Bessemer Grange Primary School - any opinions or insights?

[SeekingHousing]

My partner and I have just landed in London from the US with our soon-to-be 7-year-old daughter, and we're very interested in letting a place that is O.2 miles from Bessemer Grange Primary School (0.3 from Goose Green). Until now, my daughter has been home-educated and has never been to regular school (only once-weekly classes, private lessons, etc.), but we want to have her start schooling and are anxious to find one that is child-centered and which cultivates creativity and critical thinking rather than strictly regimenting students or preparing them mainly for test-taking, etc. Do you have experience and insight into Bessemer Grange? Goose Green? If the latter is significantly better, is there any chance of getting her in there rather the closest school?

[mrs.lotte]

Well they are both really up and coming schools. I have 2 children at Goose Green and am very happy with the academic standards and the standards of pastoral care and the creative and musical opportunities. I would say go and have a look at both and see the headteachers and speak to parents and then go with your instinct, you are close enough to both for distance probably not to be the deceider. I expect that there may be a space in either school in your child's year group, the school should be able to give you that information pretty quickly.

If you are in ED on 9th July Goose Green school will be holding our annual carnival through the streets around the school and onto the Green for a huge fair so if you are around come along to that.

Good luck, it must feel quite daunting doing the move to another country and starting school but I'm sure that either school will hold your hand through it and this forum is a great way to meet other parents so as to arrange meet ups outside school so that there are friendly faces for you and your daughter when you (i mean she!) starts.

[new mother]

It is a state school and, as such, follows the National Curriculum. Maybe the best thing would be to investigate that and see whether it meets your preferences. The next port of call would be going round the private schools and seeing which of those had headteachers who followed your approach and instilled it into their teaching staff. Or, indeed, whether they are prepared to be flexible. You will find, however, that Britain has move towards exam taking in recent decades and that most schools, whether state or private, will put emphasis on this aspect. I think that is a fair assessment.

Edited to change "traffic" to "teaching"!

[Coach Beth]

Hiya!

I'm also an American living in the UK (I was born near NYC but my family moved to Nova Scotia Canada when I was 10 so I'm also a Canadian). I've been here just over 20 years so I'm not so in touch with the current education system in North America but my brother is a teacher in Canada so I've got some idea of the differences. It is true that the state system in the UK has more of an emphasis on testing and assessment. All state schools have to follow fairly rigid criteria on that - as New Mother points out, all school are required to follow the National Curriculum. My sense of many private schools is that they will also have a focus on academic progress and testing. The exception to this will be private schools such as the Steiner Schools - there is a Rudolph Steiner school in Greenwich. From what you say, the Steiner approach could resonate strongly with your own approach to education.

However, it would be definately worthwhile visiting both Goose Green and Bessemer Grange - talk to the Headteachers, look around etc. I've heard good things about Bessemer - lots of positives around the creative nature of the school and overall school spirit/approach. Our experience at Goose Green has been positive in terms of creativity - this week was Art & Music week at the school where music and art at the school was showcased. I was very impressed with the level of music education at the school (music is sidelined in the National Curriculum so it's true the level of music education can vary from school to school) where all children learn to read music, sing in choir, play in a brass band or samba band and where subidised music lessons are also available. There has also been an artist in residence and all children contributed to an art exhibition which was really great!

Anyway, PM if you do arrive in ED - would be nice to meet up with a fellow North American in the area!