I attended the Fairlawn open day for parents a couple of weeks ago - it is indeed very oversubscribed - the office were saying even people in Devonshire Road are sometimes too far away to qualify.

We find out in a couple of months... Due to my own rubbish experiences with primary schools I fully intend to be museum and interesting daytrip tastic and support my children's schooling to within an inch of their lives. They will probably hate me.

Many thanks for all those replies. It is really useful to get an impression from people that have some experience of EB. We know Fairlawn school well and it is indeed, a very good school but as many have said, very oversubscribed so, as with most parents, we have to consider all options. I think it is important to feel that the headteacher is in control of their school and so those comments were very reassuring. Thanks again.

All the best!

My eldest is in year 6 at Fairlawn, so my 6 year old got in on sibling policy, butttttttttt I do know that a kid in year 2 lives on westboure Road (think it's rd ) opposite co-op, also a few kids leave each year due to moving out of London.
So if you are willing to change your child's school you have a good chance of getting in Fairlawn. Last sept 2 kids started in year 1 that were on the waiting list. Hope this is of help if you don't get a school you are 100% with.

Don't know whether it would be too far away for you, but may I put in a word for Dalmain primary? It has consistently good results, a good (secular) ethos, a thoroughly socially mixed (in all senses) intake making it as good for a kid's social skills as their academic development, it's own attached wildlife garden (which was opened by Princess Alexandra - remember her? - during my own time there), and nice friendly parent community if the coffee-drinking clientele of the Honor Oak around hometime is anything to go by....

Hi, i can see you have lots of information now but i just wanted to add that i completed a 3 month teaching placement at Eliot bank recently. I found the school to be excellent and all the staff were very focused and involved. It definitely earnt the 'Outstanding' Ofsted report.
You will get great calf muscles if you live at the bottom of the hill too!

i went to Eliot Bank school myself.
i am talking years ago mind you, i am 42 now

but i was transfered from grove vale school when my perants moved to the area, i still have very fond memories of that school.
i only wished i went there from year 1 as it was 10 x better then grove vale.