Anbody in Dorset, Poole/Wimborne area...

[BattyKoda]

that can recommend a good primary school (not first school) that isn't religious?

[JoeyBettany]

William Barnes in sturminster newton -prob a bit too far north dorset for you, but can't recommend it highly enough!

[BattyKoda]

Thanks for your reply, is just a bit too far out though!

[poshtottie]

Vaguely remember someone saying that Lilliput first school was very good but may be C of E.

[BattyKoda]

Yeah, it's C of E.

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but do you have to be relgious in order for your children to attend a religious school?

[poshtottie]

I don't think so. My neices attended a roman catholic school and they are not catholic.

[Shoshe]

Milldown Primary in Blandford?

Archbishop Wake (CofE) is also in a brand new building in the same town.

[Chocolateteapot]

Wimborne isn't going to be any use as are all first schools apart from the Catholic school which I think is pretty heavy on the religion front.

A lot of the C of E schools are catchment schools and have lots of children going who aren't religious. The Wimborne pyramid has a few church first schools then one of the middle schools is a church school but practically all the children at a feeder first school go, regardless of whether their first school was a state school.

As I understand it, Poole is in the process of changing from 3 tier to 2 tier so may be worth your while looking at Broadstond which is very good. I think Lilliput is a non churchy church school IYSWIM

[BattyKoda]

Thanks for that Chocolateteapot! We are hoping to move to the area soon, possibly Merley/Corfe Mullen/Oakley and Broadstone looks quite central to all of those, very useful to know the system is changing.

[Chocolateteapot]

Is it because you don't like the idea of the three tier system that you said no first schools? I was quite unsure about it at first but now my DC's are going through it, I do like it. As far as I know it is staying 3 tier in Wimborne as it works very well.

[BattyKoda]

I asked on another thread about the three tier system and didn't get a very good response, seems common opinion is that the transition is uneccesary, and middle school tends to be more like secondary school, although they're (the pupils) are still young... This maybe wrong? Why do you like the three tier, did you choose a First School or did you not have alot of choice? (Thanks for your insight btw!)

[Chocolateteapot]

Middle school is like secondary school and I did have my reservations but actually by the time they all moved up they were ready for it and I saw my DD (who has dyspraxia) really flourish in Year 5 beyond my expectations. A rocky start to year 6 but that's due to SATs and she's settled down.

They have great facilities and grounds and the school is big on pastoral care. I have DS who is in year 1 so in a first school. I love the family the first schools have, it's suited both of mine really well, DS's first school has an amazing head and I love it. I do have misgivings about the upper school but that's due to the size. The first to middle school transition was very well handled.

We moved fairly suddenly from somewhere that also had the three tier system just before DD started first school so I was used to the idea and stuck with it , though we could have gone back to Poole where we'd lived when she was a baby.

[Chocolateteapot]

I think it probably depends how well the three tier system works in an area. There was a consultation fir East Dorset I think where it was decided that it works so well for Wimborne/cranbourne that it would be left alone.

[BattyKoda]

There is no (that I know of) three tier system here so it will all be new to me. I'm worried about too much change for my DS1, he is already in primary and so will be a change for him straight away, the thought of him having another 2 changes puts me off a bit.

[thinkingaboutdrinking]

Lytchett Matravers is primary and good - Although that maybe too far away for you? It feeds into Lytchett Minster secondary which is also considered good too.
In Dorset there are both first and middle (change at beginning Year 4 or Year 5 and go to secondary for year 9) and also infant and junior schools (change at beginning year 3 and then go to secondary for year 7)although they are going to be changing that in some areas. Poole have 2 systems too I think, and they also have grammers, which dorset don't (although you can go to a gammer from dorset if you are clever enough).
So basically - all very confusing! But it is a lovely place to live!

