Need state school recommendation in south west London

Bellaumbrealla · 2021-12-09T19:30:28+00:00

Hello everyone! Need some advice on choosing a primary school for my little one, areas include Hammersmith/Fulham/Barnes/Richmond/Wimbledon etc… My elder one received offer from Kings and St Paul so will be moving south down from center London, though we haven’t decided which school to go… His little sister’s school (we are thinking to put her in state school) will be a factor as well… Thank you for any advice!

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Mummy195 · 09/12/2021 19:55

Well have you looked at :
Barnes Primary
St Osmunds
East Sheen Primary
etc.

Personally, I think you will get more options of the top performing primaries in the Barnes/Sheen area - while at the same time being very close for DS.

For Wimbledon, you may have to go down to Wimbledon near the station, rather than Wimbledon Village for state primaries (this is considering that Kings is in the village). The upshot is that you have lots of great options for state girls senior schools. There is ofcourse, always Wimbledon High if you go private. Also, the option of her joining her brother in the 6th form.

So maybe, work your way back with your little girl. Where do you intend to send her for senior school.

If you come from central London, you may be spoilt from all the amenities, and it may be a bit hard to go all suburban, suddenly. So you may want to stick to Fulham and Hammersmith both still have great options.

Richmond in general has great schools. But your DS will have to travel to either of these schools.

All in all, you are spoilt for choice !

downtonupton · 09/12/2021 19:55

what age? starting Reception or in-year to an older year group?

Original poster

Bellaumbrealla · 09/12/2021 19:59

@Mummy195

Well have you looked at : Barnes Primary St Osmunds East Sheen Primary etc.

Personally, I think you will get more options of the top performing primaries in the Barnes/Sheen area - while at the same time being very close for DS.

For Wimbledon, you may have to go down to Wimbledon near the station, rather than Wimbledon Village for state primaries (this is considering that Kings is in the village). The upshot is that you have lots of great options for state girls senior schools. There is ofcourse, always Wimbledon High if you go private. Also, the option of her joining her brother in the 6th form.

So maybe, work your way back with your little girl. Where do you intend to send her for senior school.

If you come from central London, you may be spoilt from all the amenities, and it may be a bit hard to go all suburban, suddenly. So you may want to stick to Fulham and Hammersmith both still have great options.

Richmond in general has great schools. But your DS will have to travel to either of these schools.

All in all, you are spoilt for choice !

Thank you so much for all the information, very helpful! I will need some time to absorb them! Very kind of you, thanks again!

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Original poster

Bellaumbrealla · 09/12/2021 20:00

@downtonupton

what age? starting Reception or in-year to an older year group?

She’s a September girl now is 2. So will be jointing in 2 years I think? What time to register for state school, I have no knowledge on this yet

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ChildOfFriday · 09/12/2021 20:16

The deadline for applying to state school is the January before she starts, so you don't need to apply until the January when she is 4 if she is a September baby. There is no advantage in applying early- everyone who meets the deadline is treated equally. You don't exactly register her for state schools- you list preferences of the schools you want, and the admission criteria for each school (usually along the lines of children who have been in care, then siblings of current pupils, then ranked by the distance you live from the school, but each school will vary and some will have faith requirement) is applied to everyone who lists a school on their form to decide who gets places. You will always be offered a state school, but it may not be one of your preferences if you don't meet the admissions criteria.

There is an equal preference system, so each school you list is effectively a separate application, and the order only comes into play if more than one school is offered a place, in which case you'll be offered the one of those that you put highest. It is a common misconception that schools first consider those who listed them first and make offers, then those who listed them second, etc, but this is not the case, so you should list the schools in your genuine order of preference, but include somewhere at least one that you can be fairly sure of gaining a place at if possible.

Original poster

Bellaumbrealla · 09/12/2021 21:03

@ChildOfFriday

The deadline for applying to state school is the January before she starts, so you don't need to apply until the January when she is 4 if she is a September baby. There is no advantage in applying early- everyone who meets the deadline is treated equally. You don't exactly register her for state schools- you list preferences of the schools you want, and the admission criteria for each school (usually along the lines of children who have been in care, then siblings of current pupils, then ranked by the distance you live from the school, but each school will vary and some will have faith requirement) is applied to everyone who lists a school on their form to decide who gets places. You will always be offered a state school, but it may not be one of your preferences if you don't meet the admissions criteria.

There is an equal preference system, so each school you list is effectively a separate application, and the order only comes into play if more than one school is offered a place, in which case you'll be offered the one of those that you put highest. It is a common misconception that schools first consider those who listed them first and make offers, then those who listed them second, etc, but this is not the case, so you should list the schools in your genuine order of preference, but include somewhere at least one that you can be fairly sure of gaining a place at if possible.

Thank you so much! Your advice is very professional and helpful! Do you know an area with a few very good state school in south London easy to commute to Kings or St Paul in case we may not be offered by first choice one? Very appreciated!

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Mummy195 · 09/12/2021 21:10

Don't know how you did with your DS, but you may want to consider a school with a Nursery option for DD? It does not guarantee entry to Reception at the same school, but it may not be as far away/ far off as you think and time flies.

ChildOfFriday · 09/12/2021 21:15

@Bellaumbrealla No problem I'm afraid I don't know anything about areas or schools in London in particular (the admissions system
I described is the law across England) but there will be plenty on here who will be knowledgeable and be able to offer more specific advice. Best of luck.

