London Primary Catholic Schools

[soymama1821]

Hello everyone!

We are a British-American family moving back to London after a couple of years in NYC. My kids were both in primary education at a Catholic School in NYC and coming back we applied for 2 very different Catholic Primary Schools. One in Kensington & Chelsea - Our Lady of Victories RC Primary and The Good Shepherd Catholic Primary School in Hammersmith & Fulham.

My question is 1) does anyone have any experience with either of these schools. 2) Our Lady of Victories RC Primary just converted to an academy and from what I understand this is similar to a charter school in the US. Is this a good thing? For reference charter schools aren't reputable in the US and I wouldn't enroll my kids if it were in the US. Is it different somehow in England? Would love any advise it will help us make our final decision! TIA.

No experience of these schools but Charter/ Academy schools are not the same. They’re more selective and ‘free’ from local authority control. Have you been able to visit either?

The academy that it is part of includes Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School and St Joseph's, Chelsea which are both excellent schools. Two years ago I assumed OLV would be our first pick, however the school was going through a period of transition with heads and a lot was up in the air. I originally met Mrs Wyatt at a St Joseph’s open night and she was there as interim head - I liked her and it was clear she was at OLV to steady things.

Many schools still have open mornings for prospective families, are you able visit? We found them helpful to get a sense of the atmosphere of the school and other families, and where we might be most compatible.

As far as Chelsea / Fulham Catholic schools go, have you looked at St Joseph’s, Oratory Primary, Servite, or Holy Cross Fulham? The first two as oversubscribed but occasional places come up.

Are those the only two you're looking at and is the area final? Not far from there you also have St Gregory's in Ealing, which is a lovely school and also is a feeder school for Cardinal Wiseman secondary which has a fantastic reputation. I don't know about the two you mention but London has a lot of brilliant primaries but fewer good secondaries, so keeping an eye on what happens after primary is sensible.

You can read the ofsted reports online on the Ofsted website. Academy status here is not similar to a US charter school. Wait and see if you get places before deciding which you prefer.

You've picked a good area, there are lots of excellent Catholic primaries in west London.

The two schools you mention are not in the same borough so I assume you haven't yet got somewhere to live - you need to sort that first as you need an address to apply for places.

You don't say how old the DC are and as someone has said upthread the better regarded schools won't necessarily have places but it is easier if they are Y3-6 (classes are strictly limited in size below that age) and of course as soon as one has a place the other(s) can go on the waiting list and if they prioritise siblings move up the list. Check the admissions criteria for any that you are interested in carefully as the Catholic criteria won't be exactly the same in every school.

Good luck with the move