Warning- snob alert! Two good primary schools in SLOUGH offered ds a reception place in BOTH(!) Have to make a choice quickly! Lynch Hill School v Stoke Poges School? Please read my dilemma & advise

[dimwitmummy]

Blimmin long story, but I would reeeeally appreciate your wise views!

I applied to Slough Schools as well as schools in neighbouring Bucks. Namely, The Lynch Hill School(LHS) and Stoke Poges School (SPS). Both are equal distance from my house, main difference is, Lynch Hill is a 'foundation' school and Stoke Poges is not.

Initially I refused the offer from LHS, but somehow the LA didn't acknowledge it, and LHS sent me a letter the other day welcoming ds to their school! I was confused and after a few phonecalls discovered, BOTH schools are expecting him! I always wanted Stoke Poges School..cos it's in a posher area , but now that i'm being given a 2nd chance..I think I made a mistake the 'first' time round.. and feel that I may wanna get him into Lynch Hill..SO confused(!)Both schools are the same distance away (either direcion) from my house.

I'm fairly new to the schooling system and don't have much knowledge bar what I have read in the Ofsted reports and from what I've seen on BBC's league tables for performance. Lynch Hill ranks slightly higher, despite being located in Britwell - an area in slough which is very run down and has a reputation to match, if not worse.

I called both schools asking if I can visit them, but both have too much on and invited me in on a 'set' day in mid-June, but I need info before that, as I need to give one place up! We drove to both schools on different mornings to see the type of people who's children attend these schools.

Lynch Hill had a majority of white children (25% from ethnic backgrounds ) it's located in a not-so-desirable area.. whereas Stoke Poges had more Asian children. (not racist in anyway, we are part of the ethnic minority)and is in a pretty 'wealthy' location. Both schools parents looked like professionals and all of very smart appearance. Just wanted to get a feel of things. Lynch Hill has more activities in its playground and a lot more space. Some people I spoke to said how SPS (Stoke Poges School) has gone 'down hill' and isn't what it used to be, whereas LH (Lynch Hill has improved)

The only reason why I didn't opt for LH before was due to it being located in an area renouned for racism/ bad manners/ lower class/ high unemployment and single parent households. I was under the impression that the school wouldn't be up to much as the children attending would be that of the locality (chavvy) and at the risk of sounding like a right snob (apologies, but i just want best for ds) i rejected their offer of a place given to ds... But the school scrubs up very well in reports etc.

Ds is very adaptable, makes friends easily and would be happy wherever, I'm sure. It's just me who is confused. Anyone here advise me of what I should do?

Would you send your child to a 'foundation' school in a crap location as opposed to a run of the mill state primary? Do kids do better at these funded schools? If the school was in a tripe area, would the kids attending it be influenced adversely...I feel like I'm looking a gift horse in the mouth. Anyone have experiences similar...gawd, im so confused

WWYD?
please advise, i'm desperate!

Stoke Poges School Ofsted Report and the league table here
Lynch Hill Ofsted Report and the league table figures here

I agree if you could see the schools the answer would come to you.

I woukdn't be happy with both schools saying they are too busy for you to visit - although it is half term next week so they are excused for that.

We are moving house soon and I visited a lot of schools to find one that seemed "right" for ds and dd. The school they will be going to was happy for me to phone up one morning qnd visit that afternoon.

Only you can get a feeling of whether the school seems right - ofsted reprts while they give some (useful) information cannot tell whether it feels right for you. When do you need to make your decision by?

You should have really gone to see them before applying but should have doesnt always help when youre a busy parent. The whole starting school thing caused me a huge amount of stress.

They wont like it but you must go and see the schools.

IMHO, an improving school is better than an old one resting on an its laurels.

I went to Priory which was/is in the middle of a council estate in a so-called deprived area. We lived in a 'posh' area and I have no idea why I didn't go to the closest school (and neither did my parents when I asked them years later ). Very mixed intake and I had a wide cross section of friends. Some like me went on to grammar (nowhere near as many who went to grammar from SPS) and many went to the secondary.

I would visit both and go on your gut instinct. I looked at 5 schools when considering ones for ds. 3 state and 2 private. Before I visited one of the state schools and one of the private schools were my favourite. After my visits I decided that the two favourites were my least favourites as neither were right for ds. Didn't like the smug attitude of the state school head and didn't like the lack of interaction the private school head had with ds (didn't take ds to state school visits as they were general open days and I would have revisited them with him if they became likely options).

I don't see how on earth you can choose a school without visiting. Lots of my friends have children at schools that I would never consider for ds despite them being very happy with their choices.

I think that i will ring again -albeit, after the half term holls..and be persistent about a visit this time. DU think i should tell them about having the two places in situ, hence beg em for a chance to visit asap? (i didn't mention this before incase they tipped off the 'officials' whoever they are and made the decision for me)

NOAH, I'm not sure as to when I need to make a decision by as it looks like the LA don't even know I've got two places and I feel it unfair to hog two when others may be waiting for a place etc (though all kids in slough have A place already)

Riven, as EDAM says, schools are quite ropey (closer ones) have gone downhill maybe due to a large influx of non-Brits attending. Slough has a very high intake of Polish/ Somalian/ Romanain immigrants and I think maybe due to the high %age of children from abroad who do not speak English etc may be gaining extra attention due to differences in languages/ skill sets etc. I dunno.. Slough's very diverse, there's a very good mix of ppl here.

