Moving to ED/Primary Schools

[tatianadias]

Hello All,

My family is moving around Christmas to ED and we would be grateful to have other parents' opinions about the following:

*Which areas/roads are the best to find an average-size 2 bed flat to rent long term, near ED train station or Forest Hill train station?

*How close to a decent primary school would we have to be to actually get a place in reception class for our 4 1/2 year old boy, and would you say it would be best to contact Southwark Council or the schools first to check availability?

*And finally which estate agents were helpful to you that you would recommend we contact, as there are plenty of them?

We were very fortunate to meet nice and kind people the times our son went to play at the Goose Green adventure playground so we hope that move is the right choice; we enjoy coffee, books and good food, and were impressed by the relaxed atmosphere and community spirit that seems to be reigning around ED.

We are catholics, resident in the UK for over 12 years, of Brazilian and Polish origin, and too busy working full-time and raising our son so to be honest have not attended church regularly since he was baptised - so we cannot consider applying to St Anthony's school. Our priority is provide a great environment for our son to grow up without breaking the bank.

Looking forward to your responses!

[pripolla]

Have PM'd you

[LondonMix]

Welcome to the neighbourhood!

If schools are your priority I would suggest Melbourne Grove and its surrounding streets. Melbourne Grove has historically been in the catchment for the Dulwich Village Schools (Village Infants and Hamlet), Bessemer Grange and Heber Primary. The Dulwich Village Schools are rated outstanding by Ofsted and have very high test score results. Bessemer Grange also performs academically and Heber seems to be a very popular choice amongst local parents.

Melbourne Grove is also very near ED station and you can pick up the 37 to Herne Hill Station / Brixton which offers additional options. Denmark Hill Station is also easily accessible from these roads and will soon have the East London Line like Forest Hill.

This area is close to the playground as well as most of the local amenities.

[tatianadias]

Many thanks for taking the time to reply, I will check the suggested streets.

It's a long time till December but I am trying to be proactive as would like to rent for a long period of time in the area I choose due to schools.

Best wishes, T

[Jessie]

"I would suggest Melbourne Grove and its surrounding streets. Melbourne Grove has historically been in the catchment for the Dulwich Village Schools (Village Infants and Hamlet), Bessemer Grange and Heber Primary." Really??? Is this a joke?? Bessemer Grange perhaps, but this area is near Goose Green, and then I'd say Dog Kennel Hill, two amazing schools. I'd eat my hat if you got into DV or Heber from there.

ETA I rent from Dulwich & Village Residential - they manage my property - and I'd give them 10 out of 10 for a job well done. I recommend them.

[tatianadias]

Thanks for the ETA suggestion Jessie, I will contact them to register.

[tatianadias]

Sorry, I meant thanks for the Dulwich & Village Residential suggestion! It seems I am trying to do too much at once so will check the posts later as it is too busy at work right now. Have a good evening everyone, cheers,

[LondonMix]

This is based on official catchment map information for the schools including those who make it in via the waiting list. You can find out the information if you subscribe to the Good Schools Guide. Again, I emphasize that this is based on recent history (not including this most recent year) and catchments for all of the schools appear to be shrinking as more young families move to the area.

Jessie Wrote:

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

> "I would suggest Melbourne Grove and its

> surrounding streets. Melbourne Grove has

> historically been in the catchment for the Dulwich

> Village Schools (Village Infants and Hamlet),

> Bessemer Grange and Heber Primary." Really??? Is

> this a joke?? Bessemer Grange perhaps, but this

> area is near Goose Green, and then I'd say Dog

> Kennel Hill, two amazing schools. I'd eat my hat

> if you got into DV or Heber from there.

>

> ETA I rent from Dulwich & Village Residential -

> they manage my property - and I'd give them 10 out

> of 10 for a job well done. I recommend them.

[Jessie]

Thanks. Having been through the allocation system and its associated nightmares and waiting list systems I kind of trust my own experiences more.

