primary schools in east sheen/richmond

[gottasmile]

Well, it's getting closer to our move to London (from Canada) and we've narrowed down an area to live - East Sheen.

We've looked at websites of Marshgate, Sheen Mount and East Sheen and we're going to try to search for a house near one of these schools.

Does anyone know the area? Can you recommend one school over another?

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

They're all good schools and which one you get into will depend very much on where you live, as you suggest. If I were you, I'd find a house you love and then take the school that follows, if you see what I mean; I know children (and parents) at all three schools and would happily send my children to any of them (and have/do to one of them). Good luck with the move. It's a great area to live.

Thank you singersgirl, that's very reassuring!! I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that we'll get our ds into a school in time! (we arrive 1st of July)

It looks like a lovely area, the priority has always been to find a nice school, area, playgroup for the dc so I'm nervous but hopeful at the same time!!

i would think ahead of secondary schools as well (how long are you staying in the area?) as they are pretty shite in that area. lots of families go private for secondary. catchments are pretty tight as well - down to just a few streets for some of the schools.

but is v nice

I have a friend whose elder two are at Marshgate (and youngest starting there this year). She's extremely happy with it. But I agree with singersgirl, they are all good schools. It's at secondary level that things get more dicey.

When you are looking at houses it might be worth chatting to the school offices about availability of places and likelihood of getting in from a particular spot. The estate agents will tell you that they are in the catchment but don't believe them as sometimes it can be down to a few hundred metres(especially with Sheen Mount, and also East Sheen for some years)

It will also depend how old your children are, and I think it can be quite difficult to get a child into reception of any of those schools this late in the year unless you live very close by, spots do come up easier in the later years though (and then hopefully a sibling rule would then appply to a reception entry.

All great schools BTW

Ds is 6 and will be starting in year 2.

My dd is only 2, so should hopefully get in too when the time comes.

We're only in England for 5 years, dh has been posted here and we can't stay more than 5 years unfortunately (I LOVE England and spent 2 years in London pre kids), but that will solve the secondary problem.

I think we'll literally have to find a house next door to the school by the sounds of it!

itsnotatoy, I will definitely take your advice - thanks!

Thank you so much to all who replied.

I would definitely ring the schools to find out if any spaces are available. Getting into year 2 should be easier than reception and the distances dont matter as much. All are lovely schools. Marshgate has alot of foreign students which is good in terms of meeting other expats and for movement on the waiting list. Enjoy East Sheen! How lucky to get the benefits of living there without the stress of local secondaries

Thank you thatsSOOOOsw14!!

I'm glad everyone's confirmed that East Sheen is a nice area. It's hard to tell JUST from Googlemaps!!

Marshgate sounds perfect - could be the right school for us.

Marshgate is very difficult to get into (although I know of one girl who is leaving this term which would provide at least one year 2 place in Sept ) so I'd try and find somewhere as near as possible if it is your school of choice. Same goes for Sheen Mount - ideally live in the same road as the school.

Thanks castlesintheair, I imagined it would be hard. Good news that there might be a place! Thanks for that little piece of handy info!

Our plan is to find a house as close as possible to the school (hopefully there will be a house to rent very very nearby). I'm trying not to stress!

There are always places to rent near to Marshgate. Lots of expats in a similar position. Don't stress!

Thank you, you are very reassuring!! There's nothing we can do until we get there so I'm just keeping my fingers crossed...

When are you arriving?

We'll be in London on the 1st of July, we have to wait for ds to finish school here in Vancouver.