Primary schools - can't even get in to see them?!

[alieh]

I think this is just a moan rather than seeking advice, but....

I really believe what everyone says about not relying on OFSTED reports and test scores to judge primary schools and that you need to see the school to get a sense of whether it will be right for your child.

But at this point I can't even book a tour to view any of them! Goodrich is our closest - I called a month ago and the tours were booked until 28th January. I tried again today same thing. The application deadline is 15th January. Hmmm.

Tried to book a tour for Horniman Primary. No tours available whatsoever.

I've been looking on the school websites for details of open days for probably a year now - never saw anything.

This is giving me a slightly ominous feeling for what it will be like to engage with the school once my son starts reception!

Perhaps just a word of warning for parents looking for places in local schools beyond 2013 that even though you can't apply until the January before your child would start in reception, you should try to get a space on a tour much before that.

[sunbob]

Some of them do seem less helpful/accessible than others. I found it very surprising that Goodrich has so little tour availability given that its the largest primary in the whole of Southwark. Here are some dates/info I have collected for those you can go and see

Bessemer Grange - turn up any Tues at 9.30am

Heber - next Weds, 21st Nov, just turn up

goose green - don't know when their next date is, but when they have one they are always on a just turn up basis.

New Peckham Harris free school - 26th Nov 9.15 open day

New haberdashers free school - 26 Nov 5pm info session (dont know if you have to book)

Anyone got any to add?

[goosegreenpta]

Next Goose Green tour is 11th December at 9.15 and that's right, no need to book (although we cant rule out that being a feature in the future we will keep the forum posted!) However the tours are so busy during this reception place application window that in order to make the tours manageable and limit disruption to teaching we won't be able to admit latecomers anymore, sorry about that.

Good advice by Alieh to try and look at a school outside that reception application window or book early for those that require booking.

[Cora]

And another warning - it is much worse at secondary level. Some of the popular schools only have one open evening and no visiting at other times!

[redjam]

Yes, the next Heber open morning is Wednesday 21st November, as Sunbob mentioned above, from 9.30 to 11am. No need to book and all prospective parents are welcome - tea, coffee and refreshments will be provided!

[alieh]

That's really helpful everyone thanks!

I knew it would be stressful getting a place in one of the local schools, but didn't know that competition would extend to the tour!

[Carbonara]

People who live more towards the Rosendale / W Dulwich catchment area might like to consider the new Reception class opening at Dunraven, which is becoming an all-through school, with children from the primary classes given priority for the secondary. The primary school will be under the same leadership as the secondary.

Traditionally new schools seem to have a much wider catchment until reputation grows, so it might be a realistic option which also widens your options at secondary.

Information evenings: Wednesday 21 November 2013 (3.45-4.30pm) and Thursday 22 November (6.30-7.15pm).

http://www.dunraven.org.uk/page/?title=Admissions+for+Reception+in+2013&pid=203

[The Nappy Lady]

Yes - re secondaries I went to 3 this year to look - glad I started early (eldest in year 4 so 2 more years til she moves on) as just getting to those after work & with children in tow at times was hard enough.

Def worth getting ahead on viewings if you can, plus you can then revisit your short list in the application year & compare to your previous visit.

[BellendenBear]

Glad someone else started a rant about this. I have been really amazed at the lack of information that primary schools put on their websites. Surely open days would be an obvious thing to add at this time of year. We emailed 6 schools at the end of September to find out how to arrange a tour, and only 1 replied.

Like alieh said, it does make you wonder how easy it will be to engage with the schools in the future. I would have thought that many parents, particularly working parents, would use email and the internet to keep in touch with what's happening.

On a positive note, we have been really impressed with the schools that we have seen.

[clare]

Hi everyone. I work at Goodrich School and am sorry that it has been a frustrating experience for parents/carers wanting to book in for a tour around the school.In truth we have been overwhelmed by the volume of people wanting to have a tour of the school recently. Part of the tour is walking through the classes to see what children are actually doing and so we cannot have an indefinite number on the tours, especially when there are usually accompanying children (who are welcome of course but need to be factored in.)

