There are a few spare places for KS2 pupils at an 'outstanding' (Ofsted) primary school in Greenwich with smaller than average class sizes.

[NotKnown]

Our school newsletter states there are a few vacancies for KS2 pupils at our school and to pass the word around to families we know.

Christchurch school (by Oxleas Wood on Shooters Hill Road, just within Greenwich but near the border with Bexley) is a brilliant little primary school scoring very highly in the league tables. Class sizes average 24 or less. The reason there are vacancies is because families sometimes leave the area.

My child joined the school when he was in KS2 and it was a really good move for him. He settled down really well - the school has a very friendly, caring environment. The excellent staff have high expectations of the pupils and this helped him pass his 11+.

The school is a C of E church school. If your child joins in the reception year, you need to demonstrate some form or church attendance. Children do not have to be baptised. I do not know if the same criteria applies to children taking up KS2 vacancies. It would be best to talk to the school.

Oh, and if anyone out there is interested in applying, PLEASE say you heard of the KS2 vacancies via a friend, NOT via mumsnet as I an trying to be as anonymous as possible

how odd
to advertise a shcool like this

erm........

maybe the school should put an article in the local papers?

yes very strange.Why post this on MN - and why say to deny you heard it onMN?

or if i was the o id say sod it and rejoice in a tiny class

Not an ad, just passing on what's in our school newsletter. The school is not a fee paying one - it's a state school.

surely interested parents would be applying anyway?

IME lot of local parents do not realise the school sometimes has vacancies in KS2, so don't think about applying.

I am doing this as my son had such a good experience being a pupil there. He joined late after we asked if KS2 vacancies ever came up.

Why is everyone so cynical????
Like the OP, my DC go to a school where there an unholy bunfight to get in in and ususally only the adjacent streets make it for reception, then people drop out in KS2, and the Head Teacher needs to fill places to get her per-pupil funding.
Why bash the OP for drawing attention to something that other local parents might be grateful to be told???

because i have never seen a school advertised on here before.. interested to know the reasoning behind it..

I didn't read this as advertising - simply letting it be known to any one who is thinking of changing schools that there is one which has vacancies.

People often don't stay on the waiting list into KS2.

Is the KS2 for year 6 pupils,ie. the last year of primary school?

KS2 will be for year 3 and above.

Also if the school has smaller than average class sizes a few pupils dropping out or moving away or whatever might mean that class sizes become too small and funding is lost so year groups have to be put together and teachers are lost.

It's a smashing school with an excellent reputation locally. If we had lived near it I'd happily have sent my children there
I think you are right NotKnown - it is so oversubscribed at Reception stage that people never think the waiting list might have dwindled by Yr 3.

Exactly, MrsGuyofGisburn and Blu!

I am simply passing on some possibly helpful information to any local parents out there.

The school is very oversubscribed for the reception year and AFAIK, parents who do not get their child in don't often stay on the waiting list into KS2. There are only a few vacancies at the moment - it is not a common occurrance for the school to have lots of vacancies.

The reason the classes are smaller than average is purely because of the size limitations of the school buildings (so no need for me to keep the info to myself, Cod, as the classes will never be over 30 pupils no matter how many children apply). There is simply not enough room to accommodate larger numbers. I know the classes are definitely well under 30 pupils per class 24 on average is my guess. Each class has a teacher plus at least one teaching assistant.

For info, KS2 is year 3,4, 5, and 6.