Seeker They've invited me over for on the 16/6 but i felt the need to go sooner for reasons highlighted above. they said as soon as they come back to school after half term- they were busy with training courses/ school trips etc (think the office lady's show ppl around)

Molly, Priory is still in such high demand. That was my first choice- but they have a killer waiting list still. The few mums I spoke to said Priory and Lynch Hill were on par with each other, though LH has improved ten-fold and was now attaining higher results than Priory itself. But saying that, Priory have a special SEN dept thingie so that affects their position in the league tables. I know now not to rely on the league tables so much, thanks to the wise pointers given above.

As for the long trip to school each day for 6yrs, i'm very willing to commit to if it means a better level of education for ds. Very local ones really are not favourable- i went to their nurseries before when choosing one for ds and it just bought home the whole 'standard' thing. It was very untidy, teachers weren't welcoming kids in for the sessions. passed a school during half term once and the playing ground looked like it was littered to the nines.

Thank you all for the input, keep the suggestions coming, i really appreciate them

What about looking at Lent Rise or St Nicholas' too?

too late now^. Buck applications closed in Nov, and Slough in Feb. I did consider Lent Rise, but it was after Priory and LH. St. Nicholas's I didn't even look at it's a little too out for us- at that time, it was Stoke Poges or Priory, nowt else(!)

Better non english speakers with a positive attitude to education than native speakers with a shit attitude.

Hi! I live in slough and my ds started school in sept 2009. When we applied we didnt get offered ANY places in slough and were told that we would be offered something in a few months time. We were told by a fried to call Windsor/Maidenhead LEA and got offered a place in a school there as they had places. So if driving to school not a problem I would apply there just to see whats around. BTW ds got offered a place in a slough school in jan 2010, which we then declined.

Regarding stoke poges and lynch hill, have visited both and found lynch hill to be more creative, fun and happy children, stoke poges seemed a bit dull imho. sadly didnt get a place at lynch hill.

thanks a lot jagsy for your opinion, whereas driving within Slough is not so bad- the relief road and traffic around Windsor during school run I don't think I could cope with! Also, whereas Windsor would be too far to walk, LH and SPS are within a good distance But saying that, I didn't even look as far as Windsor as I didn't think I'd even get a look-in!

butterflyparty @ your son thinking- that made me lol! He'd be forgiven for being misled(!) you're right about the kids of other nationalities (sp?) being very approachable- yep, I find that too. the only reason why I thought it may be different in a school situation is due to teachers maybe giving more attention to those 'struggling' etc. I remember when I was younger, we were left to 'get on' with the work, whereas the kids eho couldn't speak English or understand it very well were given extra care from the teacher. We didn't have teachers assistants etc in those days (80's) so mayebe times have changed..

Got the letter from SPS inviting us in in July.

I think I'll have to ring them both first thing Monday morning and explain. Hopefully they'll let me come in that afty like mumsnetter experienced above. I wonder if they'll be iffy if I say both schools have accepted me and that I need to choose one over the other?! If they're oversubscribed like LH, maybe they'd want some kids to go elsewhere? Am I totally not-in-touch..paranoia kicking in

Stoke poges school is in South Bucks and Lynch Hill is in Slough. Accept both places and make up your mind when you go to the open days in June. Lots of parents hedge thier bets in this way in this area. There is however, a chronic shortage of places for primary aged children in Slough so if you reject Lynch hill then change your mind you will not get another chance as there are probably 10 -20 children on its waiting list.

Stoke poges school is in South Bucks and Lynch Hill is in Slough. Accept both places and make up your mind when you go to the open days in June. Lots of parents hedge thier bets in this way in this area. There is however, a chronic shortage of places for primary aged children in Slough so if you reject Lynch hill then change your mind you will not get another chance as there are probably 10 -20 children on its waiting list.

How can you have two places?

That is really unfair, the system was supposed to be sorted so this could no longer happen

There are people with no places and you are sitting on two because you didnt bother to arrange visits before applying?

yes, littleducks, we are sitting on two places ..infact, a third school has called us now saying a place is available for ds. this was my first choice- Priory School. so technically im sitting on 3 places. i need a reviit to determine which schol has the edge, which gives us a good feel. im sure you'd be the same. I hadn't even requested to be placed on the waiting list. it's not my fault that the system gave us another one in a separate LA. FYI, I would never have ever thought ds would get into our top choice, let alone both schools.

You say top choice so why the dilemma?

No im not the same I'm afraid

I cant tell dd what school she will be going to in september, or even if she will be going in september or if she will start in January, I can't buy uniform or prepare in any way

And it is people sitting on multiple school places while others dont have a place at all that causes these problem, i find it irritating that people are holding onto places until sept though they fully intend to send them private but i suppose they could in theory loose their job before Sept, but having 3 places at 3 STATE SCHOOLS with some of the best reputations

My son goes to lynch hill school i really like it he gets one2one if the teacher feels he needs some help and always involve me before any decisions are made. He is very happy at lynch hill and gets homework every night. Im really happy with lynch hill school i do find them quite strict and they do. reasonably push the kids to achieve their best its worth a look im glad i didnt choose priory now x

lynch hill is mostly outstanding while the other is mostly good. putting that aside you really have to visit and go by your gut feeling.

This thread is a year old......

Ha so it is! I wonder which one the OP went for in the end

I am looking for a primary school place - have you tried Willow? I have just moved to Slough, Willow is a brand new school - we had a meeting with the had and she wants to really push the school - very high standards.

Oh bugger, year old thread!

Hopefully not the one with the single parent families.

mrscoobs- OP went for Lynch Hill and is very happy with it