Primary schools in Pinner

[horatio2]

Hi all

We are hoping to relocate to Pinner from Barnet next year and are considering which schools are best for our son who is currently 2.5 years old.

Can anyone help with feedback on local schools? We would prefer state (because of money) but would consider private if needed.

It's hard to say at such an early stage what sort of school will be best for our son (eg how academically minded he is) - however we have aspirations to send him to a very good secondary school (eg Habs, MTs) so would like to put him in a primary school where that is at least an option.

We were thinking of West Lodge or Cannon Lane but don't really know that much about either. It's obviously hard at the moment because of Covid to do detailed research given the lack of on-site visits. In addition we don't know how to interpret the league tables as they move around so much. And what is described as an Ofsted "outstanding" school can sometimes be misleading (eg we know instances where schools prioritise getting all children to an acceptable level but neglect those kids able to go further).

If anyone could share their experiences in Pinner that would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Just to add that our son has only just started nursery and he is quite a sensitive, gentle child so we feel he would do best in a nurturing environment.

Hello

1. A state primary in Pinner will strongly be determined by your house location. On the Harrow council website they have a list of number of applications from previous years inc catchment distance. The perceived ‘best’ schools are all oversubscribed so i would pay very close attention to this to determine realistic chance of getting in. I’ve heard West Lodge and Cannon Lane are good but we are lucky they that majority of schools here are good and bear in mind the drop off logistics as they are introducing traffic controls around the area, especially around schools to reduce pollution.
2. Yes many ofsted reports do report on not doing enough for the more able pupils, but this is the nature of the state school system where more funding will go to those struggling. You will find many parents in the area who have an academically able child and are setting their sights on selective secondary schools will introduce tutoring through primary rather than rely on the school, even if it is an ‘outstanding’ school.
3. If you do want to still consider the private school route, I recommend enquiring ASAP as these can also be competitive and usual time is for them to start at 3 for pre-school so they may be taking applications now

Hope that helps!