Thoughts on Brecknock Primary

[maybemaybemaybe]

Hello, We will be visiting schools this year to apply for primary place for DS. Tufnell Park and Torriano are currently on my list as they are close - although not sure we can get in the latter any more as I hear their catchment shrimped recently.

We are close to Brecknock Primary but I cannot find much about it, apart from ofsted, which is Good. But if so, why do I get the sense that it's not considered a 'top choice'? Has anybody had any experience?

Obviously we will make visits when the situation allows (and we still have some time before application time anyway) but I'd love to hear any thoughts from fellow MNers in the meantime... thank you!

Anybody? I realise I forgot to say this is North London. Borders Islington and Camden. In case it makes a difference...

You're probably better off asking on a local Facebook group to be honest! Good luck.

Out of all of those I’d put TP first. I really like it. Nice local school.
My experience of Torriano and Brecknock are out of date I’m afraid. Torriano is a completely different school to when we looked. Great external space and I know people who are happy there. Brecknock seemed fun but a bit tired and the reception classroom was too loud for me.
Why isn’t Brecknock thought highly off? I’m sure there is some snobbishness surrounding the intake.

Thanks both!

@Vaunting I suspect some snobbishness too, that's why I thought to ask around more. Nobody ever mentions it in all the threads and in person chats I am having, but on paper it seems pretty decent. So I wondered why! I guess I have to go see it to get a better sense. It's quite close to us so would be v convenient, in the mix. Might not be first choice but perhaps a good one to add to the mix

I looked around many years ago and liked it but it was a trek for us and we got offered a local school. I’m not even sure that the head is the same. From what I know about it it doesn’t have a large group of a certain type of family, wealthy, middle class, not having to worry about gangs, feeding and housing the kids. What ever...There are plenty of these families in the area as a lot of them send their daughters to Camden for secondary. So where do they go for primary and why?

Something to be said for local schools. However I’m not sure how many children have to come from further away for Brecknock as they can’t get onto their local school.
Brecknock and Torriano are Camden schools and TP is Islington. All Islington primary school children get free school meals (at the moment). Camden has a good music hub where as Islington is just starting one. TP has a lovely new building and a strong PTA.
As B isn’t popular and is two form entry I’d be concerned to see if it suffers the same fate as Carlton. As in doesn’t get the numbers so needs to close? I’ve no insider knowledge, just musing. I’d want to know how full they’ve been in recent years.
I’d decide the things that are important to you and go from there.

Hopefully you're get to visit and see how they seem to you. There's plenty of things to pick up on during each visit. How do staff speak to each other, you? Do the children seem to be acting with purpose, know what they are doing? How do the children interact with peers? How do the adults interact with the children? Noise levels, corridors, etc etc. You want to look at all the things they are not actually telling you. Classroom doors should be open, look in.
I agree there is a lot of snobbery about schools. You have to choose where you thing your DC will be most comfortable ( and you, of course)

Yes it's a tricky one as he's my first, so no previous experience in choosing schools! We picked our nursery based on a combination of ratings and instinct and we are super happy with it (so lucky!) which makes me nervous about getting it right now too 

I didn't know about the free meals in Islington @Vaunting interesting! TP is v close to us and the new building looks fab

Is there much in it distance wise between your house, TP and B?

I know someone with a DC at Tufnell Park and they are really happy with the school; DC happy there too.
I don't really know about Brecknock but it does seem to be one of those schools you don't hear much about. DD used to do an activity with a boy who went there and his dad liked the school, this was about 5 years ago now. It's very close to Hungerford (which is Islington) and I wonder how the two schools compare.

@Vaunting B is slightly closer to us, but TP only slightly further away. They are both within a 10 mins walk

@Vinorosso74 yes exactly, nobody talks about Brecknock! So bizarre
Hungerford is I think right at the bottom of the league for schools in Islington, so the least desirable in the borough, and in the 'required improvement' category. So I haven't really been considering it tbh

Hungerford lost a lot of children to TP a few years back. Maybe some to Brecknock too but I don’t know about that.
Are you likely to get into TP? I know it’s difficult to tell as they’ve expanded their PAN so only this years cohort to go on.
I’d put TP above B on my preferences list if I was equidistant.
I know one family who get B and were very upset. It turned out well for them mainly. It’s an old building and the free-flow reception class was LOUD!

I see what you mean about Hungerford! I don't recall it being so low when we were looking. I'm a little out of touch as we're looking at secondaries now.
You get a feeling about the schools when you look around so hopefully that will help you decide.

When we were looking Hungerford and Brecknock were on a par. Torriano infants was Outstanding on paper but we had a truly awful visit. Seems we were right to go with what we saw as it went through tough times to be taken over by the junior school. It’s got its previously good rep back.
The modern building of TP is much better suited to children and adults with mobility issues. I don’t know how anyone using a wheelchair or crutches manages in this Victorian schools.

Torriano is a fantastic school and I know several families there who love it. It's highly sought-after I think as had a great Ofsted pretty recently. I don't know as much about Brecknock, though did know the old Head who was wonderful. I hear the new one (been in the job just over a year) is really impressive but not met him myself.

I would have thought if Carlton does close that will have a positive impact on the pupil numbers at Brecknock and other local schools. Camden has some really great primaries, I don't know as much about Islington but as an LEA Camden is right up there.

Both of my boys have gone to Brecknock my eldest left a couple of years ago and my youngest is still there. It’s a brilliant brilliant school. I think historically it hasn’t promoted itself well and got out there and shouted about it’s great work in the community. The new head is changing that. We love the school and it’s one of the highest acheiving schools in our area! It totally reflects the community in the area. My advice is look beyond the brick walls and get in there it’s fab!

That’s great to hear Olly.

@Olly2012 thank you so much, this is so interesting! And great to hear from somebody with first hand experience, I haven't been able to come across anybody with children attending irl strangely

My experiences at Brecknock echo Olly2012's, very positive. If you are after a school which is welcoming, nurturing and is totally child focused then this is the school for you. The staff team are wonderful, they are dedicated to making the children have a fantastic school experience- not just in their high standards of learning but the whole holistic approach that they have. It is like being part of a huge happy family!
Go and have a look around is my advice, you will like what you see.