I might not have been 100% clear - the only part of the circuit we do oval is the upwind/crosswind/downwind. An oval (or circling) approach is IF "break visual" territory, another topic altogether...
What I've described is the promulgated standard for our school, the PA28's seem to comfortably get to 1000', it just seemed odd compared to the rest of the posts.
Sensible, if this is flown properly you roll out on downwind at height about 9 times out of 10 without further positioning - it's very neat.
The circuit we fly is aimed *primarily* at achieving the base turn point, from which (with the correct RoD) you'll always get a good landing.
[This message has been edited by Oz_Pilot (edited 23 December 1999).]