Grasmere School

Grasmere        29-Jan-10            30 max    1    Spanish    yes    yes lots        Absolutely tiny and almost impossible to get into I'm told    yes lots of sports clubs    lovely small school, clean, loads of art on the walls, clean comfortable classrooms,  loads of outside space, separate nursery playground and a big playground for bigger kids    no uniform, kids very bohemian looking (looks a bit too relaxed, but very happy)    didn’t ask    seems like a lovely small school. Biggest advantage how small it is and its reputation. However, my feeling was that it was quite chaotic-  no organised open day, took forever for someone to see me. Open day started with assembly where yr 6 did a presentation about Anne Frank. The whole school was there, seemed very contained, small and manageable. Kids seemed happy and confident. Good discipline.Head teacher nice but very business like man, very rushed off his feet. Said nursery will only be funded for part time places from next year. Also said, all kids will be starting Reception in Sept 2012 which is when Munch will be of Reception age (this is across the board)    Both kids that showed me around wanted to go to Stoke Newington school where the previous yr six had gone. Seems the school of choice.

Canonbury School

 Canonbury        11-Nov-09        432    30    60    French and french after school club        yes, lots of projects with Cubitt    On special measures as of end of 2009. Keep track as it may rapidly improve.     1400 furthest last yr (131 Englefield is 1290 in distance so would have got in)     French amongst others    a bit run down but feels homely. PE in top floor assembly hall, a bit chaotic    no (I think)            kids that showed us around mentioned Dame Alice owen, Latymer, Camden Girls School, Mary Magdalene

Hanover School

Hanover       

Nov-09       
Number of children in the whole school: 325    45 at reception (one and half form entry)    complex system of working in 'phase groups' according to children's age, but 30 in class. They put children in groups according to ability in math    Spanish (starting next year)but half arsed about it, there's a Frenh lunch club once per week - NOT SERIOUS    private music classes paid by parents. Also some music education    no mention         head didn't know but thought approx 1300m (varies)    yes but not so many in reception year, for older kids only. Didn't bother going into details. Ran by Highbury Roundhouse    There will be a refurbishment starting next september and will take 2 years. 6m investment. New sports hall, assembly hall. Will be chaotic for 2 yrs. 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 (Latymer -  NB check this-  very hard to get to), independent schools but she didn't say which.

Hugh Myddleton

Hugh Myddleton, 21 March 2011                    30    2    french, spanish, 2 years each    didn't ask    didn't ask    so- so    don't care, its not a good school    yes    lovely, but shame about the staff/kids/atmosphere    yes, nice    cooked on site    sadly, great premises but terrible atmosphere in the class - kids are wild, out of control, messy, loud. I wound't dream of putting Leo in there    whatever

Thornhill School

Thornhill        10 Nov 09 (Vesna)        400    30    60 at reception    French (afterschool club) she thinks    afterschool club    have good art provision        large catchment    yes, many    big school, strong PtA, extensions and refurb planned    yes, very simple, dark blue    have kitchen on site and fresh meals    Vesna liked the atmosphere but he didn't mention about the curriculum. Much talk about approach to learning. Tour led by children   

The Gower School

The Gower School     

Date Of visit; June 2011    £3335 (8.45 - 3.30, includes food),£2,496 for whole year (breakfast club + afterschool club). Total £12501(plus have to find a solution for holidays)                                                        

Rosemary Works

Rosemary Works     

Date of visit: 2010      £2835 per term (9.30 - 4pm), £558 per term Mon - Fri afterschool clubs, Lunch £155 per term. TOTAL £10644 per year (plus have to find a solution for holidays)    110, can accommodate 150    20 children in reception        French once per week    1 per week            private    yes, lots    lovely but geographically positioned in a rough area. A big social difference between children at the school and the surroundings. A difficult situation.     yes    cooked on premises    very small school, wonder if its struggling to stay open. Year 3 only 7 childre, year 4 10 children.      50% go to state 50% private, 60% of year six got level 5 SAT tests, national average is 4 on SAT tests