School applications for 2014- advice from current applicants?

[jonbateson]

Reading the school applications posts with interest. We will be applying for my son for the 2014 intake, having not done this before and being new to the area, we would be grateful to hear tips from parents who applied this time. We are on therapia rd, many thanks in advance.

[Emski]

Only assume you'll get into your nearest school if you're within the furthest distance offered from this year. You're unlikely to get into any of the popular schools unless you're extremely close.

Fill in all 6 of yr choices.

[Fuschia]

I think Therapia is in a bit of a black hole and you might well get allocated st Francesca Cabrini (catholic)

It would be worth choosing a couple of undersubscribed schools within 3 miles to include on your list, rather than ending up with one of the council's choosing

[j-mo]

How do you find out which are the under-subscribed schools?

[Dulwich Born And Bred]

Has anyone found that the children who attended the nursery attached to the school also got into the school? I know nursery doesn't guarantee admission into primary but it would be interesting to find out if any children were refused ?

[LondonMix]

In Southwark's Guide to Primary Schools the mention furthest place granted on the distance criteria in the previous year. A school that is undersubscribed will state that all applicants were successful. Looking at these schools as well as those with a large catchment as potential saftey choices is I think what Fuschia was suggesting.

http://www.southwark.gov.uk/downloads/download/2483/primary_school_admissions

j-mo Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> How do you find out which are the under-subscribed

> schools?

[Fuschia]

DulwichBorn&Bred Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Has anyone found that the children who attended

> the nursery attached to the school also got into

> the school? I know nursery doesn't guarantee

> admission into primary but it would be interesting

> to find out if any children were refused ?

In 2013 quite a few children from Heber nursery didn't get into Heber reception

[Dulwich Born And Bred]

Thank you for the info.

schia Wrote:

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> DulwichBorn&Bred Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Has anyone found that the children who attended

> > the nursery attached to the school also got

> into

> > the school? I know nursery doesn't guarantee

> > admission into primary but it would be

> interesting

> > to find out if any children were refused ?

>

>

> In 2013 quite a few children from Heber nursery

> didn't get into Heber reception

[sunbob]

The same at Goodrich. It seems that a lot of the children in nursery didn't get in to reception. The last distance offered has shrunk since last year. The admissions for nursery and reception are separate anyway.

Fuschia Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> DulwichBorn&Bred Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Has anyone found that the children who attended

> > the nursery attached to the school also got

> into

> > the school? I know nursery doesn't guarantee

> > admission into primary but it would be

> interesting

> > to find out if any children were refused ?

>

>

> In 2013 quite a few children from Heber nursery

> didn't get into Heber reception

[Ruth Campbell]

I've already started to panic wildly about next year having found out the distances from all of our nearest schools this year. Sadly last year we would have been fine at Horniman and this year we are about 50m out of catchment. Does anyone know how long the impact of a bulge class takes to subside? With 20 sibling places out of 30 the catchment has dramatically shrunk.

[Yak]

Could we make this thread a FAQ and make it a sticky?

[Hillstop]

Horniman is due to bulge next year so you should be fine. Info is in their March newsletter. WAs supposed to happen this year but got delayed so they could come up with a proper plan.

[littlemoo]

Oh thank you so much for that. Feeling a lot calmer now!

[j-mo]

Thanks london mix

Is there anyway to know which schools are next to bulge?

[LondonMix]

You can't know for certain as the LA has to negotiate with the schools to discuss when bulging is feasible for them. However, the local councillors (Renata in particular) usually knows which schools the LA is in discussions with. I'd advise asking Renata and speaking to the schools and make a call based on that.

[Renata Hamvas]

Hi J-mo, (& Londonmix)the bulges for 2014 won't be decided yet. All schools have been surveyed for temporary and potential for permanent expansion. Usually the year's bulges are finalised towards the end of the year, so watch this space.

Dulwich B&B- It happens quite frequently that children in a nursery do not get a place in the primary part of the school.

Hi Jon, with regard to Therapia, children from that there have in the past few years have gone to Goodrich, Ivydale, Fairlawn, Horniman and St Francesca Cabrini. It seems that increasingly they are going to St Francesca Cabrini. This is a Catholic school (on Forest Hill Road), it does take non-Catholic children, several per year in the last few years (since St Antony's, the St Thomas More Parish School expanded to 2 forms). The allocation for non-Catholics is on distance.

Renata

[edanna]

As others have said, definitely fill in all 6 choices and make sure there are a couple of realistic ones in there, which won't necessarily be the closest. Don't rule out a school without visiting it - you might really love one you think is less desirable and wonder what all the fuss is about with another very popular school. It amazes me how many people don't visit all 6 choices and then are given a school they haven't even seen. Start visiting early - sometimes there are very limited dates that get all booked up.

Try not to get obsessed about getting in to one school - sometimes people feel that it's the end of the world when they don't get a particular school. But it's not. And this is often based on a perception that one school is brilliant and the others aren't - and of course it's a lot more complicated than that.

And try not to worry about it too much - easier said than done I know!

[Otta]

"and wonder what all the fuss is about with another very popular school."

Absolutely this! We're near Eliot Bank in Sydenham, which is "outstanding" and very popular. Back when our daughter was offered a preschool place there I went along and just didn't like the vibe for some reason. Several other parents at her preschool (not there) have said they felt the same. It's clearly a good school, and all power to those who send their kids there, but it wasn't for us, and I think my daughter would have found it very intimidating.

We just wanted her to get in to the same school as some of her little preschool friends, which she has, so we feel lucky.

[simonethebeaver]

Eliot Bank is a lovely warm school, and I can't imagine it being intimidating. Just wanted to reassure anyone whose kids ARE going there. But it's a great thing if we all want different things - spread the demand!

[Otta]

Indeed, I wasn't trying to say anything negative about EB, just simply that I didn't feel it was for us.

[Renata Hamvas]

Undersubscribed schools are ones that don't give a last place offered in the community school table (available for 2013 on the other thread). It is worth looking at this as you may find a school, whilst not as close as others to your home, is a good school and may be convenient eg get to work from. An example of this may be, if you take the Capital Connect or Victoria Trains to work, Hollydale Primary is close to Nunhead station and has an after school club.

Renata

[verds]

If nursery and school applications aren't linked, does that mean that the sibling criteria doesn't apply between schools and their nurseries?

We've been offered a reception place for our daughter at a school that's not particularly near our house, so I'm wondering if I'll have problems getting her little sister into the nursery. Anyone know? Thanks...

[Fuschia]

Nursery places go first to siblings of children in the main school

[Renata Hamvas]

Nursery admissions are run independently to reception. Each primary has their own nursery admissions policy. Some do prioritise siblings, some do not and eg go on age or distance. You would need to check with the school.

As not all parents send their child to nursery at a school (eg if they are working and full-time care) it can often be easier to get a nursery than reception place, so children in then nursery don't get a reception place at the school (I know not relevant to you in this case Verds).

Renata