Primary schools in Chislehurst

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Hello

We have recently moved to Chislehurst and I have been attending schools' Open Days as our daughter is starting reception on September 2022. I've also looked at the league tables but would love to have your input and local knowledge. Any recommendations or thoughts about the local primary schools?

These are my impressions so far:
St. Nicholas - lovely school but I was a bit disappointed when I visited it. It is really small without own outdoor space (not fenced but well supervised). We are attending the Church so we could potentially be admitted though I know that the competition is high.

Mead Road Infant School - such a nice small school with great outdoor space. The challenge is the transition from Level 3 onwards to a new school

Red Hill - impressive facilities, too big - what about academic performance and support to students? there was only one teaching assistant per year (and there were 3-4 classes for each year)

St Peters & St Paul in Orpington - small intake but feel of a spacious school. Really liked it though is a bit of a drive (we meet the Church criteria).

St Georges in Bickley - I have not attended the open day yet but I have heard really positive things about it. Also a bit of a drive

St. James Catholic - not attended the open day but have heard very positive things. Strict admissions criteria that we may not meet and bit of a drive.

Hi there 👋

What schools have you applied for in the end? We have looked at the same schools as you have. Our top 2 are mead road and st nicks. I know parents at both who are very happy.

St nicks - we really liked although the outdoor space was lacking and it is a bit old and stuffy inside. I like the 1 form entry and that if our child was to get in their 2 siblings likely would. It has great results and not too far away. But we don't have church attendance so would be complete luck to get in.

Mead road we really liked but put off that Redhill is the feeder. Although nice we found it way too big for us and also pretty far away. Mead road we wouldn't get sibling guarantee and again a long shot to get it. Lovely looking school.

St. Peter and St. Paul I didn't get a good impression but that was just going off the open day. I found it quite cold feeling. Could have just been the day though. Shame as very close to us.

Midfield was ok. Nothing to fault but didn't love it.

Really not sure!

Hello 👋

Our top two are also St Nicks and Mead Road. But which one would be best as first choice if we could get in to either? Loved Mead Road but transition can be an issue (?). Totally echo your sentiments about St Nicks and Redhill.

As for St Peter & St Paul I met a mum whose both girls attended there and are at university now. She spoke highly of the school and what a great role it played in their growth. I find valuable that they seem to work well with disadvantaged children and to get good academic achievements overall. I can see though what you mean about somehow “cold feeling”. Great facilities though!

If I am not wrong we can still edit our preferences after submission until close of day on Saturday. So I am still thinking if having Mead Road as first would be best suited in our daughter’s case (close by to our home, cosy feel but great facilities, good with bilingual kids).

Hopefully we will make the right choices!!

Hi there 👋 I have sent you a private message :)

Maybe a bit late now but Mead Road is a lovely school, especially as a new reception pupil. Some go on to Edgebury after, some to Red Hill.

Red Hill is obviously a very different proposition to Mead Road but is becoming a pretty good school (the recent Ofsted shows the direction of travel and the 2015 certainly no longer applies). Seems to focus more on those who are struggling or doing as expected than stretching the most academic, but overall we are very happy with it.

Thank you so much for your comments which are very helpful. We put Mead Road Infant as second and St Nicks as first but until last minute we kept changing the order between these two. We will be equally happy with either! Thanks again

You shouldn't go wrong with either - both great options

Hello, I know this is an old thread but can I please ask what schools people ended up choosing in the end and any feedback? I am going back and forth between St Nicks and Mead Road, potentially Scott’s Park. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!!

Both Chislehurst options are good. If you have the option I'd take St Nick's first - as long as you're happy with the school building and arrangements for outdoor play - for continuity through the school and progression afterwards.

The only thing we didn't like about Mead Road was the trust and its taste for nonsense management jargon.

I've no direct experience of Scotts Park other than it being part of the same trust as Mead Road and some movement to and fro of teachers.

Hi we didn’t get into st Nicks, I believe we were about 10th on the wait list. Mead Road we also didn’t get offered a space but were offered one a few days before school started. By this point we had already seen a private we loved so went down that route. I have friends with kids at both schools and both very happy :)