Honor Oakey

Monkey there?s kids from all over in all the secondary schools as this thread testifies. If kingsdale didn?t have a lottery, I bet you?d have even less chance of getting in - you?d literally have to be on the doorstep with a house worth several million. The whole system - whether distance, lottery etc is unfair. None of us have a divine right to our first choice school, but it looks to me like most people got schools that are not unreasonable to travel to. I think the best bet would be to scrap the sibling policy and I bet half of kingsdale intake this year is siblings after many years of bulge classes. With that, and teacher?s kids being prioritised and (to be fair a very small number of scholarship places) it?s a wonder anyone gets in.

Totally agree with Goldilocks. Re Harris girls. Whilst I can see the pros and cons of lottery, I think it?s fair to say that Harris has always divided opinion locally despite being hugely successful and outstanding. So I can understand why they have looked to more imaginitive ways of filling places.

Not sure what the stats are, but I don?t really think of school places as a boarder issue. Take Sydenham girls with its 800metre catchment area. Likewise we are Lewisham but my kids went to a Southwark school only 200 metres away. Kingsdale straddles loads of boarders. The whole system is tough but it?s not straightforward.

No system is perfect but at least the lottery system stops people playing the system with short term renting etc. Agree there?s no reason for sibling policy at secondary school. It?s a horrible, emotional, unsettling time. But getting a school 3k away is not a lobbying issue - It?s about a 20min walk. So for the sake of your own equiblatrm, I?d personally try to play the long game via the waiting list.