[Mrsdoasyouwouldbedoneby]

I'd try and stay in wimborne. I live nr there but not iyswim), and we are poole which is going 2 tier. I suspect everywhere will eventually. I can recommend my DC's school, but it IS going 2 tier... it affects DD actually (currently it goes up to yr 3).

Broadstone is lovely I have heard, and quite a catch! BUT often very over-subscribed!

HTH

[Chocolateteapot]

I can see what you mean about all the changes given that he has to change now. I went though the two tier system so this is all new to me but I do like it. I am glad DD won't be anywhere with 18 year olds until she's 13, I think it will suit her better.

I guess there will be pressure for Wimborne to go two tier eventually but am hoping my DC's will have both made it to upper school by then. There will be a lot of opposition though as pretty much everyone I know likes the current system once they have experience of it.

I've heard very good things about both Broadstone first and Middle, they feed into Corfe Hills. Have a feeling that Merley children generally go to Allenbourne Middle then either Corfe Hills in Poole or QE in Wimborne so I'm not sure how that works with change in Poole's system.

[Mrsdoasyouwouldbedoneby]

Sorry, I had to go...

Braodstone or Corfe Mullen have good schools (as I say oversubscribed usually). We are close to Wimborne, but a first school. It is a sound school and is not affiliated, but the comp is not so good (middle school gets good results, but mixed reviews from parents). Broadstone Middle is again very popular as is Corfe Hills comp/secondary (whatever). There are also 2 Grammar schools (single ed)
I myself come from a 3 tier system (purbeck), and this is controversially being changed to two tier, despite the fact that at the moment the area is very spread out, so far that people in Swanage have to travel to wareham for secondary/senior yr9plus as it is (so 9miles roughly)... parents are not happy. Lytchett falls under Purbeck Council (or it did when we were going to move there and discovered our local dump would be Wareham...), so potentially going 2 tier too.
I think Merely first is supposed to be a very good school, again, it has a full intake. I think it is quite small... will know in a week or so when the place allocation comes through (we see what all the schools get/do). Actually, that's a point... I will get a handy list of schools with how popular they are/under/over-subsribed... Will post valuable info if you like.

[Mrsdoasyouwouldbedoneby]

I think that with poole changing you have to apply in-year for Corfe Hills etc... It will be changing (locally to me), to move at end of yr 2 (rather than 3) to middle, and then at the end of yr6 instead of yr7 to the senior schools. I think Corfe Hills is Yr 9?, so you apply in yr. All so confusing, and such a pain that it changes in year 2013 (sept).

[Chocolateteapot]

What's the timescale for the move ? If soon then you may need to ring Poole and Dorset LEAs and see which schools have spaces in your DS's year as a lot of the schools are full in most years.

[BattyKoda]

Oh gosh, this is all so confusing, thank you so much for helping!

Not sure yet of timescale... was hoping to be there by September but that is looking unlikely, possibly beginning of next year now.

I have just realised...going to a middle school means you don't start sceondary until year 9, when it's usually year 7? That would appeal to me actually!

The school will probably determine where we will live, so Lychett could be an option if we could find accommodation (will be renting).

[Chocolateteapot]

Yes, the Upper schools start at Year 9. Lytchett does have a very good reputation. Anywhere in Poole you've got the option of the Grammar. Some Wimborne children do go but they have to get a higher mark than those in catchment.

[BattyKoda]

So do you think I might be best getting in touch with the council first to see which school could take him?

[Chocolateteapot]

I think things change a fair bit over time. But I guess if you do ring the LEA now you'll get an idea of what's available now and see how suscribed the schools you are interested in are.

[Mrsdoasyouwouldbedoneby]

Should say, Lytchett is from yr 7 (afaik)... I was speaking to someone who works there the other day, because they said that going 2 tier wouldn't affect them because it was already effectively 2 tier!

Yes, before you move you could contact the admissions team with the councils (purbeck I think for Lytchett and Poole for broadstone etc). I believe it is easier to get into schools mid year tho, than applying late now to start in sept (iyswim)?