Jump to content

Kingsdale Foundation School


Recommended Posts

  • 3 weeks later...
As a foundation school they have some autonomy on the selection criteria. Kingsdale's two main oversubscription criteria as far as we were concerned are the scholarship and random selection ones. I have to say that they haven't been clear about how they apply the scholarship criterion. I think this is an issue for a smallish number of families but I don't know how many. The uncertainty has certainly increased the stress for us in what is a particularly stressful process. I understand that initial places have been allocated in the pan-London process and this week the files went out to other boroughs. Still, only three weeks and four days before we get our offer of a place, somewhere.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

My understanding as a parent of 2 children at the school is that Kingsdale can indeed set their own selection criteria as a foundation school. It is the borough who then select the children who fit the criteria according to where the school was placed on their list. The admissions criteria can be found here

http://www.kingsdale.southwark.sch.uk/PDF/Admissions%20Policy.pdf


As you can see, 15% of places are for children with scholarships. However, the total number of scholarships granted is greater than 15% of the total intake, so being granted a scholarship does not guarantee a place at the school.


When it comes to appeals, this is the part where the schools themselves can look at individual applications and obviously having a scholarship would come into play at that point (though still without guarantees).


I know it's a stressful time and hope all ends well for you. The process is not perfect but I can't think of one that is fairer, particularly now that distance from the school has been dropped as part of the criteria.


Good luck!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm fairly confident I understand the procedure. So, if, as a parent, you deem Kingsdale to be an appropriate school for your child and s/he was offered a scholarship before the deadline for the pan London admissions scheme, you might well put Kingsdale high on your list of preferred schools. This would make sense since, in most cases, the only other relevant over subscription criterion is random selection, which really is a lottery. That's when you need good luck.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

It is indeed, Alec. As a result of the school being so popular there will almost definitely be more people putting it top of their list than there are places. Not long to wait now and I hope you have the school of your choice at the end.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's interesting to read the other thread on EDF comparing Kingsdale and Charter. They seem to be roughly equally successful and popular. My point is that you'd only put popular schools in your top three if you thought you had something of a chance of your child being offered a place. Being in the east of East Dulwich we're not close enough to feel comfortable about being in Charter's inclusion zone, but it's popular with us. So, for Kingsdale, being offered a scholarship would seem to be key to where you place it on the list of preferences. Interestingly a Harris academy for boys is opening its new building a few streets from us for a September 2010 intake. However, our son doesn't want to go to a boys' school and their criteria are quite exclusive anyway in that they can only admit boys from certain primary schools in Peckham if I remember correctly. I'd be interested to hear others' thoughts on this if you'd like to share your dilemma.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

We didn't apply to Harris Boys as it's a large school on a site that used to house 300? pupils. There will be no outside space. Photos of the School incorporate Peckham Rye Park! Yes I agree with you its tough with Secondary Schools. HAberdasher's Aske, Bacon's College and Charter all have small catchment areas. If all the local secondary schools had similar admissions criteria, at east it would make the system more just.-3 weeks to go! Kingsdale seems to have become extremely popular this year.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 year later...

Just resurrecting this thread as a cheerful anecdote really. For 2011 entry my eldest son had listed in order of priority:


Kingsdale

Haberdashers

London Nautical

City of London Academy

Charter

Walworth Academy


Pimlico was in there somewhere as an ambition but we were told categorically that NO ONE from SE5 would get in. Not like two years ago. He also made a particular request that he would not consider any faith school.


Naturally he has been offered a place at St Thomas the Apostle, an all boys' Catholic school.


Parental, or child, choice. Stupid.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Latest Discussions

    • I am at The Gardens. I saw GP on a Wednesday and he recommended physio, he checked availability and offered Tessa Jowell Centre for Saturday at 1 pm or Forest Hill Road Practice on a Monday at 11 am. I chose FH- very efficient/ Physio at FH very helpful, sent me some neck exercises and referred me for spinal assessment at Kings.
    • Of course, people's experiences may vary, but I'm afraid I can't recommend the DMC on Crystal Palace Rd.
    • Option 1.  Let them go bust.  Government takes over, until an appropriate solution found.  This happens with failing train operating companies  Option 2.  Anyone who made money on the privatisation, or their immediate descendants, bail them out  Obviously the latter isn't going to happen but makes me feel better/superior. What do you reckon?  Big picture.  Small picture as I posted elsewhere is that they were good when we had a leaking main.  And of course mass redundancies need to be avoided.
    • Hi my mum has a lovely frenchi , he needs to be walked , as mum (80) is a bit fragile . he is a lovely dog , a bit nervous when around other dogs . Mum lives in East Dulwich . how much do you charge ?   Thanks 🙏🏼 
Home
Events
Sign In

Sign In



Or sign in with one of these services

Search
×
    Search In
×
×
  • Create New...