Original poster

Bellaumbrealla · 09/12/2021 21:23

thanks!

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LIZS · 09/12/2021 21:27

If she is only two you have two years before you apply for a state school Reception place.

Mustbemagic · 10/12/2021 13:13

Some of the faith state schools are well-regarded in SW (eg in Putney, Fulham, Southfields etc)... be prepared that you may need to start attending a local church now if you would consider applying to one, or the closest school to your new address happens to be a Christian school. Many ask for something like 2yrs+ church attendance when you apply.

RedWingBoots · 10/12/2021 13:23

As you will be getting in on the distance criteria work out routes that will take your oldest child up to 50 minutes to get to school in rush hour. (This is because when things go wrong it can take him longer to get back.) Then look at the nearest state schools in the locations you end up in.

Then from there Google to see if you can find:

The schools latest OFSTED reports. Read the reports thoroughly and don't just go on the rating as a "Good" school may actually be better than an "Outstanding" school for your daughter. (You kind of have to read between the lines.)

The furthest distance they allowed pupils in for the last few years. So if the last pupil they allowed in lived a 1.5 miles away for the last 3 out of 4 years and one year it was 1.75 miles away there is no point applying to the school if you live 2 miles away.

Lolakath19 · 10/12/2021 16:13

There are lots of fantastics options in Wimbledon:
Lots are outstanding primary
Bishop Gilpin CofE Primary School
Holy trinity
st Mary Catholic primary school
Dundonald Primary School
Sheringdale Primary School
Coombe Hill Junior School
Earlsfield Primary School
Merton Park Primary School

and lots of outstanding secondary
Ursuline high school
Ricards lodge high
Rutlish

As well as lots of independent with stellar results
The Study Preparatory School (girls)
ursuline prep (mixed)
wellington school (mixed)
wimbledon high (girl)
Hall school

Did not put the boys only schools

Don't think any other location will give you as many options!
Plus so easy to commute to central london with district line!

TragicallyUnbeyachted · 10/12/2021 16:17

Sheen is pretty much uniformly good for state primary schools -- and is very convenient for St Paul's / pretty convenient for Wimbledon.

titchy · 10/12/2021 16:21

Why are you sending your son to private but your daughter to state?

Lolakath19 · 10/12/2021 16:30

@titchy she probably had her son in a state school until year 2 and have him sit exams for Kings and St Paul and will certainly do something similar for her daughter.

titchy · 10/12/2021 16:33

So why isn't her dd just going to the same state school her brother went to then? Why go through all the hassle and £££ of a house move just for a couple of years? Unlikely I'd have thought.

Anyway not relevant to the thread at all but how awful for the dd that her parents don't think she's worth spending money on her education at such a young age.

Lolakath19 · 10/12/2021 16:38

Because from what I understand they are not leaving in the Kings St Paul area and are wanting to move for their son to be close from school and dont have to commute as he is still little. Seems her daughter is very little so she is looking for the best state option in the new area they will be living in.

Mustbemagic · 10/12/2021 16:48

@titchy - the schools go through to 18 so not likely to be a move for only a couple of years?

BlackberrySky · 10/12/2021 16:51

There are lots of fantastics options in Wimbledon:
Lots are outstanding primary
Bishop Gilpin CofE Primary School
Holy trinity
st Mary Catholic primary school
Dundonald Primary School
Sheringdale Primary School
Coombe Hill Junior School
Earlsfield Primary School
Merton Park Primary School

OP, note that Sherigdale, Coombe and Earlsfield in this list above are not actually in Wimbledon. They are fairly nearby but you won't get in if you live in Wimbledon Village, round the Broadway, Merton Park or Wimbledon Chase. Missing from the list of outstanding schools in Wimbledon is also Wimbledon Chase.

BlackberrySky · 10/12/2021 16:51

Sorry, bold fail. It never seems to work for me!

RedWingBoots · 10/12/2021 18:37

I actually know some of the schools listed in BlackberrySky posts each have a small catchment area. This is why I said work out where your son can commute from then find primary schools in the area that you can feasibly get your daughter into.

While your daughter has been born into a year with a low number of births there are lots of families, so children, living further out in London.

Original poster

Bellaumbrealla · 10/12/2021 20:25

@Mummy195

Don't know how you did with your DS, but you may want to consider a school with a Nursery option for DD? It does not guarantee entry to Reception at the same school, but it may not be as far away/ far off as you think and time flies.

Thanks for your advice which is very sensible. Planing to move in about a year’s time and leave enough time for finding a house/redecorating etc..so it will be time to register my DD for reception.

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Original poster

Bellaumbrealla · 10/12/2021 20:26

@Mustbemagic

Some of the faith state schools are well-regarded in SW (eg in Putney, Fulham, Southfields etc)... be prepared that you may need to start attending a local church now if you would consider applying to one, or the closest school to your new address happens to be a Christian school. Many ask for something like 2yrs+ church attendance when you apply.

Thank you yes I did hear this from a friend but we have no religion so will have no advantage on this

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Original poster

Bellaumbrealla · 10/12/2021 20:28

Thank you!
Well I never realise that she was born in the low birth rate year and this might be with a lot benefit for her, like your point of view

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