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Primary school places September 2013
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Prampusher


Posts: 34
Joined: May 2010
Post: #21
19-04-2013 12:31 PM

I should add that my oldest goes to Dalmain and I know there are quite a few siblings this year but Dalmain has permanently expanded to 60 per year (ie two reception classes) so is not technically classified as having a "bulge" year. I think this is fairer than having a large intake in one year (eg. Elliot Bank) and then going back to original numbers in following years, which effectively means very few places for non-siblings in those following years. Dalmain's catchment is shrinking, but so are many of the schools around FH. I know lots of people who go to Kilmorie and are v happy with it. Happy to introduce people if you like. Also know people at Horniman, E Bank and Stillness!

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LittlePickleHead


Posts: 24
Joined: Jun 2010
Post: #22
19-04-2013 01:35 PM

Jq2307 - I really do recommend a tour of Kilmorie. I was concerned about the size of it initially and had thought Dalmain would be our preference, however I was really impressed during the tour and any worries I had were alleviated, to the extent we ranked it higher than Dalmain in the end.

I also have friends whose children already attend and who are very happy there.

I'm really pleased we got it!

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hellohello


Posts: 42
Joined: Sep 2010
Post: #23
19-04-2013 08:47 PM

We are at Kilmorie and love it as does our son who is in Reception. We were initially a bit worried about the size but it honestly makes no difference at all. The head is great and the head of Early Years is fantastic. My son is thriving there and seems like the school is going from strength to strength.

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jq2307


Posts: 3
Joined: Apr 2013
Post: #24
19-04-2013 09:39 PM

Thanks guys, really great to hear! We are visiting on Monday.

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Littlebelka


Posts: 187
Joined: Mar 2010
Post: #25
20-04-2013 07:07 PM

We have got our second choice - Stillness. First was Dalmain.
Although we are quite content with our offer, there is someone at parallel street who has opted for Stillness, but was offered Dalmain, because they are closer to the second. Looks like no matter what are your preferences, you will get what computer or bureaucrat will decide. Does not look really fair.

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rshdunlop


Posts: 1,111
Joined: Jun 2008
Post: #26
21-04-2013 08:15 AM

Littlebelka - the key thing to remember is that the system gives you the illusion of choice. You have no choice of school, you can only indicate preference. Your preference may well come quite far down on the list of criteria Lewisham use to allocate places. It's not unfair, but gives the impression that it is.

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Bernard


Posts: 3
Joined: Apr 2013
Post: #27
21-04-2013 04:21 PM

Thank you all for your feedback and reassurances.

I have to wait until 3rd May to find out from Lewisham admissions my places on the waiting lists. It seems there were quite a few siblings this year, meaning we were squeezed out of several we would have got into last year.

Will just have to sit tight and hope for the best.

The school we have been allocated is almost 2 miles away, so not an option for us.

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Fjgb


Posts: 18
Joined: Aug 2012
Post: #28
27-04-2013 01:47 PM

Hi Bernard. Are you in Honor oak? I hear a lot of stories of parents who don't get any choices and they all seem to be near me! Starting to panic about when it's my turn to find a school. Fingers crossed it all works out for you!

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Bernard


Posts: 3
Joined: Apr 2013
Post: #29
30-04-2013 12:52 PM

Hi, yes I am. I also found a thread from on here from a few years ago with this exact same problem. It seems we are in a bit of a difficult area - lots of schools but not enough places and just a few meters out of all the catchment areas.

I know there was talk in this thread, of the HOP parents getting together to try and 'do something'?! Not sure what happened or if people just got a place on their waiting lists.

It's a really difficult time. Lewisham don't want to know, as far as they are concerned they've found me a place at a school and that's that.
It's so frustrating as I am so close to so many schools.

I wish I'd known it would be this difficult, I may have considered moving down the road!

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Sherwood


Posts: 1,412
Joined: Mar 2005
Post: #30
30-04-2013 02:41 PM

Bernard,

Many children who have been allocated places change schools for various reasons. Ask if there is a waiting list.