At Goodrich we run a tour of about an hour every other Monday at 9.30 am throughout the school year. We have put on extra tours this autumn but due to demand we will now be having two further tours on Tuesday 4th December and Thursday 6th December, both at 9.30 am.

I hope this helps. Maybe if you are not looking for a Reception place for Sept 2013 you could wait until after January so we can show round as many current applicants as we can before the Reception admissions deadline in January.

We look forward to welcoming you.

[Pickle]

Well done Goodrich! Another great way to get a feel for a school (in my opinion) is to go to their school fairs, tabletop sales etc - we had done this for a year or so before applying for primary schools and on the basis of what we saw opted for Goodrich without going on an organised tour. I have two children absolutely thriving at the school now.

[alieh]

Many thanks Clare from Goodrich! I will try to snag a spot on one of the added tours and we have also been participating in activities like summer fair, tabletop sale, etc to get a feel for the school.

I also managed (thanks to a PM from a kind forumite) to get a spot on the Horniman Tour this morning from someone who had to cancel. Who knew there was a black market in primary school tour places?!

Thanks again everyone!

[HOMum]

Can I also ask -

If my daughter will be going in to reception in September 2014 - when do I apply? Not until Sept 2013? And when do I go and have a look - as soon as I want? so as to avoid not getting to see it closer to the time?

I am quite confused by the whole process!

Our first choice is St Anthony's (where I also went) and my mum tells me we were on the lists form very early on (much before we were 2!)

Any advice on this?

[Pickle]

For Sept 2014 intake you will apply prior to Jan 2014 and places are announced around April. You can't apply any earlier than that, although for St Anthony's you need to make sure you meet their criteria in terms of regularly attending church etc (which I'm assuming you already do).

[Coach Beth]

If you like twitter, you can follow the twitter feeds of the local schools to keep informed with what is happening - go here to see and follow Goose Green:

Other schools that I am aware have twitter accounts are St.John's and Dulwich Hamlets.

[JessM]

This might be a bit on the negative side but it is what I think...

You basically have no choice of school anyway as it's so dependant on where you live, so it hardly matters if you see the schools or not.

I spent considerable time & effort seeing schools when I was applying for a place for my son and on the basis of that did not put down the school that was closest to us on the form at all, instead listing other nearby schools I would have wanted him to attend. When the places were allocated we therefore were not offered any of the 6 schools I put, or even the nearby one I didn't like, but one really far away that was failing. Stupid of me, I know, but I believed what they said about there being an element of parental choice. Who knows where we would have ended up with the waiting lists and bulge classes etc, but we went private and ultimately moved house.

Good luck to everyone applying now - learn from my mistake and put your nearest school as number 6 even if you don't like it! (You'll still be on waiting lists for schools 1-5 even if you accept the unwanted place at no6.) At least you'll be able to walk there!

[clare]

Hi again. Hot off the press ! In addition to the extra tour dates mentioned in my previous post Goodrich School will now also be hosting an Open Morning for prospective Reception parents/carers on Thursday 29 November at 9.20 am. The morning will consist of a tour of the school in small groups lead by children,a meeting with the Head Teacher and time for more informal questions and chat over tea with parents/carers who already have children attending the school.

Please contact the school on 0208 693 1050 to book a place.

Many thanks and we hope to see you then.

[alieh]

Wow! That is a great response Clare, thanks! I wasn't trying to criticise in my original post as I understand you can only cope with so many parents at a time. It was just a rant at the situation, really. But that is great that you've been so accommodating.

[dontpanic]

Remember that there will be a lot of Christmas fairs at primary schools coming up. Not the same as a proper tour I know, but interesting and informative nonetheless. more informal, but you can get a good gauge of atmosphere and ethos. I would say do the rounds even if you aren't applying until next year...