Wimbledon/Merton primaries

[Hellomynameis123]

I’d be really grateful for some advice! We are looking to move to Wimbledon or Merton. I quite like the ‘Australia’s’ bit of Merton. We have a baby and would like to have him at a state primary. It’s hard not knowing the areas!

From my reading (ie locrating) it seems that Wimbledon Chase/Dundonald/Bishop Gilpin are by far the best academically? Then perhaps Merton Park Primary, then St Mary’s. Though of course that’s just based on some stats etc which isn’t always a good representation. I am Catholic and have been to mass weekly for most of my life - not recently but thinking of restarting now I’ve had the little one.

If anyone has any thoughts/advice that would be appreciated.

We would quite like him to go to a state grammar for secondary if he is bright - of course we don’t know whether that will be the case yet! I did state primary then state grammar and it was great; that was in days where only a few people had tutoring/prep and most turned up and did the exam after doing a few practice papers - I guess it’s not like that anymore. Are any of the states particularly good at preparing children towards the Tiffin/Sutton exams?

Thanks :)

Those are all great schools - but none will prepare for the grammar school exams. That isn’t what Merton (or Kingston, or Sutton) state primaries do. Many people get tutors or prepare at home using Bond books, etc.

Birth rates are dropping in Merton so you might find you have more chance at schools that would have been non starters from that area a few years ago.

Holy Trinity is rated 'excellent' in South Park area. Priory and Garfield also popular.
There's also Hollymount in Raynes Park.
I have no idea now, but when we were trying to get my son into state school he didn't get into his four nearest schools (those you mention and Hollymount, our nearest) due to oversubscription. We were offered Joseph Hood.
Competition for Tiffin is fairly fierce.

Do think about size as well - Wimbledon Chase is three form entry (with facilities to match), Merton Park one form. From the “Australias” - which I think might be Old Merton Park? - your most likely school is probably Pelham, also a very good school, but everything may change by the time your child hits school age. Do look at the school nurseries too from age 3 too - they all have one.

Is Wimbledon College not on the radar, with you being Catholic?

Thanks for your reply
I realise that the competition for Tiffin is fierce - to be honest Balham would suit us better but that is out of catchment for applying for Tiffin. Maybe we should just go for Balham!

sometimes I wonder about a few years in state school and then 7/8+ for private school for a few years to improve chances of grammar in secondary. I don’t know if people manage to do that?

Thanks. We are looking at boscombe road type area.

from what I read I don’t think you have to go to the school that is closest to your house and it is done by preferences ( taking into account preferences of others closest to schools you want first)?

Potentially
We had planned private secondary or state grammar if he got in - but of course circumstances can change!

For Tiffin you need to be naturally bright enough to get in regardless of prep/primary + tutor. Plus the vat on fees issue will make it even harder as more families move from private to state.

In 10 years time private schools will really be the option for only the super rich.

Do not base a house move on Tiffin entry in 10 years time - it's completely unrealistic and Tiffin already is and will certainly be 1 of the most competitive schools in the U.K. to gain a place at.

I'd definitely plan around him being not that bright (worst case scenario!) as I think the facilities at Wimbledon College or Rutlish would be far better than those at the new Harris Wimbledon, which would be your closest secondary school in where you're thinking of moving to.

Incidentally, Rutlish improved significantly after the 2008 financial crash as it absorbed a lot of ex-private schoolboys, and ones who would have gone private!

primary schools will not really help with the 11+, you will most likely need to get a tutor as a lot of the 11+ exam is things that are not taught in schools such as the non-verbal reasoning section of the exam

I agree entirely - we’ve no idea and as you say it’s competitive
just would seem a shame if rules stayed the same and he didn’t get the chance to apply and we looked back and thought well we did know the rules!

Absolutely you don’t have to go to your nearest primary - but as the peak baby birth years hit reception schools filled up with those that lived closest since that was the key oversubscription criteria (faith schools aside. Holy Trinity at one point had a furthest distance offered of around 300m for non-Anglicans so even those on the same street didn’t get in. That’s slightly in the past now but would still advise putting Pelham on the form somewhere as a “banker”. If you are Catholic St Mary’s is a great school and the catchment is large, so baptised and practicing from anywhere in the Wimbledon area should get you in.

PS Old Merton Park is a really nice family friendly area, and the tram makes it very easy to get places. Lots of green space too. Kingston Road is a bit grotty in places though.