Primary schools in Walthamstow

[skewiff]

We are looking to move, near to Greenleaf School or Henry Maynard.

Has anyone got children at either of these and opinions/thoughts about either?

Thank you.

Both have quite reasonable reputations in the local area, Henry Maynard would be my choice. If you are interested in faith schools St. Mary's is v. good (both CofE and Catholic very close to each other). The big issue with the area though is secondary schools.

Thanks for your reply, strawberrycake.

Why would Henry Maynard be your choice? We actually live in Walthamstow already, but are going to move because we live out of catchment for any school.(all our local schools have really tight catchments) Our son has mild cerebral palsy and I feel its really important that we find a school that will look after him well. (am applying for a statment, but not sure we'll get one).

Having visited all 3 schools you've mentioned, my impression is that Henry Maynard is very BIG. The Senco is brilliant. It seems chaotic but very wonderful. It seems to be very creative.

Greenleaf seems to be excellent, but quite old fashioned. Very orderly. I liked it a lot too.

St Mary's (C of E) which is our closest (and only accepts church goers or children with a statement) just seemed too religious for me. I liked its smallness. But the senco only works one day a week as well.

I know there are other good/nice schools in the area ...

Henry Maynard is very involved in creative work, has an excellent resident artist. It's quite well resourced and I think the teaching standard is good, dedicated areas for sn and well established groups run. One disadvantage though is the very squashy classrooms in the juniors. Personally I like a school that has a good all round expereice, and I thnk Henry Maynard is good for the range of arts and other activities it offers. I guess I simply like the feel of the place.

I know less about Greeneaf, but there doesn't seem to be as much to say about it. It doesn't get involved much with inter-school activities.

What about woodside on wood street? I have been very impressed when I've visited there. I think they are very good for looking after their children. Worth a look at least. The standard of teaching I observed there was very high. Results are lower but the the intake is affected by the two faith schools nearby leaving a higher than average EAL population. Also if you're moving that way I'd rate Roger Ascham.

I will warn you this is from a teachers perspective! I have until very recently worked in the borough in a role which involved visiting many primaries and secondaries.

That is really helpful, thank you.

And its good to hear a teacher/visitor's perspective.

I will visit Woodside and Roger Ascham. Have just looked at both of their Ofsted reports. So this widens our options, at least.

You mentioned the St Mary's schools in your first reply. Would you rate these above Henry Maynard, and do you think it matters that the SEnco works only one day a week? Apparently the head at St Mary's is very up on SEN.

It would be good to go to our very local school (if we got a statement - otherwise we'd never get in) - I was just put off by the seemingly very religious aspect.

St Mary's CofE has a relatively new head that I do not know. I don't think the one day a week SENCO is an issue is provision and standards are good as essentially SENCO is more admin based, it will be the TAs/Teacher interacting with your child on a daily basis. In many schools the SENCO role is taken on by deputy head/ assistant head thus reducing the time anyway as they have a number of other roles in the schools. Realisitically a school of that size cannot afford a full-time dedicated SENCO. I'd describe it as a small cozy school by London standards.

St Mary's Catholic has a much much higher level of Church involvement. It is also on the brink of some big changes, merging with St Helen's infants and possibly being re-built on a new site in the next few years. The head is also new this year. There will be big changes there, but it has always had a good rep. Not one for you though if the Caholic ethos is not your cup of tea as it is a significant part of school life.

Thank you again strawberry cake, for your very helpful information.

Its good to hear the SENCO once a week will not be a problem.

If I think of any questions later on I might post again.

Skewiff - we're about to move into the area so was interested to read this thread. The catchment for Henry Maynard has just got significantly smaller (haven't they all?) and is now 0.39 miles.. Woodside is 0.29 or thereabouts. As you say they're all incredibly tight but worth bearing in mind if you've not already planned your move! Personally the faith school thing makes me mad. There are a lot in that area. Indeed all our nearest primaries are C of E or Catholic, St Mary's included that we won't get into unless we suddenly 'see the light'.

Sydney B,

I also feel very cross about the faith school thing.

