Goose Green or St John's?

[PCM]

Our eldest will be starting school next September and we live close to both Goose Green and St John and St Clements primary schools. We've visited both and liked both for different reasons but we don't know many families with children who already attend. Does anyone have any tips / comments about these two schools? Are your children happy there? Any areas the schools needs to improve in? We're finding it difficult to choose between the two and it feels like such a big decision (and then no guarantee we'd get a place anyway I guess!) thank you.

[mrs.lotte]

We are GG (year 1 and 3) and very proud of our little gem. We are a vibrant and ambitious school, performing so well that we have been given the go ahead to become an academy and the (ofsted outstanding) leadership of senior teaching staff and governors will be able to manage finances and admissions.

The wrap around care is particularly good, 7.30am to 7pm on site. Good range of very cheap and interesting after school activities. Really happy cohesive teaching staff, a comparitively high proportion of male staff. Lots of lovely extra things going on; parent:teacher choir, samba drumming (and we've just got a huge lottery grant for steel drums) apple trees being planted etc.They are some of the things that I like.

Could do better; the website, although better than most I'd like to see more on it.

I guess parents at both schools will be happy, it's such a personal decision. I'd make return visits to both and to other nearby schools Bessemebr, Bellenden and DKH all rated good by ofsted. Go with your instinct. I think that there is another open day at GG on Tuesaday.

[edanna]

Hi PCM, definitely have a look at Bessemer. It's a bit out of the way so people don't always realise it's there. It's a lovely school.

[toffeese15]

My daughter is in Year One at St Johns and St Clements.

She loves it there, feels very secure, and and we're very happy with the school.

I guess it depends what you?re looking for. For us, at this stage, we just want her to be happy, have friends, like her teachers, be stimulated and feel safe. She has all these and as a bonus we have met some really nice parents in what is a very sociable school.

I presume this is the case at most schools, but certainly at St Johns there is a real sense that the school and the parents are working in unison for the benefit of the children.

It's a C of E school, which might bother some. Even though I'm not religious, I don't mind her learning about it.

As Mrs.Lotte said, most parents will enthuse about the schools their children attend, so maybe take another look to see if there?s anything that might swing it. Ultimately, though, I?m sure either school - or the others mentioned - would be suitable for your child.

[emsiemcb]

There is a recent thread on St John's (couple of weeks back) - someone asking opinions on it, I did a post on there as did a few other parents so might be worth a look at that.

Basically I have one child in Reception and one in year 2 at St John's. We have loved ST John's so far, both my children are extremely happy there. There is a lovely atmosphere in the school, it is very friendly, sociable and the PTA are very active. As Toffeese15 says, it depends what you want from the school and for us too at this stage it gives us all we are after - that our boys are happy, have lovely friends, are stimulated and safe - they really enjoy going to school every day and I feel they are learning well.

The recent Ofsted report for St John's was a bit disappointing but as I said before, some of the issues raised weren't too important for us and I think the senior management team are really trying to address the issues in a very pro active manner.

Equally, my youngest went to Goose Green nursery last year so I have had some experience of that school too, albeit only the nursery and not the main school itself. I have to say that from what I saw it too is a really super school and I would have been happy for my children to go there - so I guess whichever one you choose they will be happy, but as someone else said, all you can really do is go with your instincts.

If you'd like any more info please feel free to PM me - would be happy to chat through our experiences. Best of luck x