Primary school applications

[Fidgetsmum]

Thanks for the further information being posted. That map from Southwark is pretty useful (although pretty depressing for where I live and the apparent quality of schools we live near!).

[Renata Hamvas]

It's good to start early thinking about school choices- to work out which are your closest schools use:

http://schoolsfinder.direct.gov.uk/

put in your postcode and tick primary school (if that is what you are looking for). This site will pull up all school and if you live near the borough boundary you may get a mixture of Southwark and eg Lewisham Schools. You can also find your closest church schools from this too. Look at the Ofsted reports. Results are also important, but remember in primary school, dependant on size, one pupil can contribute to a 3% swing in the results (less in a larger school). Speak to local parents. When the new Southwark primary brochure comes out, it will have information on numbers of applicants/siblings/catchments areas to each school in a particular year. Do fill out all your 6 places, don't put down only schools that are long shots. There are good schools which are undersubscribed. Would you be interested/want a place at a church school? If you want extra information about a school ask here.

Renata

[chantelle]

i don't know all the ins and outs of selection but there are plenty of parents on this forum alone who did not get their second, third or fourth choices so unless those were all longshots, I don't see that you automatically get bounced up the lists of each school in order of your stated preferences.

[Lou]

Hi Renata

When does the new southwark primary brochure come out? Do you know who will be taking bulge classes 2012?

Thsnks

[Ko]

Renata - could you answer a couple of questions for me please?

1. Does the Southwark primary school brochure show pre-shakedown distances or post-shakedown distances?

2. Which schools in SE15/SE22/SE21 took bulge classes this year (for September 2011 start)?

Many thanks

[chantelle]

i noticed on the Southwark web site that Hollydale intends to cut its reception intake to 30 from 45 and that Harris Academy at Peckham has applied to start a 60-spot primary.

[reren]

Anyone know about goodrich catchment - has it fallen out of favour and therefore have a wider catchment than previously? Seems the change yearly which schools are most popular - which kind of suggests there isnt that much difference between them?

[Coach Beth]

That is a very good point Reren - very popular schools will have smaller catchments. If a school falls out of favour, people will look elsewhere and that school will have a wider catchment. And personally, I think most schools in East Dulwich are pretty much on the same level - I have friends with children at Heber, Goodrich, Dog Kennel Hill and Bessemer Grange (my own child is at Goose Green) and it sounds like their experiences/learning is pretty similar.

[Hollybush]

I agree that it seems that most schools in ED area seem decent, and if this is hte case we ought to all be happy going to closest one. Problem is that there are just a lot of little ones here now and you can live right in between 2 or 3 decent schools but be on the edge / out of catchment depending on how it goes that year. It does feel wrong if you can't get into your closest community school.

[edanna]

Coach Beth, what are your experiences of Goose Green? It seems to be on the up.

[Coach Beth]

I do like the school and have said so quite abit before on the forum so I don't want to bore regular readers! I've banged on about creativity in the school in another thread so my two other key points about the school are:

1) Strong Leadership - The Headmistress Sharon Marland is great IMO. She was brought in when the school went into special measures a few years ago and really has put things in order. She addressed all of the points that Ofsted made about the school really throughly and when needed she got rid of under-performing teachers. She is available and open and also ensures the school addresses pastoral care issues. She is always in the playground talking to parents and she is a great supporter of the PTA and the parents. She led the school out of special measures and also for leading the teaching team to enable students at Goose Green to achieve one of the highest scores of all the East Dulwich Schools on last years SAT's - at 79% this was well over the Southwark and National Averages.

2) Excellent Pastoral Care - The school has a wonderful senior staff person dedicated soley to emotional well-being and pastoral care. There is a comfort room for students who need emotional support and they can talk to this staff member when-ever they need too. The playground is well-supervised and the teaching assistants my son have had are lovely, providing emotional support and comfort.

[edanna]

Really useful - thanks for your detailed response. Now I'll check out the other thread!