Please help - Hampstead primary schools (NW3)

[adijagmom]

Heloo
We have been offered a place at Fitzjohn Primary for my son for reception 2020. I saw the school on a tour few months back but wasn’t overly impressed though I know it has a good local reputation. We have only been in the area a year or so so any feedback greatly appreciated. As context it wasn’t our first choice - that was Hampstead Parochial which I much preferred but we are on the waiting list there.
Thank you

Normally, its the other way around. But HP has really come up over the last couple of years. I can't imagine you'd go wrong at either school as they are both outstanding. Congratulations.

Isn't HP one form entry, which must be quite nice? Have a friend with kids at HP who is extremely happy with it. Sounds like a great school.

Fitzjohn's is very sought after and well regarded. I don't think you should be disappointed that he is going there, they have very good results, and are a friendly school.

@sanam2019 - thank you, yes HP is one form entry and we loved it and we are close enough too but we are not church goers so I think we lose out on going on top of the list - still on the waiting list though.

@RagamufficCat - Yes, I have heard a lot from local parents, but what worried me is on the Camden school league tables for primary schools, their KS1 and KS2 results were quite low so not sure how to read that or rather I am trying to understand it.

Do you have the link to the camden league tables?

The school has a higher than average number of children with English as a second language at 65.2% compared to the National average of 21.2%, 15% of children receive SEN support, and 1.8% of pupils have a SEN Education, Health and Care Plan (2018/2019). It seems they are classed as well above average for reading and writing, and average for maths. I really wouldn't be worried about sending my child there.

www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/school/100026/fitzjohn's-primary-school/primary

Fitzjohn is a great school. If you're looking at comparing league tables, you're comparing apples and pears. Most Camden state schools have a higher % of children with SEN & English as a second language - this is not the case with Hampstead Parochial which has different selection criteria which does not neccesarily represent the diversity of the area.

Your child will have an excellent education there.

@SamBee1 - thank you. I am curious to know what you mean by HP has a different selection criteria as I assumed all these schools were non selective and could not "choose" as such.

www.hampsteadprim.camden.sch.uk/about-our-school/admissions/

Faith schools can have different admissions criteria to state schools. HP gives 50% of its places to children who meet the religious criteria, and 50% to open places. If you don't meet the religious criteria, and don't have a sibling at the school already, your chances of getting a place are slim.

And to meet the religious criteria of the school your parents need to have read up on them at least two years prior to application. The application is in the January of the start of school. For a child that turns 4 on 31 August the parents need to have decided on a school by the time that child is 18 months! You’ve got to have the sort of job that enables you to go to church every other Sunday for two years. You’ve got to remember to go. Miss one session 18 months in because you’re ill and that’s it, you don’t meet the criteria.

I do wonder what will happen to church school admission criteria now the churches aren’t open. Will no one be able to meet the criteria effectively making all
Places open. Or will it be a fudge and just not count the times when the church was shut?

Yup, one friend who went there lived absolutely miles away, but planned to get her daughters in through church attendance. She got in.

Unusually she wasn't one of the multitude who suddenly rediscovered religion once they got pregnant, she's actually training to be a vicar!*

*see also Holy Trinity And Saint Silas

I know a few who discovered religion but more who pragmatically went to church to get their kids into the local school rather than sending them miles away.
Camdwn is great for schools. I’d snatch a Fitzjohns place up. The only schools I’d be concerned about are the ones that aren’t filling there PAN.

Thank you all.
Yes, we arent church goers and definitely didn't have the foresight to plan to go there 2 years ago to get our son into school so just on the open waiting list for now at HP. I think even if i knew about it, unlikely I would have done it ! Still a question in my head on how that changes the demographics and curious to see how that links together but I get the point on intake.

I know this is an old thread but @adijagmom wondering what you ended up doing. Did you get an offer from Hampstead Parochial in the end or go to Fitzjohn's? Are you happy? We are on the waiting list for Hampstead Parochial too (high up) but really not sure how much movement there will be before the start of reception.

We went with fitzjohns. Funnily it has been two years on the HP waiting list and I haven’t even heard back with an update (chases a feeds times). I was further down on the list for Christ church and actually heard from them.

Thanks for your reply.
Wow - two years with not a word. Do you know where you were on the waiting list at all? Are you happy with Fitzjohns or would still consider changing? It's so hard to know and I know every child is different and most of the schools in Hampstead are excellent anywyay.