This is our very local school and unless you go to church you are excluded from it. I spoke to the head and she said that unless you have a statement (of special educational needs) or go to church you cannot go there.

We therefore fit into no other catchment so will get pushed out to some school very far away I imagine.

Sounds like we're in the same boat and area! If a church school is undersubscribed they do have to take you if they have places, but I suppose this is pretty unlikely, especially as St Marys is fairly small. I've friends in other parts of London who have been offered places at undersusbcribed Catholic schools. In any case, I don't really want my kids to receive a religious education that does not tally with my (lack of)religous beliefs. Can totally see why people play the church card though can't you?
The other thing I heard about Henry Maynard is that this year and last year, 60 of the children they took out of an intake of 120 were siblings!

Oh dear ...

It does like we're in the same area SydneyB.

Do you know anything about Greenleaf school? Have you heard of it? Its down near to Lloyd Park on Forest Road and Greenleaf Road.

I think its a really nice school - but completely oversubscribed again. Their catchment is less than .2 miles.

Do you have children? What are you going to do when its time for them to go to school? (don't worry answering if I'm being too nosey)

Have heard Greenleaf is good but the house we're trying to buy is too far from there. Have a 20 mth old DS and 3.5 yr old DD and at the moment we would be in the catchment for Maynard but on very edge of it so if there were 70 siblings next year we'd be out! Just going to hold our breathes and hope I think. If ended up on the waiting list we'd be at the v. top of it I think and with an intake of 120 fingers crossed we'd get in eventually. Also I don't think you have to send them to school legally until the term after their 5th birthday so we could hold out til the following Jan and hope a place came up. All things being even, we should be ok... But if we don't get into Maynard then there are no other options. Risky I know but we just love this house..
What about you?

sorry Sydney B. I did reply but nothing seems to have happened. Maybe didn't press 'send' button.

We have just got our 'statement of special educational needs' so cross fingers that all is OK we'll be able to choose. Never count my chickens though.

Good luck for you too.

Same to you and perhaps our paths will cross!

Hi skewiff- we are in a similar position in that we have found a house near green leaf. Other than the ofstedvreport report I can't seem to find out much else ( I am waiting for the term to start before doing a visit). I just wandered how you got on and whether you found out more about greenleaf.

Kind regards
Vanessa

Hi there,

It looks like I'm in the same area as you guys. My search starts this year and I'm intrigued to know how you find out about catchment areas.

I've heard from a few locals that they haven't got their kids into nearby schools and have been offered places in Leyton and the other end of Stow, which is a real worry.

Hopefully you were both successful but if you could offer up any help then it would be much appreciated

Emmyjay

sorry Vanessa,

I didn't see your message until now. I have visited greenleaf, but not found out that much through other avenues. It definitely is a good school, though, I think. The head is about to leave - I don't know whether that will make any difference ...

Emmyjay - I asked the schools what the catchment area was (distance from the school they take children from). And they were able to tell me what it was for the previous year. I told them where I lived and they were able to say whether anyone from my road had gone to the school previously.

Hi,
Just tagging on to this thread!
I've just moved to the area, and am opposite St Marys C of E, but have just found out it is closing and moving to a site near Wood Street - does anyone know anything about this?
I think I am now out of any catchment area, but could anyone tell me what the approx cut off would be for Greenleaf and Henry Maynard?
Would be most grateful ...
Victoria

The cut off for Henry Maynard - well I don't know - I just know you have to live within something like 0.2 miles of the infant school.

Its a very similar figure for Greenleaf as well.

I live really close to you Victoria and we have no schools that we are close to now, at all.

With St Marys having moved to Wood Street, it feels like there are loads to choose from in that area.

I wonder if they'll build something new on the St Mary's site eventually?

Helix - its definitely happening but I think this year they took applications by distance to old site. Henry Maynard, and indeed all the catchments have shrunk again this year and you'd need to live pretty close to get in there now. That bit of Stow is in a complete hole for primary schools. Nearly bought a house there and didn't in the end because of that. Know of a few people who didn't get any of their choices at all this year and are being sent miles away. The whole thing is a complete and utter mess.