Haywards Heath primary school thoughts - Harlands vs Lindfield?

[RoseAdagio]

Hi everyone,
Not sure whether this will get any traction here or would be better in the local forum. DD is due to start school next Sept. We are catchment for Harlands and would overall be very happy with there, but have now seen the Lindfield Primary has added an extra class which obviously significantly increases the radius for its admissions. I think, based on lat year's data, we might be able to get in there too despite Harlands being our catchment school. Both are obviously objectively good. Lindfield's statistics for pupils exceeding the expected standard are very attractive to me. I also love the sound of their forest school, and the village setting (although Harlands also has lovely big, green leafy grounds too!) I just wondered if anyone on here had any experience of either. Is Lindfield significantly better? Harlands would be walkable, Lindfield wouldn't so unless the difference is significant I'm still leaning towards Harlands but would welcome any insights.

Thanks in advance!

I think that the extra class is a bulge year? Plus Lindfield are proposing merging with Blackthorns so many changes afoot. It will make it very big in size especially compared with other local schools. I’ve had friends there who have really struggled with the playground politics between the parents which has impacted on the children so that may be something to consider.
I don’t have much knowledge of Harlands. In Haywards Heath you are lucky as actually they are all good schools it’s just which one suits your child and in my opinion the only way to know is to go and look around. Look around them all as most have forest schools and the outlying village schools are also rather nice.

Hello, I know this was an old post but just wondering @RoseAdagio if you ever made a decision? We are about to move to the area and would be within the harland primary school area. Just wondering if you had any insight on the school. Many thanks 😊

Which year group will you be looking for?

Hi there, thanks for replying. He's only 3 and half so would be starting next September 2024. We would be 100m from harlands primary and seems like it's an ok school but haven't visited and don't actually know anyone in the area. So just wondering if any one knows any issues or good points about it?

It’s fine, like I said previously Haywards Heath has lots of good primary schools with just personal ‘feeling’ to choose between them. The schools out in the villages are lovely too. We are lucky here in that respect. You may visit Harlands and think it’s perfect for your child or maybe you won’t. I would always go and look around as what is fab for one kid may be awful for another. Being that close to Harlands would make it most likely to be your most likely to get into but you never know!

Thanks very much for taking time to reply. Yes will definitely look around the schools but it sounded like from admissions that as we are so near harlands would be hard to get into other schools as they are all oversubscribed. Never know though! Great to know that lots of good ones to choose from 😊 thanks again