Views sought on Goodrich School versus Heber School

[slummymum]

DD is about to start nursery at Goodrich School. The nursery looks fab and we are really pleased. However for primary school catchment wise we are slightly nearer to Heber (but nursery there small and we didn't get in). I have heard good things about both schools but wanted to hear more views to help me decide which to put first on the form.

Thanks!!

[SueJ]

im in goodrich B)

[Asset]

Well, at a guess, I'd say that the people whose kids are at Heber will say Heber is better and the people whose kids are at Goodrich will say Goodrich is better.

I think they are pretty much of a muchness. Very close to each other, similar size, similar demographic. Don't know what the parity is regarding 'results' but they can be found on the web I'm sure.

I'd put the closest one first personally.

[Mick Mac]

my children are at goodrich and they like it a lot. But it got only a satisfactory ofsted and heber got a better ofsted. Goodrich then produced good results at year end so depends on whether you are guided by ofsted or results in your choice. Heber had a "super head" who has now left and goodrich installed a new head maybe 2 years ago and she seems to be moving in the right direction. Mrs russell teaches my 6 year old and she is at all accounts a very good teacher. Good luck with your choice.

[Nero]

I live opposite Goodrich and can say that the children are well behaved, presentable and happy. It's mixed racially and socially, but it is a large school. I occasionally see the teachers taking classes outside and the pupils are always attentive . I get the impression that G'rich was 'up' when Heber was 'down' a few years ago and that the imbalance has been levelled somewhat now.

[andrewc]

Hi, I have a daughter who is very happy at Heber and have friends with happy children at Goodrich. Goodrich is a larger school with the pros and cons that that entails but I expect your child will be happy at either. You can only go by what you feel personally when you visit the school - perhaps your child will feel instantly at home at one of them.

Please don't rely on what OFSTED say - they really can only provide a snapshot of what's going on which may fail to record good or bad aspects of the school(I speak as someone who works in Southwark schools and has been through 2 OFSTED inspections in the last two years!). How lucky you are to have the choice between two good schools!

[intexasatthe moment]

Hi ,my experience is very dated but still may be of use.

My son went to Goodrich ten years ago when it far outstripped Heber with regard to league tables.

Our experience was that a great many teachers were NQT's - when I added it up my child had a newly qualfied teacher ( just out of training ,no previous experience ) for over 50% of his time at the school . And despite their enthusiam I'm afraid that this was not a good experience.

So this may be something to inquire about /research in either school.

Personally I found Goodrich very cliquey ( regarding parent groups ) and the layout of classrooms and playgrounds too spread out .

I don't think the playgrounds were adequately supervised - social interaction very important at this age .

So ask about playground supervision - tho I'm sure you'll be given a load of spin.It's a problem in schools .

Ask about toilets ,where are they located ? what's the policy ?do they send children in pairs or with a Teaching Assistant?

I found the toilets to be miles away from some of the reception classrooms at Goodrich.

And don't even get me started on the drinking fountains - ask about water /drinks .Check that the fountains actually WORK .

All the children in my son's reception class were drinking from the taps in the toilets - and guess what ? There was a major epidemic of vomitting and diarrhea.

Sorry to be so gloomy - kids are resilent and their experience at home is much more important than their experience at school.You just might need to remind yourself and take heart.

[Mick Mac]

I met someone recently who had taken his son out of Goodrich 4 years ago and had renamed it "Badrich".

However my daughter's experience is a good one and she enjoys it, she is only 6 and in her second year there but I suspect that a lot has changed in the last few years.

My wife works for the department of education policy division and is close to those parents who are involved at Goodrich - and ofsted have asked that Goodrich make more of their local parent group so this is happening.

I have no obvious complaints about Goodrich as yet. When we met the Head before the my daughter attended she gave me the impression that she was results driven and that's what I wanted, teachers need to be accountable.

I'm not recommending it so much as thinking in type - my thoughts are that Goodrich's standards had dropped a few years ago but the school is I hope now on the upward curve.

[katc]

Hi all,

What's the verdict currently? :) I will soon be in the process of applying to an East Dulwich school, and don't know where to begin.

Any parents of kids currently in year 1 of heber or Goodrich ? Or any other schools? What are the ED schools like?

Would love some feedback before the rest of my hair turns white lol :) x

[hpsaucey]

To be honest, if you're applying in the usual reception year intake, you're only likely to get a place at schools very near to where you live. Most of the schools around here are pretty good so best thing is to go and look at them and see which you think might suit your child best.

katc Wrote:

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

> Hi all,

>

> What's the verdict currently? :) I will soon be in

> the process of applying to an East Dulwich school,

> and don't know where to begin.

>

> Any parents of kids currently in year 1 of heber

> or Goodrich ? Or any other schools? What are the

> ED schools like?

>

>

> Would love some feedback before the rest of my

> hair turns white lol :) x

[katc]

Thank you hpsaucey for your reply. Much appreciated :)

[Mick Mac]

Don't know much about Heber. But Goodrich has improved significantly in recent years and is our choice.

[mako]

The schools are both generally very good and similar. The difference is that Goodrich comprehensively won the parents cricket this year, proving they are slightly better.

[LondonMix]

Ah, typically you need to live within 300m of Heber Primary to get in which really is only a few streets. Both schools are academically strong so just go and see which feels like the right fit for your little one. As others have said, none of the local schools are bad and Goodrich and Heber are two of the most popular.

[LondonMix]

Just make sure you actually put down 6 choices including a few realistic choices based on where you currently live. Southwark starting primary school booklet provides furthest distance information for the previous year to help guide you. Sometimes you nearest school might counter-intuitively not be your most realistic shot at getting in if its very oversubscribed.

[srisky]

I think there is an illusion of choice.

Definitely visit the schools - no point putting down a school that you really don't like or dismissing a great school as you haven't visited it.

As others have said, try not to waste a choice on a school that is clearly too far away.

Find out if any are having bulge years, as you may get a place in a school that would normally be out of catchment.

Bear in mind, you may be well within a catchment but can miss out due to sibling places.

Good luck!

[*Bob*]

So much comes down the The Head. The last Goodrich head was a duffer and the school lost its way a bit as a result; the current one is great and the place is right back on track.

We were offered both and choose Goodrich. It was bigger, more mixed and felt a bit more lively - which we thought would suit ours. Heber seemed a bit more nicey-nicey so perhaps would better suit a parent who wanted a less boisterous environment.

Don't think you can go wrong with either though - should you be lucky enough to get the choice!

[katc]

Hi all

Thank y

[Earl Aelfheah]

Asset Wrote:

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

> Well, at a guess, I'd say that the people whose

> kids are at Heber will say Heber is better and the

> people whose kids are at Goodrich will say

> Goodrich is better.

> I think they are pretty much of a muchness. Very

> close to each other, similar size, similar

> demographic. Don't know what the parity is

> regarding 'results' but they can be found on the

> web I'm sure.

>

> I'd put the closest one first personally.

Exactly this^

[Dulwich Born And Bred]

Lovely meeting you KatC,

It might be worthwhile posting an advert on here to meet mums in the area so fhat you can get to know mums .

I have to say the majority are friendly and happy to meet up for a coffee and chat.

[Dulwich Born And Bred]

Is there a reason this is in the lounge ?!