Primary school places

C

crookie

Well-known member

Jun 14, 2013

3,310

Back in Sussex

• Nov 21, 2013

• #1

Hi all, my ex-partner is planning to move in with her boyfriend in Brighton sometime after Christmas. Obviously I don't want her taking my daughter 30 miles away regardless, but I am really concerned about her schooling. She is 8 years old, and in a very good CofE primary up here. What is the likelihood of her being able to get in an equally good school down there, especially in the middle of the school year. I would imagine, like her current school, there are lengthy waiting lists for the best schools. She intends moving to the Preston Park area, not far from the Withdean. I'd very much appreciate any insight. Thanks

 

The Truth

Banned

Sep 11, 2008

3,754

None of your buisness

• Nov 21, 2013

• #2

St Bernadette's school has a very good reputation and would be very local for the destination they're moving to.

 

Westdene Seagull

aka Cap'n Carl Firecrotch

NSC Patron

Oct 27, 2003

20,999

The arse end of Hangleton

• Nov 21, 2013

• #3

In that area all the primary schools are pretty decent.

 

Westdene Seagull

aka Cap'n Carl Firecrotch

NSC Patron

Oct 27, 2003

20,999

The arse end of Hangleton

• Nov 21, 2013

• #4

The Truth said:

St Bernadette's school has a very good reputation and would be very local for the destination they're moving to.

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Although being a Catholic school might make it difficult to get into ?

 

MissGull

New member

Apr 1, 2013

1,994

• Nov 21, 2013

• #5

There's also a preference system, and primary schools are allocated, so you don't automatically get your first or second choice. But yes there are very good primary school in the area.

 

P

Pogue Mahone

Well-known member

Apr 30, 2011

10,732

• Nov 21, 2013

• #6

Westdene, Stanford, Downs, Balfour - all excellent. And it's a good area at secondary level too.

 

Zen Frenzy

New member

Jul 2, 2013

131

Withdean

• Nov 21, 2013

• #7

My kids were both at Westdene (10 mins walk from Withdean Stadium) which was 1st class and had a truly nurturing headmistress in the shape of Debbie Crossingham. She's still there but in the last couple of years it has expanded hugely by building onto the field and widening its demographic. Think it's just lost its Ofsted "outstanding" rating but reckon it's still the best State option in the area.

 

G

Gwylan

Well-known member

Jul 5, 2003

31,336

Uffern

• Nov 21, 2013

• #8

It's not true to say that all the best schools are over-subscribed. My kids are at Coldean, which has an outstanding Ofsted rating but is not full. Not really relevant in this case but it shows that there may be free places in good schools - even this late in the year

 

ATFC Seagull

Aberystwyth Town FC

Jul 27, 2004

5,311

(North) Portslade

• Nov 21, 2013

• #9

Zen Frenzy said:

My kids were both at Westdene (10 mins walk from Withdean Stadium) which was 1st class and had a truly nurturing headmistress in the shape of Debbie Crossingham. She's still there but in the last couple of years it has expanded hugely by building onto the field and widening its demographic. Think it's just lost its Ofsted "outstanding" rating but reckon it's still the best State option in the area.

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To be fair, the criteria for outstanding got much harder a couple of years back, so a lot of schools have actually improved considerably yet still "dropped" in terms of their ratings.

Also I'd say Ofsted shouldn't be the massive indicator to help you choose a school, particularly primary, a huge amount of it is the atmosphere and how settled/happy the kids feel. Obviously if schools are in special measures alarm bells ring, and if they are labelled outstanding they are pretty good, but it's a very subjective notion.

 

beorhthelm

A. Virgo, Football Genius

Jul 21, 2003

35,292

• Nov 21, 2013

• #10

what happend to the school lottery?

 

Guinness Boy

Tofu eating wokerati

Helpful Moderator

NSC Patron

Jul 23, 2003

34,112

Up and Coming Sunny Portslade

• Nov 21, 2013

• #11

beorhthelm said:

what happend to the school lottery?

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Doesn't apply to Primaries & never has.

 

V

Vegas Seagull

New member

Jul 10, 2009

7,782

• Nov 21, 2013

• #12

Zen Frenzy said:

My kids were both at Westdene (10 mins walk from Withdean Stadium) which was 1st class and had a truly nurturing headmistress in the shape of Debbie Crossingham. She's still there but in the last couple of years it has expanded hugely by building onto the field and widening its demographic. Think it's just lost its Ofsted "outstanding" rating but reckon it's still the best State option in the area.

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How a school could still get an overall 'outstanding' when it was only good or worse in the 'teaching' category is beyond belief
Virtually all are coming down a level with tougher targets on their 'next' review

 

Plake

Unregistered User

Nov 7, 2009

331

Brighton seafront

• Nov 21, 2013

• #13

The Truth said:

St Bernadette's school has a very good reputation and would be very local for the destination they're moving to.

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Great school, massively oversubscribed.

 

MissGull

New member

Apr 1, 2013

1,994

• Nov 21, 2013

• #14

Guinness Boy said:

Doesn't apply to Primaries & never has.

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I thought it did? Or at least there's definitely a preference system and allocation?

 

D

Deleted User X18H

Guest

• Nov 21, 2013

• #15

The Truth said:

St Bernadette's school has a very good reputation and would be very local for the destination they're moving to.

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This is our nearest school, but it is a Catholic School. But surely that doesn't mean a non catholic child couldn't attend.

Stanford impressed us a lot when we went to visit even though we were two metres outside the catchment area.

It hasn't disappointed.

This time of year you might get West Blatch or Benfield, irrspectice of your location becuase like the Villa Bella, they always have vacancies.

 

cloud

Well-known member

Jun 12, 2011

3,030

Here, there and everywhere

• Nov 21, 2013

• #16

I'm also looking for a good primary school, anywhere in Sussex.

My son is currently at a top private school in London and getting the highest mark in every subject, despite being the youngest in the year. But I have lost my job and can't afford the fees any more. I want a school with a strong academic and sporting focus and extra-curricular activities .. no idea where to start though. I will move to wherever the school is.

 

MissGull

New member

Apr 1, 2013

1,994

• Nov 21, 2013

• #17

Some of the private schools offer bursaries? Brighton College is the top academic school in Sussex with a strong sporting facilities and reputation. They do some scholarships etc.

 

cloud

Well-known member

Jun 12, 2011

3,030

Here, there and everywhere

• Nov 21, 2013

• #18

They usually only give bursaries for senior school .. he's only 9

 

chimneys

Well-known member

Jun 11, 2007

3,589

• Nov 21, 2013

• #19

cloud said:

I'm also looking for a good primary school, anywhere in Sussex.

My son is currently at a top private school in London and getting the highest mark in every subject, despite being the youngest in the year. But I have lost my job and can't afford the fees any more. I want a school with a strong academic and sporting focus and extra-curricular activities .. no idea where to start though. I will move to wherever the school is.

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West Kent has very good primary's and looking to the near future for you, still has grammar schools. If he's very bright, might get into a super selective grammar e.g Judd in Tonbridge or Skinners in T Wells. Similar results to "top private schools" but at no cost (tutoring and house prices aside)!

And under an hour from The Amex!!

 

MissGull

New member

Apr 1, 2013

1,994

• Nov 21, 2013

• #20

cloud said:

They usually only give bursaries for senior school .. he's only 9

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Ah okay, that's a shame.