Schools issue in Wimbledon - not sure what to do

[YesNoMaybeDefinitely]

Hi, posting here in case anyone can give us some useful advice on our schools dilemma for DS 3.

We live in a primary school "dead spot" in the Wimbledon area. Our DS is unlikely to get into any of the primary schools closest to us (i.e. within easy walking distance). They have miniscule catchment areas (a few streets in the case of our nearest one) or they're CofE and prioritise church-goers. From what we understand, he'll probably be allocated a less popular school a few miles away. Although we're not hugely fussy about schools being "good" or "outstanding" (we think what happens at home is more important), we would like DS to walk to school and have local friends. Also, we're struggling to see how we will manage the school run and then commuting by train into central London if the school isn't local.

I think we should move so that we're definitely in catchment for a good local primary school. DH likes where we live and doesn't want to move. He'd prefer to send DS private. I'm not a huge fan of private education, especially single sex, but would prefer that to DS going to a school miles away and having no local friends. We could afford private school fees. We realised that schooling might be an issue when DS was quite young and so registered him with the local private schools as insurance. At that stage, our plan was to leave London before DS was school-age but it's now looking like that's unlikely to happen, for a few years at least. So DS will have to start school here.

Just interested to see if anyone has any experience of Wimbledon pre-prep and prep schools? In particular, WCPS, the Rowans, Willington? DS is quite bright (in our admittedly biased view) but I'm not interested in hot-housing him academically and can't help feeling that maybe a good local primary school would be the best option for us (which is why I want to move).

Sounds like you are just outside catchment for WCPS? Which is your other likely state option?

If you are likely to go private by year3 anyways then makes sense to go private rather than move home. If you intend to keep him in state until year6 then makes sense to move into catchment for WCPS or Dundonald or Wimbledon Park - whichever suits your commute into London.

School drop + commuting into London at 8am is a nightmare in Wimbledon. Too much traffic & no affordable parking near station make it a real headache. If you can walk to school & then station that's ideal.

Assume WCPS in their context is Wimbledon Common Prep School / Squirrels?

Squirrels and Rowans are a very different proposition from Willington as you probably already know, as they need to prep the boys for 7+ so the pace is higher. Willington is now co-Ed in reception, to continue up the years from now on. Also v near the station obviously which may suit you. It's a more gentle environment in the pre-prep department but they do get good results.

@Particularly. Yes that's right, Squirrels. Though if we moved, the other WCPS, Wimbledon Chase primary, is one of the schools we'd be trying to move closer to. That and Dundonald and Pelham.

Willington is one of the private options we're considering, especially since it's going coed (not that keen on single sex). But we don't know all that much about the school and haven't been able to visit due to Covid. So we'd be keen to hear from anyone with children there about how their DC are finding it and whether they have local friends. Logistically, this would be the best option for us.

We could just about manage Squirrels, commute-wise. I'm put off by it being all boys - DS could go through his entire education without sharing a classroom with a single girl, given Wimbledon is mostly single-sex at secondary! DH points out that DS is quite boisterous and energetic sometimes so could do better in a school that focuses on boys' needs. The Rowans would be a stretch but we've heard good things about it from friends and it's co-ed. For both of these, there would be the issue about what to do at 7+. Though we may have left London at that point.

Then there's the question about whether DS would actually get into any of these schools...He's fairly bright but also stubborn as a mule so not sure how he'd do in the assessments. Tbh, moving close to a good primary just seems so much simpler/cheaper in the long-run, but DH isn't convinced . The whole thing's giving me a headache!

We could walk to Bishop Gilpin, Dundonald, Wimbledon Chase. Also Pelham at a push... But we don't live near enough to get a place at any of these.

I'm not entirely sure where DS would end up, but based on discussions with friends, possibilities include Garfield (although I think this is becoming oversubscribed), Joseph Hood and Merton Abbey. None of them are close enough for us to walk to and all would be a logistical nightmare. We've heard good things about Garfield, though.... We don't know anything about the other two.

Have sent a pm.

Might be worth looking at the cost of moving. If you own a house and would sell and buy, then the stamp duty and other costs will probably be more than school fees for a few years + more upheaval.

If you do decide to go down the state route, it sounds like you’ll be offered a school further away. However, you can go onto the waiting lists of your preferred schools and your son can transfer when a place becomes available.

Hello! In your situation I highly recommend Mel Ingle of Ingle Education who knows the Wimbledon school scene (private and state) extremely well and can advise you of your options. We paid for a session with her in the year we applied for schools (which meant we were too late for private for reception entry) and her advice was AMAZING. Our neighbours on both sides have children at Willington and they have been very happy with it. In terms of after school provision they were able to use PlayDays on the hill after school and during the holidays and then, as the children got older, there is wraparound or clubs which go on later at the school. We are at Pelham and have absolutely loved it and found an amazing community there. My friends who are at Bishop Gilpin, St Mary’s, Dundonald all seem very happy there. Mel can advise in great detail about catchment areas. I hope this is helpful?

That’s where Mel gets her info from.

www.merton.gov.uk/education-and-learning/schools/admissions/how-school-places-were-allocated-in-recent-years

LAs publish admission distances for the last 3 years or so to make it easy for parents to judge their likelihood of getting a place in a particular school.

Hi, thanks so much for all this helpful information. Feeling a bit better about our choices now!

The only "properly" selective school is the Squirrels . Rowans offer on sibling/nursery/first come-first serve basis. Wilington is non-selective and it is not difficult to get a place there.
To get a non-religious place at Bishop Gilpin you need to live practically on the doorstep from school, though places come up in later years, Dundonald is also heavily oversubscribed.

Honestly, all the state schools in Wimbledon are pretty good. BG is highly sought after given its location and profile but most of the others are great too. I know Garfield and All Saints parents who are very happy.

Merton Abbey - I don't know families there but the head is fantastic and it seems like a very nurturing environment though unlikely to appeal to you if your DH is that keen on private.

St Mary's on Russell Road also an option for you?

Hi @FakeFlamingo @YesNoMaybeDefinitely @JoJoSM2 @User260486 and all this msg and hence posting a query. Did you end up sending you ds to WCPS? We have an offer but wanted to understand how is it and what the possibility of KCS after Y2? Kindly advise

Thanks