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Permalink Reply by Dave McNeill on October 23, 2011 at 12:18

Both our kids went to Bowes. It's an OK primary. I wouldn't get too hung up on Ofsteds. I can't help thinking that getting rated 'outstanding' mainly means that the staff are good at handling Ofsted inspections. Also, bear in mind that the head at Bowes is pretty much never there these days and the leadership of the staff is mostly left to the 'Associate Head'.

 

Garfield seems a long way to have to go considering that there are about four primaries I can think off that are closer to you.

 

I know parents whose kids went to Bounds Green and they seem to have turned out fine, although I have no direct experience myself (except for the Quiz Night which is great fun).

 

Finally, don't forget St. Martins. I think it's a religious school, so wasn't any good for us, but you may be okay with that. I hear good things about it.

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Permalink Reply by Nicole James on October 23, 2011 at 13:34

Thanks Dave - I did phone St Martins but they made it clear that they are oversubscribed with catholic children so the chances of a non-catholic being accepted are zero.. some faith schools seem to keep a small number of places for non-faith children but St Martins isn't one of them.

 

Nicole

Dave McNeill said:

Both our kids went to Bowes. It's an OK primary. I wouldn't get too hung up on Ofsteds. I can't help thinking that getting rated 'outstanding' mainly means that the staff are good at handling Ofsted inspections. Also, bear in mind that the head at Bowes is pretty much never there these days and the leadership of the staff is mostly left to the 'Associate Head'.

 

Garfield seems a long way to have to go considering that there are about four primaries I can think off that are closer to you.

 

I know parents whose kids went to Bounds Green and they seem to have turned out fine, although I have no direct experience myself (except for the Quiz Night which is great fun).

 

Finally, don't forget St. Martins. I think it's a religious school, so wasn't any good for us, but you may be okay with that. I hear good things about it.

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Permalink Reply by Richard McKeever on October 23, 2011 at 21:38

Hi Nicole

There is a page on this site that details our local schools - have a look

We live in Melbourne Ave off Palmerston. We took the view of sending our two daughters to the nearest school - and getting involved. They started of at Tottenhall Infants just the other side of Green Lanes (It's unusual in the the area in that as an Infants school it only provides education up to Year Two - the Junior School across the road St Michael at Bowes is a CofE school). I stood as a Parent Governor and got a real insight into primary education!

Both our girls transferred to Bowes School for their respective year Three onwards. (Our eldest left in July and our youngest is in year Five) I think they have had a terrific start to their education - I was particularly impressed with the Bowes "Learning Journey" approach - multidisciplinary teaching through a topic chosen by the kids themselves - which stretches over a half-term period. However this approach is now becoming a more common method of working in primary more generally.

There is no preference given to applicants on the basis of Local authority area, it's simply distance from home; although this criterion follows after any special needs that a child may have and the presence in school of an older sibling.

Some of our daughters' friends have attended Bounds Green and I have heard very good things about it. This too was until fairly recently organised as two seperate schools; Infants and Juniors. As I understand it the school has, since its last OFSTED, been combined under a single head and seems to be doing very well.

Like Dave I wouldn't get hung up on OFSTED - nor really give too much creedence to local anecdotes - which can often lag several year behind reality - giving a school an undeserved reputation (either good or bad). Our kids wouldn't have thrived as well as they have in a school with a different ethos and approach - but others have flourished in those schools - it really does depend on what suits your child. Get in touch with the local schools you are interested in - and make an appointment to go and see them- you can get a better idea  about the school and its staff face-to-face as well as seeing the displays on the walls and understanding the way the place "feels".

Garfield does seem quite a way to travel - particularly as it is the other side of the North Circular. However I fear the pressure on places locally is likely to increase as new housing is built along the A406 and bits of infill housing increas (like that above the new shops at the Clockhouse Junction and the proposed development at Palmers Green Library) .

Good luck with your choice - do let us know how you get on.

Richard

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Nicole James on October 27, 2011 at 20:27

Hi Richard,

Thanks so much for this helpful reply - we have started visiting schools already but I hadn't thought of Tottenhall so that is useful to know.

 

Nicole

Richard McKeever said:

Hi Nicole

There is a page on this site that details our local schools - have a look

We live in Melbourne Ave off Palmerston. We took the view of sending our two daughters to the nearest school - and getting involved. They started of at Tottenhall Infants just the other side of Green Lanes (It's unusual in the the area in that as an Infants school it only provides education up to Year Two - the Junior School across the road St Michael at Bowes is a CofE school). I stood as a Parent Governor and got a real insight into primary education!

Both our girls transferred to Bowes School for their respective year Three onwards. (Our eldest left in July and our youngest is in year Five) I think they have had a terrific start to their education - I was particularly impressed with the Bowes "Learning Journey" approach - multidisciplinary teaching through a topic chosen by the kids themselves - which stretches over a half-term period. However this approach is now becoming a more common method of working in primary more generally.

There is no preference given to applicants on the basis of Local authority area, it's simply distance from home; although this criterion follows after any special needs that a child may have and the presence in school of an older sibling.

Some of our daughters' friends have attended Bounds Green and I have heard very good things about it. This too was until fairly recently organised as two seperate schools; Infants and Juniors. As I understand it the school has, since its last OFSTED, been combined under a single head and seems to be doing very well.

Like Dave I wouldn't get hung up on OFSTED - nor really give too much creedence to local anecdotes - which can often lag several year behind reality - giving a school an undeserved reputation (either good or bad). Our kids wouldn't have thrived as well as they have in a school with a different ethos and approach - but others have flourished in those schools - it really does depend on what suits your child. Get in touch with the local schools you are interested in - and make an appointment to go and see them- you can get a better idea  about the school and its staff face-to-face as well as seeing the displays on the walls and understanding the way the place "feels".

Garfield does seem quite a way to travel - particularly as it is the other side of the North Circular. However I fear the pressure on places locally is likely to increase as new housing is built along the A406 and bits of infill housing increas (like that above the new shops at the Clockhouse Junction and the proposed development at Palmers Green Library) .

Good luck with your choice - do let us know how you get on.

Richard

 

 

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