Bellenden Primary School

[toffeese15]

Hi there,

Just wondered if anyone had any experiences/opinions of Bellenden Primary School. My daughter was turned down for her school choices and although we didn't apply for this particular school, she's quite close to the top of its waiting list.

Thanks in advance for any info.

[bluesuperted]

I've heard really good things about it from current families attending the school. Plus think the latest Ofsted was very favourable. I'd be really happy for my son to go there the way things stand at the moment. Can I ask roughly how far you are from the school and if you have another community school closer? We are nearer Rye Oak but I would prefer Bellenden when the time comes.

[toffeese15]

We're on Lyndhurst Grove and applied for Lyndhurst and Dog Kennel Hill and a couple of others. We were given Camelot - which I'd never even heard of and is about a 40 minute walk away (near Old Kent Rd) - and are way down the waiting lists of our other choices. We're 4th from top of Bellenden list so that looks are most likely, but don't know anyone with any kids there. It's approximately 4-500 meters from where we live.

[snss75]

My son goes to Bellenden, he's in reception now and also attended the nursery at Bellenden. We live on Lyndhurst Way so for us Bellenden is our closest school and about 5 minutes walk away. My son has always been very happy there and it is a lovely small school, I find the staff very caring and helpful. If I was you and was offered a place at Bellenden I wouldn't worry about sending my child there.

[chantelle]

what about the ofsted survey report saying white British pupils are attaining below their peers nationally? Or the 6% persistent absence rate?

I haven't visited but those kinds of statements put me off. (plus the sketchy test results from year to year.)

[snss75]

Chantelle, my son is thriving there and is well ahead his age group in e.g. maths so personally I'm not worried. Having said that, I'm not British (I'm from Scandinavia) and the school system I'm used to is different from the UK and I'm not a great believer in the Ofsted stats anyway. As for absence rates, I'm not sure how much an absence rate says about the quality of the school, isn't it parents' responsibility to make sure that their children go to school? I still think Bellenden is a great little school :)

[chantelle]

I'm not saying it's not a good school, i have only limited information, but absence rates can indicate how seriously parents take their children's schooling. Persistent absence can drag down the quality of learning for everyone, since there are children always behind the others.