Richmond Admissions

[CDH3232]

Does anyone know how the link system works. Looking at the junior schools that hold formal links to secondaries there is a strong bias towards the church schools being the ones who have the links with the "better" secondaries? Look at those who link to Orleans and Teddington. Whereas the non faith junior schools seem to get left with the short straw links to Hampton Academy, Twickenham Academy etc..........is this a discriminatory policy and who decides on the links? Can this be challenged at appeal..............

[stillfeel18inside]

I think it's location though partly - for example St John's is virtually next door to Teddington so it's not surprising it's the link school. Basically where there are link schools (all except Waldegrave and Tiffin boys/girls I think?) then in a popular school like Teddington, almost no-one gets in who isn't at a link school, and even living next door to the school wouldn't help, because it's done first on link schools, then on distance if too many from link schools apply.

[amidaiwish]

it's a combination of location and link school.

you can live next door to Teddington and not get in if you are not at a link school. same as Orleans.

St James' and Archdeacon have no link schools fwiw so not sure your theory on Faith schools holds.

[amidaiwish]

then again if you are at a link school it doesn't meant you will get in. Like Stanley - only those who live at the Teddington end get in to Teddington. The Hampton Hill children from Stanley don't get in to Teddington based on previous experience as they live too far. Bloody nightmare.

[prh47bridge]

You can't challenge the admission policies on appeal unless they are clearly contrary to the Admissions Code, which this isn't. You can lodge an objection to the admission arrangements with the Schools Adjudicator if you want but I doubt they will find in your favour.

[mebaasmum]

Hi. Archdeacon is linked with Orleans

[singersgirl]

As I understand it, schools also need to send a certain number of children each year to keep up their linked status.

[amidaiwish]

oh that's interesting about Orleans, it is quite a way from Archdeacon. St James' DEFINITELY doesn't have any link.

[amidaiwish]

thanks for the link, is it right then that if a school send 25% of their children to one school one year they can get a link?
i don't understand why st james's doesn't have any links! i thought it was because there is no catholic secondary, but sacred heart has a link to teddington, so that can't be right.

[foxinsocks]

st johns is hardly really a church school tbh, it's just the junior part of hampton wick infants

sacred heart has a link to teddington, I would guess based on location (as both it and collis are the second closest schools to teddington after st johns)

if you look at the booklet they sent out this year (dd is in yr 6!), no-one got into Teddington who wasn't at a link school and even some children in link schools didn't get in due to their distance from the school.

If you think that the primary schools in that area have all increased - collis now takes 4, stanley is taking 3 (think it might be going to 4?), st johns 2 and st mary st peter I think is about to take 3, and yet none of the secondary schools have got any bigger. There used to be a big outflow to private at 11 but that seems to be slowing down.

Don't think st james is close enough to any of those schools? I saw one of my old playgroup friends whose child is now in yr6 at St James and she is beginning to fret.

Just fyi, the private of choice over the last few years seems to be Kingston Grammar!

If you have a girl at st james, I know quite a few catholic families try for Gumley in Isleworth.

[foxinsocks]

you'd have a real fighting chance of Waldegrave if you are in that part of the borough. Down south in the borough, there's v little chance of getting in.

[amidaiwish]

most of the girls from St James's go to waldegrave (mostly) or Gumley, though a good few went private last year too.
it is the boys that seem to have more of a problem, scattered all over the place and many private.

it is crazy isn't it that all the primaries are increasing, yes Stanley is moving to 4 form entry, and yet no more state secondary spaces.

i'm hoping the DDs will either get Tiffin or waldegrave, but who knows where we will be, i refuse to start fretting yet, they are only in reception and Y2.

[CDH3232]

We are just wrapping up our secondary preferences and all I can urge is to start making as many enquiries as you can think of and as early as possible, ie Year3 and formulate your plans as early as you can. You should also start to collate details re possible appeal criteria as early as you can, hopefully they will not be needed, but better prepared well in advance. They are of course dependent upon the reason given for not getting a place at the chosen school. As far as I am aware Stanley now holds a formal link to Hampton Academy..............

[lbubbly]

suggestions of what are the best state secondary schools in Richmond mixed or single sexed and why .

Thanks

[BayJay]

All Richmond Borough parents need to be aware that the council is looking to make some significant changes to Secondary Schools over the coming years, which could impact existing schools, so check out the thread: "New Secondaries for Richmond Borough" and join the debate. The council will hopefully listen to parents' views, but we can only engage in the process if we know what's going on.