Best primary schools in Stratford/Maryland/Forest Gate?

[Tweedledont]

Can anyone help me? We are planning on moving to this area and would like to focus down on an area specifically around the best schools. I've had a look on almost every school's Ofsted report and the majority are 'good', but I need someone who knows a bit more about it.

I know a lot of 'good' or 'outstanding' grades can be given to schools who improve the majority of pupils by a certain amount. I know there's a very high multicultural mix in this area and I would really like my DC to go to a school where he's not in a very small minority, with the majority of students speaking English as a second language. I hope that doesn't make me sound small minded. Newham is one of only two boroughs with more black/minority residents than 'white british'.

I don't necessarily want him to be in the majority either, but where there is a good mix of pupils who ALL do well.

I know an 'outstanding' school or even 'good' may not be those things for my child, and that I need to look beyond the reports. Can anyone help me with this? We currently live in central london and both work during the week and don't have time at the moment to visit each school individually. We will eventually do this of course but not got time right now, and it will help to narrow our search.

Can anyone help?

[MissMooMoo]

I had a family member go to Godwin infant and then junior school.
its a lovely small community school, catchment area will be the 'forest gate village' area.
I am a nanny and live and work in the area, , closer to Stratford, I dont want to name the school but you can PM me if you want.
godwin Infant school, a few years agohad a lot of white british pupils with English first language.
there is also the new academy in the Olympic village.

[MissMooMoo]

also wanted to add that wanstead is a very high white british area (for east London) but is quite a bit more expensive.
it falls under Redbridge council.

[kamikami]

Watching with interest as we're in a similar position. Godwin is a good school with the catchment area you mentioned so our DC won't get in. Schools in our catchment area have very bad Ofsted reports. I have friends with kids in Maryland and Park and both of them think they're great - but very different.

[Tweedledont]

Thanks, very helpful. Good to hear about Godwin, that sounds really positive. I think though we are leaning towards Stratford side for property as it seems a bit cheaper at the moment but it all depends on the houses up for grabs.

How are they different, kamikami? That's just the sort of info I'm after!

[Tweedledont]

I don't know much about the academy in the olympic village MissMooMoo, is it any good? is it secondary or primary? (do you get primary academies?! i am clueless!)

[MissMooMoo]

it def has primary,
it is called Chobham Academy, brand new just opened this year so not much to go by.

[MissMooMoo]

I just asked someone I know and it has nursery all the way up to sixth form.

[Tweedledont]

Thanks MissMooMoo, the website looks good. I'd like to do some more research into The Harris Foundation...

Seems quite a gamble though to go for an independent school that's not had an Ofsted yet - I've just read they can take up to two years to conduct the first inspection. Still, DS will only be in the nursery even if he goes there, so won't matter so much I suppose just yet, although I'd want assurances on safety etc.

[InaPuckle]

Park Primary not a good school for working parents as communication with parents is via the playground, texts and emails are rare. They also close the school at lunch time for parent teacher interview days, latest interviews are at 6pm but that's no help if you've had to pick the kids up early! They have a breakfast club but no on site after school care although there are clubs that pick up, childminders can be hard to find. They start in reception with very short days for the first few weeks too. 9% White British, details of ethnic breakdown are on Public Sector Equality Duty Policy here

Chobham has had the Head and a lot of teachers resign already!

School 21 has recently been awarded Outstanding by Ofsted but Head also resigned! There is a lot more to schools than just Ofsted ratings though.

[InaPuckle]

Park Primary not a good school for working parents as communication with parents is via the playground, texts and emails are rare. They also close the school at lunch time for parent teacher interview days, latest interviews are at 6pm but that's no help if you've had to pick the kids up early! They have a breakfast club but no on site after school care although there are clubs that pick up, childminders can be hard to find. They start in reception with very short days for the first few weeks too. 9% White British, details of ethnic breakdown are on Public Sector Equality Duty Policy here

Chobham has had the Head and a lot of teachers resign already!

School 21 has recently been awarded Outstanding by Ofsted but Head also resigned! There is a lot more to schools than just Ofsted ratings though.

[rocketjam]

All the schools in Wanstead are oversubscribed with long waiting lists and the catchment areas are getting smaller and smaller ever year. Godwin is a very good school, and has been for many years. I used to live in Forest Gate and Earlham Primary had a good reputation back then, I don't know about now. I have friends with children who go to Carpenter school and they are happy with it. If you were to move to Wanstead, all schools are good except Snaresbrook who had a shocking Ofsted report, however I know many families who go to that school and they are very happy with it. Nightingale is 'the' school to go to at the moment, and there are two faith schools who have a good reputation (Lady of Lourdes - Catholic and Wanstead Church School - CoE).