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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Darley Dene Infant School, Addlestone Surrey

25 replies

wools · 24/04/2009 06:58

Just wondering if any mnetters have any knowledge of this school. We have recently moved to Weybridge and are on the waiting lists for our preferred schools but in the meantime Surrey Council have allocated a place at Darley Dene for my ds who is currently in year one.

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AAE · 24/04/2009 22:43

My son went to the nursery there because I was pregnant and could no longer send him to the Day nursery and all other preschools were full. He had a good time there and I didn't want to disrupt him so kept him there in reception. However, other mums (and therefore kids) took the mick out of him for talking 'posh' - the school had a high level of disruptive children and DS being low maintenance got ignored and has thrived since moving school - really happy and scoring 1 and 2 years ahead of expected levels.

This was a few years ago now but to be honest I'm not sure it has changed.

Babbity · 24/04/2009 23:48

Addlestone has quite a different demographic to Weybridge - is that your only option? - there are definitely better primaries in Addlestone.

happilyconfused · 25/04/2009 00:09

Difficult - it will take time to get to in the morning. If you take the main road there's a chance you will get stuck with the level crossing by Addlestone station - the queue to get into St G or to the M25 - otherwise you could chance it and go via Brooklands.

I think there was a bit of an uproar by middle class Weybridge a couple of years ago when the council tried to send pupils there. I think Darley Dene is the one opposite the Police Station surrounded by some high rise flats.

scienceteacher · 25/04/2009 05:41

Bumping for Cargirl who is the expert in Addlestone schools.

I agree that, if nothing else, the traffic will be very unpleasant. My boys are at school in Addlestone and it can take forever to get there if you hit it at the wrong time.

Original poster

wools · 25/04/2009 07:22

Thanks everybody.
AAE - that's my worry. My DS is going to a lovely school at the moment and I worry that this is school is a little rough and will drag him down.
Babbity - it's the only option that Surrey have offered us. We do have his name on the waiting lists for 3 other very good primary schools but who knows if he'll ever get a place offered.
Happily Confused and Scienceteacher - very good point about the traffic.

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Original poster

wools · 25/04/2009 07:23

Should have said although he's going to a lovely school - it's in Ealing and the journey is driving us nuts.

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AAE · 25/04/2009 09:12

The Grange in New Haw is fab and Ongar Place Addlestone is also good....

scienceteacher · 25/04/2009 12:36

I think Lyne and Longcross school has a good reputation and I think they often have spaces. It is a bit of a trek from Weybridge (the other side of St Peter's Hospital).

Original poster

wools · 25/04/2009 12:38

Thanks AAE. Will have a look at those.

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Babbity · 25/04/2009 14:59

Agree about trying L&L - it's a great school - you could also try Trumps Green Infants in Virginia Water.

Original poster

wools · 26/04/2009 06:37

Thanks Scienceteacher and Babbity - will have a look at those.

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Original poster

wools · 26/04/2009 07:12

Just had a look at Lyne& Longcross website - it seems a very nice school. Will call them tomorrow.

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Babbity · 26/04/2009 14:16

You could also try Meadowcroft - it got a satisfactory in its last Ofsted compared to L&L's "Good", but it has a good reputation, and I have a friend who changed her mind after allocations and gave up a place at Lyne & Longcross to sent her DD to Meadowcroft. It, like L&L, does have the odd place available.

Original poster

wools · 26/04/2009 16:58

Thanks Babbity, I'll have a look.

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Babbity · 27/04/2009 20:25

How did you get on today wools?

overweightnoverdrawn · 28/04/2009 14:51

try st james c of e nice school .

Original poster

wools · 29/04/2009 07:00

Thanks overweight.

Babbity - finding it very frustrating as I seem to spend most of my time in a car going back and forth to Ealing driving him to and from school (I also have ds2 at afternoon nursery there), leaving little time for ringing around. They are both on 4 waiting lists now but not sure this is nearly enough so will need to contact more schools but when?????

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Babbity · 29/04/2009 20:58

I don't really know - probably the more the better. Oh, have you tried the infants in Ottershaw? - that's nice. It's almost a pity he's going into Y1 as I know for a fact that there'll be some movement on the Reception waiting list as a friend is waiting for a private schol place to come up but is keeping the Ottershaw place just in case

Original poster

wools · 30/04/2009 07:13

Babbity - only last night my friend was telling me about the infants in Ottershaw. Her dd goes there and she was singing it's praises. I will give them a call.

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Original poster

wools · 09/05/2009 15:27

Just an update everyone. I visited the school in Ottershaw and was very impressed. To my delighted surprise, they are able to offer places to both ds1 and ds2. I can't believe we've been so fortunate. Thanks so much to everyone for all your great advice.

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sunshineandrainbows · 12/05/2009 09:29

My daughter went to Darley Dene and I travelled from Byfleet by choice to put my daughter there and I can not sing it's praises enough. She came out at level 3's in all her end of year 2 SATS and still talks about how much she loved the school. I was part of the group that rallied to save it and feel that by doing so we have kept a much valued and needed school. Despite the threat of closure years ago when the independant adjudicator came in to give the final decision she said it was too valuable to the community to be closed and sung its praises. Keep in mind that only 5% of schools threatened with closure actually get saved so you can see how special the school is. I am putting my youngest daughter there next year, thats if I am lucky enough to get a place for her as I live out of area and I know it was nearly full for reception class this year. People rule out Darley Dene without even going there to have a look around but I think if they took the time to take a look that they would be surprised. It is a fantastic school and stands for all the things that are important to a child's early education.

Original poster

wools · 12/05/2009 13:44

Sunshineandrainbows that's really good to know. I know that they had a fantastic ofsted report. I wish you success in your application for a reception place.

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Mumtojbl · 15/05/2009 23:52

I want to let everyone know what a great school Darley Dene is!!!! We moved from Woking last year and I had the worst experiences ever at Barnsbury Infant School!! We moved to Addlestone and my two younger children now go to Darley Dene and I couldn't fault it. It's fantastic, my two are doing so well and I can only say that it was the best choice I have ever made for them!! The after school clubs are good and varied, and my two never finish before 4.15pm every day now as they attend all clubs and for a really affordable price. They are due to move to Junior school in September and although I am more than pleased with my choice, I am also sad that they are leaving such a caring and dedicated group of people and I will continue to support the school and being a member of the PTFA!! Forget the surroundings, I promise anyone that they are not of any importance and given their time over, I would NOT send them anywhere else!!!!

Babbity · 16/05/2009 16:01

wools - great news - I hope they're both happy there.

scienceteacher · 16/05/2009 17:10

Just saw your news from a week ago, Wools - congratulations on finding something that fits with your family

Sunshine and Mumtbl, I hear what you are saying about Darley Dene. You can't always tell from first impressions of the catchment area. My kids all went to a primary school in a nearby town to Addlestone. It was regarded by others as the bottom, or second-bottom, of the heap - judged by catchment area and the type of mums who hung around outside the school gates.

Not all my kids did all the SATs, but the ones who did got all level 5s in Y6, or all level 3s in Y2. Within the school, they were definitely adding value to children who had a pretty rough start in life. The local secondary school always commented on how socialised (well behaved/well mannered) the children from this primary were.

I have now moved all of my children who were at that school into the independent sector and I can now see the deficiencies in the curriculum there - but they did a good job with the kids they got, and my DDs still keep in touch with their former schoolfriends. My DD1 won an academic scholarship to her independent senior school, so the teaching at her rinky dink primary school was obviously OK.

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