring up some rather unsettling findings regarding allegations of misconduct. Do either of you feel able to comment on how things are going with the new Head?

Also if you have any thoughts on any of the other local schools (wolvercote, Phil and Jim’s, st aloysius) it would be massively appreciated, thank you xx

hi Katy,
so far, very pleased with the new Head. He has organised the school very well during Covid times, is there by the school gate every morning to greet the kids coming into school (he seems to know everyone's name), and sends timely updates to parents. He promotes discipline and respect (they use colour stickers for behaviour every day, and good listening & respect gets rewarded - the proud look on my son's face when he gets a Headteachers gold sticker).
Other schools - Wolvercote seemed nice when we visited it, know a few people with kids there - the seem to like it overall. part of the same trust as Cutteslowe but some things are different - would be good if you can visit. oversubscribed most years.
Phil & Jim - given the popularity of the school, I wasn't impressed when visiting - they were not very welcoming and the focus was on things that I didn't relate to - unnecessary strictness and religious aspects, that's at least how it seemed in one visit. Perhaps others would disagree. You have to live in the catchment area for a chance to get in.
I haven't considered St Alloysius, so can't comment.

My bright but sometimes sensitive son is currently doing well at Cutteslowe.
Hope this helps, try not to stress too much, your son will likely be fine whichever school you get (or choose) - I know I did stress about it a lot, and now I wonder why did I waste so much time worrying!!
x

Hi Zmaj and Katy,
Apologies for late reply.
Zmaj thank you so much for your response. I have to say its very reassuring to hear all your comments.
Katy- my son hasn't started yet but in the end I did decide to go with Cutteslowe. Its the closest school and after speaking to lots of people, there was just no valid reason not to send him there. The school sounds lovely and I really like the idea of a mixed/ diverse cohort to reflect the realities of life. I did visit it a while back and really liked the feel.
I have seen the stuff online about the Head but I also know some people who know him professionally and they have no concerns. Everybody engaged with the school presently seems to rave about/ be very happy with the school now and have actively encouraged us to join.
I didn't consider Phil and Jim's or St Aloysus as their ethos isn't quite right for us. Wolvercote is lovely I hear but I'm not keen on the half form entry and couldn't guarantee my second child would get a place so ruled it out given Cutteslowe appears to be equally as good. Ultimately, I sensed that kids that are well supported and stimulated at home can do just as well at Cutteslowe than in any other North Oxford Primary school which is why I decided to stick with Cutteslowe. He is very excited to get started there!
Hope this helps! X

One other piece of info useful to know is that Cutteslowe is a direct feed to popular Cherwell secondary, whereas you have to live in Wolvercote for it to count (going to Wolvercote school is not enough). As we were just outside Wolvercote catchment area, this meant that Cutteslowe was a better bet in that sense.
From Cherwell admissions document online:

1. Children who live in the designated (catchment) area and attend Cutteslowe Primary

School.

1. Children who live in the designated (catchment) area of Wolvercote Primary School

(part of the designated area of the academy).

Zmaj

Hi Zmaj and Lavender222

Thanks both of you for your helpful and reassuring feedback. I expect we will end up living closest to Cutteslowe and there are lots of things that I really like about the school. We won't need to go through the application process till later this year but I'm feeling much better about it all now, so thank you for helping to put my mind at rest! Hope all goes really well for your little boy starting in September, Lavender xxx

Hi all, my youngest child went to Phil and Jim and I have to agree with Zmaj's assessment - it is really big on being strict and religious, and there is a high turnover of teachers. Basically the school is a state school trying to be a private school, which appeals to the demographic (very middle class, lots of doctors and Uni lecturers). A number of kids do go on to private school either in Y3 or for secondary. There is a bit of a snobby atmosphere sometimes, which can be off putting!

We actually live closer to Cutteslowe school and were so happy when we got Phil and Jim (mid-year, they had a vacancy) as at the time, it was the school that everyone was raving on about! However, knowing what I know now, I would have probably chosen Cutteslowe!

Thanks so much for all your input, it’s been really helpful x