come and tell me about your 'progressive' state primary in South London [hopeful]

[SpringHeeledJack]

this is the stage we're at-

took our dcs (Y1) out of school last year as- amongst other things- we were fed up with the new emphasis on the more "trad" aspects of primary education as practiced by their school- eg uniform SATs results league tables and the like. We put their names down for a much more lentil-weaving-just-let-them-EXPRESS-themselves sort of state school in a neighbouring borough. We are currently home educating while we wait for a place to come up.

Strangely the waiting list for the lentil-weaving no pressure school is as long as a monkey's arm. We are on the point of giving up expecting a place before the dcs are in Y6. And we're thinking of moving (unrelated)-but we're not sure where to...

Do your dcs attend a state school in South London (East-ish) that doesn't have a compulsory uniform (preferably) and feels that its mission is to encourage and nurture pupils rather than lash 'em to a desk til they're 11?

...if I don't reply straightaway it's because I'm out taking DS to Woodcraft Folk [hopeless hippy stereotype emoticon]

tia

ps I know this reads like a garbled mess. Before anyone tells me off about my punctuation I state in my defence that my comma key is broken

Thanks MintHumbug

just to explain a bit more clearly- the school we're on the list for does do SATS but places as little emphasis on them as it possibly can

...in fact when I went to an open day there a parent who asked about SATS results and league tables was quite firmly told that that 'wasn't what the school was about' (their results are really good but not fabulous iykwim)

I'd just like to see my dcs spend their time- particularly their last year- at Primary learning rather than cramming for tests and really want to find a school that's prepared to do this. I do think though that the culture in Primary ed has changed soooo much that this would be like finding a needle in a haystack...

[gloooom]

What's your lentil-weaving school called?!? I'm in SE London and reckon I know of a school or two that would fit your criteria...

its initials are EW SE13Mummy- do you have any others I could try?

...I think there might be a few similar in LB Lewisham- am trawling through Ofsted reports but unfortunately they don't list 'airy fairy' '70s throwback' or 'lentil weaving' as a criteria

[ponders suggesting it to Michael Gove]

Halstow in LB Greenwich, Myatt Garden or Lee Manor in LB Lewisham?

Don't read the Ofsted reports - look at the websites then drag your DC to the summer fairs!

ooh ta for that- summer fairs is a top idea!

have come across Lee Manor's website already- it looks lovely. There's another one in Lee- name escapes me- which is good cos Lee's quite affordable

The other one is Brindishe....?

Lee Manor is, IMO, more relaxed but I am biased. Hither Green is even more affordable than Lee and if you're looking for a Y1/2 place you may well be lucky. Call the schools and ask to visit - you'll be able to see for yourself how much/little lentil-weaving goes on.

Hi there. In se13, you may be too far away, but the Horniman school (just behind the Horniman museum) sounds a good fit. No uniform, lots of emphasis on music and art and pastoral care - we really loved it, lovely feel and great Headtwacher, but just outside catchment. Fairlawn school nearby also non-uniform, but very different vibe I think.

Have you considered the Steiner school in Streatham?

thanks sydenhamhiller- will put Horniman on the possibles list tho fear that area is a bit out of our reach

as for Steiner- I thought that would be right up our street- till I read some of the things on here

Myatt is boy cotting SATS and is very very creatively based. Abandons the curriculum for one week per year to follow Take One Picture. Often does storytelling weeks etc.
Edmund Waller also very good though apparently (presume that is the school you are referring to?).

Try Sandhurst in Catford (even cheaper than Hither Green - big Victorian Houses and nearest BR Hither Green). Although it does insist on a basic uniform (polo shirt, grey / navy bottoms and grey / navy / red sweater) and has excellent academic results, its main focus is on pastoral care and it proves that happy kids do well.

Hasn't EW recently become a feeder for Askes? - if so, might be why it is so academically focussed.

That's Monson pippi.

Oh okay

thanks all

have been looking around- well virtually- and it looks like only Lewisham has this sort of school- and quite a few of them. Only trouble is ds goes to secondary school in Crystal Palace so Lee and Hither Green would be a bit of a schlep for him...this is a bit of bad luck as HG in particular looks ideal

[tears out hair]

I don't think the journey from Hither Green/Lee to Crystal Palace is that horrendous... I know of plenty of children who travel out to Dartford, into Westminster, across to Bexley etc. etc. It's only about 5 miles which in London may seem like a long way because we have so many schools but elsewhere children will travel for at least 5 miles to get to their secondary school; I know I did as did my DH (his journey involved various buses and trains across North London).

How many years does your DS have at secondary school?

There is a direct train from Brockley to Crystal Palace.

My Dcs are at Streatham Wells in Lambeth (nursery and Yr2) - there is no uniform at all, all teachers and staff are called by their christian names, it is a small school with a happy atmosphere and 'outstanding' ofsted, but I do think they push them for SATS in Yr 5 and 6. Good transport to Crystal Palace, but you have to live very close in the catchment to get in.

Streatham Hillary - Do you know if any places come up in Streatham Wells from yr 2 onwards? Long story, won't bore you ... .

that sounds nice StreathamHillary

and SE13Mummy I do get what you're saying. Ds's school is actually a bus ride from CP- pretty much out in the sticks...he travels about three miles already which he manages adequately. Trouble is he's a bit of a twitchy traveller- worries about Big Boys from his school and any boys from Other Schools- and for a lot of pretty good reasons HG is just a bit too far

...which is a bugger for the rest of us

Have you thought of Rosendale in West Dulwich/Tulse Hill? No uniform, great mix of families, very parent orientated, arty. A really great school.
That area is also a great place to live. Brockwell park is lovely

Kilmorie is delightful. No uniform.

thanks both- that's another two on my Have A Look list

Kilmorie- am already sold

it says "learning should be fun" in the Head's letter

Where did your children end up for primary school? Looking at all the progression state schools in SE London in a few weeks (we're American expats moving in the summer). :)

Anna