Mansby Lodge or St James - Weybridge

[Pearcie]

Can anyone tell me anything about either of these primary schools? I know Mansby only goes up to 7 so where do most of the pupils go after here? We are out of the catchment for Oatlands and St Charles is Catholic so Mansby Lodge and St James are our options. Have looked at the Ofsted reports but it would be good to hear something from people who actually have experience of either school.

I would recommend you go on a visit or call Manby and ask which schools the previous intake went to. I would guess some children (as well as going to Weybridge schools) get allocated schools in New Haw/West Byfleet.

You are right, there is an issue with the Cleves catchment, which means unless you are very close (i.e. Oatlands) you are unlikely to get in, although the catchment does appears to shift and change year on year.

This year, because of a high number of applications there has been an extra 30 places for both Oatlands and Manby (making a total of 90 in each school). This may have meant the catchment area for Oatlands
has been a bit wider than in previous years and therefore don't rule it out completely.

In terms of St James, there is a new Headteacher due to start but apparently he comes with a very good reputation.

I don't have any direct experience of the schools but hopefully this will give you something to go on.