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Honor Oakey


Posts: 2
Joined: Jun 2012
Post: #31
02-05-2013 07:39 AM

We live in Honor Oak and were one of a number who didn't get any of our choices for a reception place last year - we were offered a school 3 miles away. Not practical when you work and have other kids in nursery. Despite reassurances from very kind friends that a waiting list place would come up at our nearest schools, it didn't! We are 430 metres away from our nearest school, Fairlawn, and started off at about 16 on the waiting list. I don't know where we are now, I nolonger take much of an interest, but I know several people who are ahead of us and I'd guess we are about 9th place, even though it is now summer term). We were similarly far down the waiting list for all our other options. My advice would be to try and find a back up - once you know where you are on the waiting list, it's easier to take a call. We ended up applying to a Southwark school we live very close to and getting in on the waiting list (via Lewisham admissions team). Our son is really happy, and the school is just 200 metres up the road - the only reason we didn't apply originally is because it is a faith school and we didn't think they would let us in! He's thrived there, the teaching is excellent, and he's having lots of fun. It was such a stressful time, but all has worked out fine and our son is happy. And even better, he doesn't have to commute to school! I realise faith schools are not everyone's cup of tea, but if you live on a boarder of a Borough, and are close to one, they are worth considering. Whatever happens, I'm sure your kids will thrive. For me, the most important thing was for my son to not have a mega commute to school, and to be able to walk there. And now we are juggling both school and nursery runs, I'm very grateful for it. Really hope I haven't freaked anyone out too much!

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KAM1


Posts: 4
Joined: Jan 2008
Post: #32
08-05-2013 01:27 PM

We have found out we are number 11 on the waiting list for Fairlawn, I thought this might mean we had a slim chance of getting a place but having read the previous post I'm now thinking it is highly unlikely.

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SEJ


Posts: 1
Joined: Apr 2013
Post: #33
16-05-2013 12:21 PM

My daughter goes to Rathfern School. She's in the nursery and due to start reception in September. I really like the school, her teachers have been wonderful and the heads great-really open. She loves it, has grown in confidence and made lovely friends.

My husband is a primary school teacher at an excellant school in central London. He thinks they run some great initiatives in the school like Chatter Matters- which is weekly homework designed to get the whole family talking about a subject.

Lots of the children in the nursery have older siblings in the school and I haven't talked to any parents who don't think that the schools great, especially since the current head started.

I didn't know much about the school before she started nursery but I have been really impressed. It runs a forest school over at St Dunstans College and just before Christmas they got some chickens.

Also academically its doing really well. Its scored 100% two years on the trot for the Level 4 National Curriculum-which is promising too. I looked round a few schools in the area and I loved Dalmain (its arts focus really appealed to me). But we were too far away.

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femalecyclist


Posts: 1
Joined: Jun 2013
Post: #34
02-06-2013 12:05 PM

Hi, we are looking to put an offer this week on a property in forest hill. The house is about 550 metres from both Dalmain and Kilmorie. Can anyone tell me what the catchment areas were for both schools this year? My DS is starting school September 2014 and it looks unlikely from previous years catchment areas that he will get in unless there is quite a lot of movement after the allocation up to the start of the school year. Any information on movement that you may be willing to share would be very much appreciated.thanks

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LittlePickleHead


Posts: 24
Joined: Jun 2010
Post: #35
04-06-2013 06:22 AM

We are about 680m from kilmorie and we got in, though don't know the final distance. Next year will be two years on from the first 3 form entry though, so there are likely to be siblings which will shrink the catchment

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anita


Posts: 4
Joined: May 2008
Post: #36
11-06-2013 12:22 PM

Does anyone have experience of Christ Church CE Primary school on Perry Vale? We just got offered a place there but know very little about it...

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daveherne


Posts: 212
Joined: Jul 2012
Post: #37
11-06-2013 12:30 PM

how are people doing with stillness admissions this year? will be our turn next year.

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