Brighton, Hanover primary schools intel?

[DancesWithMops]

With my daughter (Reception going into Yr 1), I am about to move from London to Brighton (huzzah!), and I am doing some primary school research. Lockdown means we can't visit any schools at the moment, so I'm hoping for some insider information from those with kids at:

Queen's Park Primary/Carlton Hill Primary/St Luke's/Elm Grove and also Middle Street....

so far I think Carlton Hill is my favourite, but at this point, beggers can't be choosers and I guess we will end up at the only underscribed one which I think is Queens Park...

Hello @DancesWithMops did you move?! I am moving to this area and trying to find intel myself.

Hi @wondergirl100 I did move. We started at Queen’s Park and were there three weeks before getting a place at St Luke’s. Which seems a school with many more resources and higher aspirations for its kids. Although Queens Park seemed friendly and welcoming and the teacher Ms Morrison was lovely. St Luke’s seems to have a real ethos going though, which I like. In general I have been a bit surprised by how different the kids here seem than London kids. They seem...wilder. A bit rougher with each other? We were in an inner city school before with kids from all sorts of backgrounds. It is definitely taking a while to settle in here, to my mild surprise but then it was a weird time to move. Anyway do you have any specific questions?

@DancesWithMops Hello, we are moving to Brighton too from London to the same area. We're moving in July and have applied to the schools you have listed. We really want St. Luke's but it's full and with a waiting list. When did you apply to the school? I hope you don't mind me asking. Thanks

Hi! We moved on November 7, which is also about when we went on the waiting list for St Luke’s. The council told us we were top of the list. We were at Queens Park for about 6 weeks until a space came up at St Luke’s. We bought a house about a three minute walk from the school to try to maximise our chances. DD actually left Queens Park for St Luke’s with a classmate, so there was more than one space opened up. I understand that there is an unusual amount of churn cos of covid at the moment so you could be lucky too - hope so!

Thank you. That makes me feel slightly better but I appreciate it's down to luck too 🍀

@DancesWithMops hello 👋🏿, me again. We are finally moving to Brighton in time for half term and I cannot wait! My Year 3 son has a place at Elm Grove which is great but the only available Reception places for DD are at Queen's Park. So we'll take that until another place becomes available at Elm Grove. How did you find Queen's Park? On paper it doesn't come across well but I work in a school that on paper is outstanding but not so great in reality so I try not to read too much into these things. Did you really notice the difference between QP and St Lukes?
FWIW Carlton Hill was our preferred school too.
Anyway, thanks for reading

Hi @karmakemmie Woop! Congrats on the move! Yes sure so what I have heard is that Queen's Park is good until they are a little older, so it's infant provision is much better than its junior provision. Seriously, Ms Morrison was amazing and my kid's exercise book from her very short time there seemed better than her exercise book at st luke's!! However, St Lukes seems a much better resourced school overall, and it has a fantastic ethos. But it has just lost its high achieving headmaster, so who knows. Elm Grove sounds like a good school.

Thanks so much for responding. I appreciate your comments

Mine are at Elm Grove! Feel free to message me 😊

@desperate4spring thank you. I will definitely take you up in this. You'll be hearing from me soon

Hi @DancesWithMops - we're also looking to move our two from Queens Park to St Luke's. We moved from London over the summer, and they started at Queens Park in September but they have both just been offered places at St Luke's. It feels like so much change for them but I think St Luke's will be a better fit over all and we still have a few years of primary left so worth making the move I think. How did your DD find moving after a few weeks? Hope she has settled well now! I would be really grateful for any reflections on St Luke's.

Hi @Youhaditoncebutnowitsgone - she settled in really well at the new school, at first - then had a few bad moments with some bullying boys. I talked to her teacher, Debs, who was very helpful, and the situation was resolved. Since then it's been pretty good. I know the move(s) definitely unsettled her but she was instantly happier at St Luke's than at Queen's Park. However, her classmate had had the same journey and she was still pining for Queen's Park quite some months after moving to St Luke's. I guess it is just the luck of the draw. I think that little girl was missing her teacher, though, more than the other kids. Also she lives right opposite it so it was there in her face all the time, and the walk to St Luke's was obviously annoying. So, yes. Not sure how helpful that is! But I would do it if I were you.

@Youhaditoncebutnowitsgone hi hope people don't mind me bumping this thread but we are in a similar position. Moving to Brighton and there are places for us at carlton Hill and Queens park or we could look further afield

Wondered if you had stayed at Queens Park and if happy with it ?

Hello a little bump here for Hanover schools as I have been offered places at both Carlton Hill and Elm Grove and don't know what to do!

Hello, I can't speak for Carlton Hill but my son is at Elm Grove and he loves it. He's only been there a few months and has been totally embraced by the school community. We all have really. He's year 3. Happy to answer any questions as a newbie

@karmakemmie thank you for answering! We are moving from London and I know nobody with children in the area so it's a huge decision. I will Dm you if okay?

Of course. We did exactly the same x

Hi @waterrat and @wondergirl100 sorry to only reply now. We made the move to St Luke's. There does seem to be a lot of movement here at schools so it's always worth staying on waiting lists I think, just in case... We are happy with the decision - happy to answer any questions on DM if you like. Good luck with the moves, we haven't looked back.