Thames Ditton primary school. Is it just full of posh white families?

[Seekingchange]

We are a mixed race family and live in Thames Ditton. Our DC will start school next year and we are considering several schools in the area, the TD infant school is our favourite so far. My main concern is around its location and the fact that (I assume) the vast majority of families attending will be white, posh british middle class whereas we are a mixed race (and mixed nationality) family living in a lovely but modest maisonette, not a 4-5 bed mansion costing 6 figures like the vast majority of houses I see in the area.
I want my DC to make some good friends and I want us to feel like we fit in as I think school is a massively important step in our family life. Are we going to feel cut out? Am I possibly overthinking this?

Thanks all. Does anyone know anything about Thames Ditton Junior?

OP, I can't help with Thames Ditton schools, but I live in Teddington (which as you probably know is very similar) and we are also a mixed race family, on a lower income than yours.

I think it is really important to consider the ethnic make up of your kids schools, though of course not the most important thing. Be aware that secondaries will tend to be more mixed than primaries. Don't take other parents' words for how mixed a school is - IME some white parents tend to significantly overstate. Look up the stats but also go to the playground gates at pick up time. Think through what other factors are important to your children and how to weight these.

My kids schools had enough black children for them to have friends who looked like them, but not enough for them to feel normal or get much in the way of cultural reinforcement. On the other hand, they got good teaching, stable school populations, a great sense of community and safety. Overall, I think it's worked out pretty well.

Best of luck.

TDJS is not as good as the infant equivalent. There is quiet parental dissatisfaction and children with SEN in particular seem to be choosing to leave or made to feel unwelcome.

@CherryHinton what is it about it that isn’t good, apart from the special need thing you mentioned?

That hasn't been our experience of the school. We really like it. Nice families and a good sense of community. We like the staff.
I do think though that there is a misunderstanding about the level of support children get in the juniors. They don't do the typical 1:1 that the infants do but I suppose if a child needs 1:1 in a junior school then they probably wouldn't be going to mainstream for year 7? I don't think they'd actively turn people away but I do think they try to be honest.

Not normally! I say that with a Dad that went to one. His family and he are a different breed 😂

@frumcheers thanks so much. Is there a big variety of families and incomes you find? For example children living in flats and modest homes? The area around the school seems so expensive.
What do you mean the the 1:1 support in the junior school, not sure I understood that?

there's a mixture but i'd say that the majority are 'better off' I suppose. it depends on your point of reference.
the 1:1 support means that in the infants they would have an adult with one child if they have special needs and the juniors don't do that

it is a nice school though and we've found the families friendly and new children seem to fit in and make friends

Thank you @frumcheers as mentioned above we are not doing badly either but definitely wouldn’t say well off given our modest home compared to what I see here. Are there kids from different backgrounds and nationalities too?

Stop being so fragile and passive aggresive, its perfectly acceptable for a child that society percieves as black, to be worried about being the only black child in the school.

In fact on Mumsnet I've seen white parents post worries about sending their DC to a black or Asian majority school, and it was a normal concern, not banned ....stop shit stirring...

I don’t think this is really the issue (although may be wrong). The OP wants to ensure there are enough parents “like them”, which seems to be both from a wealth and a culture perspective, rather than a concern for the child per se.
OP, you seem quite hung up on whether people have more money or not and live in bigger flats or houses. This isn’t an issue with your child - everyone will be welcoming I think it’s more how you perceive things…..

@Choccybuttonsandprosecco yeah I know but I just wanted to get a feeling for what type of people go to that school as we'd also like to make friends in the long run, that's all

Exactly what? A piss poor comparison raised by a wilfully stirrer....what deep insight

Hilarious thread- as if you have to be white to be "posh".