[tatianadias]

Jessie, thanks - it seems to me that, no matter how much information we collect in advance of moving, it is all a lottery. May I ask you, as I am considering the schools our number one priority, and we will rent as close as we can afford to good schools prior to buying a flat (meaning by good schools not necessarily the outstanding ones but local schools where the children are well looked after and there is good behaviour and no bullying) was the council helpful with the allocation, is it worth emailing them or visiting them in advance, as we would have to submit an in-year admission application? I hope I am not being too unrealistic and my question makes some sense. Thanks again.

[LondonMix]

I personally know people on Melbourne Grove with children in those schools but of course it is up to the OP to decide where they want to live! Tatianadias, of course the closer you are to any of the schools the better chance you have. I suggest if there is one school above all others that you have your heart set on, get as close to it as you can as the school allocation system is becoming more and more competitive each year.

[DVnewbie]

Hi Tatianadis,

I'd check the Southwark council statistics (all published on their website) about the furthest distance from the school for first round offers. I don't think you'd have got into Heber or Dulwich Village Infants if you lived on Melbourne Grove this year - even from a waiting list place.

Dulwich Village Infants (age 4-7) is a Church of England school so has half church places and half "open" places - children who live the nearest as the crow flies, get offered a place. Dulwich Hamlet (age 7-11) is a non faith school so all places offered are on the basis of who lives the closest. The big exception you need to remember for ALL (I think?) schools is that siblings of children already at the school get priority. So, if there is an extra class one year (a "bulge" class) the effective catchment area, for children without a sibling already at the school, often shrinks in the next couple of years (particularly as the "bulge" class is a one off normally).

Heber first round offers this year were to children who lived under 200m from the school gates. I think Dulwich Village Infants was around 450m for the non-church places. So you definitely wouldn't have got a first round offer from either this year if you applied to Heber or Dulwich Village Infants and lived in Melbourne Grove.

You can always go on the waiting list if you don't get a first round offer from the school of your choice. The list operates on the same admissions criteria so, again, children living closest will be higher up the waiting list.

But talk to the people in the Education Dept at Southwark council before you move anywhere!

Good luck!

[tatianadias]

This is extremely helpful, thanks all. I have checked the statistics and considering them it would be lucky if we get a place at all. I didn't have a particular preference so will probably contact the council first and see what realistic options they would give me before moving, but as mentioned, other parents experiences of the process are very helpful. Thanks.

[Jessie]

LondonMix - yes, and Melbourne Grove is quite lengthy. I'm thinking of Grove Vale end.

Tatianadis - the council weren't particularly helpful, in fact the opposite, but the schools themselves were. And so was Tessa Jowell, the local MP, but that's another story... My son is at Goose Green and I can thoroughly recommend it - v happy children and a lovely atmosphere. Bullying is a big concern of mine, too, and the school deal with it quickly and nip it in the bud. And I occasionally pick a friend's children up from Dog Kennel Hill and it seems a very creative and, again, friendly school. Good luck with all your choices and decisions - from what I can gather, all of the schools in East Dulwich are bloody brilliant!

[Lacey]

As it will be an in year application, it will depend on which schools have places in their reception intake and then how close you are compared to others on the waiting list? Might be a good idea to check out in particular schools that are bulging in 2012/2013 as spaces may come up more quickly? Eg Bessemer and bellenden (i think bellenden is bulging?)

Bessemer has a bulge class for 2012/2013. My son is entering year 1 and we are all very happy with it and it's doing very well on its results and Ofsted etc. The deputy head does a great tour every tues at 9.30 during term time.

But, definitely, speak to council schools adviser for more guidance.

[tatianadias]

Great Lacey, will do. Glad to hear your son got to year 1 and you are all happy with Bessemer School. Will check more details. I guess overall there is no need to worry, all replies received suggest that the parents experience is a positive one.