Outstanding vs good schools in Rickmansworth vs surrounding villages

[Kishore1984]

Hey all

We are looking to move to the Three Rivers District in Hertfordshire, and want to pick a village / small town that has good primary mixed state schools (as well as a Metropolitan line tube stop, good pre-schools and affordable properties). We have twins that are 2 and a half so due to start school in Sep 2022.

We like the look of Rickmansworth generally. Except from a school perspective (according to www.locrating.com/school_catchment_areas.aspx) it is notable that there are no primary schools with an "outstanding" Ofsted rating. There are three primary schools, all of which are "good" - Rickmansworth Park, Arnett Hills, St Marys CoE.

In all the nearby villages there is an outstanding school. Eg Chorleywood has Christchurch CoE and Chorleywood Primary, Croxley Green has Malvern Way and Harvey Road, Chalfont has Little Chalfont Primary. And Amersham, Chesham and Northwood, which are bigger towns, all have at least one.

My question is, how much should we read into this? It seems a bit surprising as Rickmansworth is generally a desirable place otherwise?

Is the distinction between "good" and "outstanding" that significant? Are there other important factors to consider other?

Do any of you have direct experience of the above three schools in Rickmansworth, or the other ones mentioned?

Any other advice or suggestions would be great!

Thanks
Kishore

Also, any views on which of these places are nicest more generally?

I don't know the area but as a primary teacher I'd almost rather send my children to a good than outstanding school. Outstanding schools often (not always) care an awful lot about SATs and less so about a rounded education. Their treatment of children with SEND isn't always great. They may also be outstanding simply because of the cohort of children attending and the amount of parental support they get. It is not unusual for a head of two small schools to have one outstanding school and one good school, indicating it's much to do with the intake rather than the quality of leadership, teaching etc. I wouldn't be keen to send my children to an RI school and have high aspirations for my children, but I wouldn't place any importance on outstanding rather than good, I'd go by my impression of the school as a whole.

100% agree with the above, you absolutely should not look only at "outstanding" schools. For a start, check when the schools rated "outstanding" were last inspected; there has historically been an exemption from inspection for schools with "outstanding" status, with the result that a lot of these haven't been visited by Ofsted since before their current year 6s were even born, with head teachers coming and going in the meantime. An Ofsted rating more than a few years old is actually pretty meaningless.

"Good" schools on the other hand tend to get regular inspections from
Ofsted and their rating will be much more valid. Don't just go by the headline, read the report, and most importantly visit the schools when you're able to do so. I'd be astonished if there weren't some lovely primary schools in Rickmansworth.

Al that said, Ofsted is a long, long way from being the be-all and end-all, it's just one aspect of what a school is like. You needn't disregard its reports completely but don't set all your store by them. There's so much more to schools than an Ofsted grading (or SATs results, for that matter!)

If you plan on staying in this property for many years then you should also consider whether you might want a grammar education for your children (I know it’s an awful long way off).

Some of the places you mention are in Herts and some in Bucks. Bucks is a full grammar county which means that all children sit the 11+ unless you opt out, with the top third going to grammar and the rest to secondary moderns. If you choose Bucks then it’s important the secondary modern is good as some schools are, quite frankly, poor. Amersham and Little Chalfont are good bets but house prices are high as a result. You also need to be prepared to tutor, either informally at home or with an 11+ tutor. Primary schools do not prepare for it.

In Herts, Clement Danes in Chorleywood is a great school but catchment area is tight (excluding those admitted under the selective criteria).

The above is wholly irrelevant if you only see yourself there for a few years, but if it’s long term then considering your options for secondary is also wise.

The Amersham School and Chalfonts school are the Bucks secondary moderns in this area and they are absolutely not poor schools. Better than many comprehensive schools.

Little Chalfont and Chestnut Lane in Amersham have always been among the very best schools in this area. I’ve been around here for over 30 years! However any “good” school is also fine. You should look at the history of reports down the years but Little Chalfont and Chestnut Lane have always been sought after. So if you want either of them, live in catchment and as near to the schools as possible.

“Good” schools are mostly very good but when you can, try and visit to see what you prefer. Or at least read the prospectus and the heads newsletters to get a flavour of what they are like. It might take you a long time to buy a house in the right roads though!