Weeke primary in Winchester

[NotNigella1]

I know the coveted primary schools of Winchester are near impossible to get into. Anyone have any experience of Weeke primary? Company have called us back from overseas without much notice and need to get son and daughter in same school by Sept. Am trying to be realistic and apply for schools that they might stand a chance of getting into.

Hi Tulip27

Thanks for your advice, but I called the school and they didn't have places available for both - I am still in the same boat. But hey, own chickens and organic garden, that sounds great.

sorry Anner, having a 6 month old and nursing through the night has left my brain addled! I see we have already talked about where to live! Will get onto that. thanks

No worries! You're still in our catchment on "this" side of the Alresford Road, all the way down Quarry Road, and in Highcliffe itself. The former is where the larger houses are, so look at St Giles Close, Alresford Road, Quarry Road, and (if you're loaded) Northbrook Avenue on St Giles Hill, etc. Old Highcliffe is St Catherine's Road (where the school is), Canute Road, Highcliffe Road, Cathedral View - all late VIctorian terraces. Gordon Avenue is mixed, and Portal Road, Vale Road, Dale Road are 30s LA. Milland Road is mixed.

I'm assuming that being in catchment would place you at a higher priority than anyone else if a place does come up in the higher year group. I assume that the LEA have already placed her on the waiting list? You never know; people do move around over the summer. GOod luck! CAT me once you've got an an address. We're away for the first two weeks of the school holidays but around after that.

No, she wasn't given any offers. They said that we have to have a UK address before they can!

It couldn't have worked out better for us in terms of our son getting a place - he is the more 'fragile' of the two. I think my daughter can hold her own as she is 7 going on 17!

Can't start the appeal until we have a UK address also.

Well, see you in class then Anner, just look out for the one who's a little culture shocked from being dragged off an idyllic island for 6 years!

Hi Anner

All Saints didn't work out, which I am really upset about as my Mum went up to look at school and really liked it. Problem is that my son and daughter were both offered a place at another school. I was hesitant to take it as it is 5 miles out of Winchester, but my dh really wants them to be together. School is South Wonston, looks nice enough on website and I hear it got a good Ofsted this year. You know if it's manageable to live in WInchester and drive them there every day? Can see we might have to live out in the sticks a bit there.

Hope I made the right decision and you don't come back and say it's an awful school. Was a bit railroaded into it, but at least they will be both in the same school!

Hi Anner

Not sure what keeps happening to my replies, but I sent two and they didn't get through.

Bad news on All Saints front, we had to decline offer because the HCC found places at South Wonston for both my son and daughter, so we accepted that. It's unfortunate as my Mum liked the look of the school for Jack, but my dh wants them both in the same school, and with a 6 month old, will be easier in the long run for me.

I liked the look of the South Wonston website and heard some good things about it, so have to keep my fingers crossed that it's a good decision.

thanks for all your help, any idea where to live that could be a good travelling distance to South Wonston, I know it's 5 miles out of Winchester, so not looking forward to the trekking back and forth!

Hi there,

South Wonson (I hear) is a FAB little school! I'm originally a Winchester girl (Olivers Battery then Kings) and I'm also an infant teacher and am looking to move back to Winchester this year. Honestly there are no BAD schools only one I wouldn't choose for my son is Winnall, all other have pluses and minuses but SW has a good reputation. You should look to live in Hyde (expensive as) Bereweeke, Teg Down or Harestock as they are all good areas, within 1 ish miles of station, on good bus routes into town AND on the main route out for South Wonston which is important in mornings! Good luck...

Not sure how many times sent this reply, but doesn't seem to go through!

All Saints a no go now as both got into South Wonston last week! My dh is very keen to have them go to same school and with a new baby I had to go for that. It's a shame as I really wanted son to go there, it looked great for him. Unfortunately, this came up and we had to take it.

We looked at Wherwell but no luck, sounds lovely though.

Any idea where to live that is good to get to South Wonston and be in good range of station.

The school looks nice on the website, but I am guessing it is in the middle of nowhere, and that is why lots of mobility all the time.

a strange overseas thing here, it seems to be like the bermuda triangle, keeps disappearing.

Glitterygirl, thanks so much for that, feel more confident now. Thanks so much for the advice, was starting to think if they both got in that maybe it was as bad as Winnal, I guess I was just lucky.

Yes, would be nice not to have to negotiate that one way system in the mornings with two children and a baby! I haven't driven for 5 years as it is.

Hi there, NotNigella, just catching up on your thread. That's fab news that they both now have a place, and together. You must be so relieved. I know a few folk in SW, and they have Brownies and Scouts and other things up there as well as the school. I've heard positive things about it - I think that it has fewer pupils because there is a higher proportion of oldies in catchment.

Glitterygirl is spot on with your needing to be on that side of town, though. If you live in Winch you would be heading against the main flow of traffic - unless you had to make your way through town first, which is usually solid.

Best of luck for your move, Annner

South Wonston had a new head fairly recently and from what I hear she is doing great things with the school. It is a catchment school for the army families nearby so it does get a lot of fluidity in it's numbers and classes. There will be other children joining who are new to the shcool/area/country so that should make your children feel alittle more at ease!