Want to move to the area but need secondary school advice

[Thomasina]

Hello,

Really want to move to the area but feel I can't unless there's a good option for a secondary school for my son. Has anyone got any advice on good local state schools? I've a done a bit of research but would appreciate some more personal recommendations. I've so far found Harris Boys Academy, Charter School and Kingsdale... any advice would be gratefully recieved and maybe an idea of how close I need to live to any of them. Is the application process difficult?

Thanks very much!

Thomasina

[Renata Hamvas]

Hi Thomasina, all the secondary schools for boys in the area are oversubscribed.

Kingsdale have places allocated for children talented in Music, Sport and Mathematics (tested). After siblings the rest of the places are allocated by lottery. The chance this year of obtaining a place in lottery was under 10%

Charter offers places on distance to the school. The catchment varies from year to year dependent on where applicants applicants live and sibling numbers

Harris boys school has a banding system, after banding, its the closest boys in the band.

Haberdasher's Askes-a Lewisham School in Telegraph Hill. It has it's own banding exam and places are allocated on distance within the band. Additionally some places are reserved for Music scholars. You are highly unlikely to get a place here unless on musicality if you live in East Dulwich, but may if you live in Nunhead. Highly oversubscribed

St Thomas the Apostle College, Nunhead. Catholic Maths speciality College (not essential to be Catholic to attend here).

Forest Hill Boys (Lewisham) distance

These are I think the schools that residents of my ward, Peckham Rye, which encompasses parts of East Dulwich, Nunhead and Honor Oak tend to apply for their sons.

You will need to submit a form in mid-October for 2012 entry and find 6 schools and rank them in order of preference. It is a pan-London system,ie one form covers all London boroughs. Schools have open days in September and I would suggest you visit as many schools as possible then.

Renata

[tiddles]

Go to kingsdale, its fantastic!