Experiences of Muswell Hill primary schools with nursery vs St Michael's?

[MuswellHillMom]

Hi everyone,
We're currently looking at primary schools with nursery (my girl is 3 and would start this coming September) in the Muswell Hill area, and I'd love to hear from parents with first-hand experience.
We're particularly interested in:

• St James' CofE Primary School
• Rhodes Avenue Primary School
• Our Lady of Muswell Catholic Primary School
• Tetherdown Primary School

We'd love to know what your children and families have experienced in terms of:

• Academic standards
• Teaching quality
• SEN support
• School community and parent involvement
• Behaviour and pastoral care
• Homework expectations
• Transition to secondary school

We're also considering St Michael's CofE Primary School in Highgate Village. For those who chose St Michael's, was the extra journey worth it compared with the Muswell Hill schools?
Any insights, positives, negatives, or things you wish you'd known before applying would be hugely appreciated.
Thank you!

Just a heads up - the nursery places for September will already have been allocated and your daughter will need to go on a waiting list.

I know most of the schools you’ve mentioned and I do think St Michael’s is worth the extra journey. The grounds are amazing and it’s such a lovely environment. There’s a great community feel and the parents are very involved. Academic standards are high, as they are in most of the schools you’ve listed. You are fortunate to be in an area with a choice of excellent schools.
St Michael’s wins hands down in terms of overall space and outside learning, it has a big playing field surrounded by trees, a running track, playground equipment and is set up for tennis during the summer term. There are gardens and a big allotment for growing vegetables and the children do all get involved with planting and gardening generally.
However, the children do wear uniform ( unlike Rhodes, Tetherdown, and Muswell Hill) so that might be a factor in your decision.

Thanks so much for your concern. She is already accepted by all of them (except Tetherdown, as they do not do nursery)

Thanks so much for your message! I have heard so many beautiful things about St. Michael's, and it is my first choice alongside St. James'. I love uniforms and all of them, in one way or another, have a uniform (even if it is just a logo on a sweatshirt). I am just concerned about the distance from our house, as it is indeed quite far, and I do not want to be the only parent who doesn't join in birthday parties or community gatherings. All the other schools are within walking distance from the heart of Muswell Hill, while St. Michael's is more in Highgate. I think having so many good options makes it harder to make a decision.

Lots of the children at St Michael’s live in Muswell Hill, some are even in catchment for APS on the far side of MH.