Hanover School
Date of Visit: Nov-09
Numaber of Students: 325
Number addmitted to Reception Class: 45 (one and half form entry)
system of working in 'phase groups' according to children's age, but they end up being 30 in class. They put children in groups according to ability in math
Language: Spanish (starting next year)but did not appear very serious about it. There is a Frenh lunch club once per week - NOT SERIOUS
Music: private music classes paid by parents. Also some music education as part of the curriculum but didn't say how much per week.
Catchment Area: head didn't know (it's the Council's business, not the school's) but thought it was approx 1300m (it varies year by year).
Afterschool Clubs: yes but not so many in reception year, for older kids only. Didn't bother going into details. Run by the Highbury Roundhouse
NB. Refurbishment - There will be a refurbishment starting September 2010 and will take 2 years. 6m investment. New sports hall, assembly hall. The school will be chaotic for 2 years.
Description of the school and impressions of the atmosphere:
Currently sports hall is also assembly is also lunch room. Has playground on roof and another playground. building nice, old but good victorian school Very spacious classrooms, library, tiny shit music room. plenty of outdoor space. no cooked on site, big kitchen cold corridors, person in admin office INCREDIBLY RUDE, children distracted, looking a bit unkept, sitting with legs on chairs, running down corridors.Not a particularly nice atmosphere. Head does not inspire confidence as was not able to answer most questions I asked (re. admissions). vague when answering and kept saying 'there's a booklet in hte office you can get'. Not particularly warm towards the children. Visit was short and she acted like it was a nuisance. Very disappointing! Islington Green "coler rye' (sp), Hackey Academies, Selective schools (Latimer - NB check this- very hard to get to, independent schools but she didn't say which.
