Secondary School applications for 2012

[Renata Hamvas]

This is a busy time for year 5 and 6 parents. It is secondary school open-day time. Try to visit as many schools as you can, and particularly if your child is in year 6, take them with you. Look carefully at admissions criteria, does your child meet them? Take a note book with you and pick up a prospectus. Speak to current pupils about their school. Think carefully how you are going to rank the schools, you will need to find 6 (if possible). Putting down only two or three schools does not increase your chance in getting into them, but reduces your chance of getting a school you choose. Look past the borough boundaries. Think about journey routes and travelling time. Buses are free, but remember train lines from East Dulwich/Honor Oak/Peckham Rye/Nunhead (but need to pay to travel then)may open access to more schools.

Southwark schools open days are between 20th Sept and 15th October. The list is available now via the Southwark website seconday admissions 2012

Renata

[The Nappy Lady]

Thanks Renata - a friend went through this with her then Year 6 son & said next time she will def. Visit the schools when her younger child is in Year 5, then again the following year to get a better feel overall & to note changes etc.

I'm not at this stage yet but think it's great you're flagging it to parents of children in both years.

[suniil]

Thank you Reneta for posting the necessary info. My daughter is in year 6 and the research started a while ago. Sadly no schools with music specialisation in southwark, so we just have 2 schools in lewisham and 1 in westminister. Other option is 4 schools that support MDS.

I hope something will workout in her way, will keep you all posted with updates in the thread

[prickle]

Sunil, Kingsdale does music scholarships.

[Renata Hamvas]

Suniil, the schools I know locally that have music specialisms are Kingsdale (Southwark), Haberdasher's Aske and Prendergast, Hilly Fields (Lewisham). It is worth visiting other schools as some, even without a specialism in Music may have strong music departments that would serve a child that is gifted/talented in Music.

At the beginning of this thread, I included the Southwark link on open days, here is the one for Lewisham:

Lewisham open days

and the booklet for Lambeth

Lambeth schools

When looking for your list of 6 schools be aware that even though most Southwark children go to Southwark Schools, some go to Lewisham, Lambeth, Sutton, Westminster and schools in many other boroughs.

Renata

[suniil]

Thank you prickle / Renata for the pointer towards Kingsdale.

[westof]

Charles Edward Brooke School in Lambeth, near Camberwell, has a music & performing arts specialism, and music scholarships (10% of intake).

I've been to open days & concerts there, and was impressed by the support for music, and the confident performances.

[brezzo]

St Savuiours & St Olaves girls school in the North of the borough offers FREE musical instrument tuition.

[suniil]

Thank you westof / brezzo for the help. I'll look into that as well. Tomorrow I'm visiting Haberdasher's for open day. I understand it is one of the most oversubscribed schools but optimistic that daughter can pass the audition / aptitude tests.

[Renata Hamvas]

Open Days Today and Tomorrow

20/09/2012

Walworth Academy 9-10.45

St Thomas the Apostle, Boys, Nunhead 5-7pm

Bacon's College, 5.30-8pm

21/09/12

St Michael's Catholic College 9.30-11.30 and 4.30-7pm

Kingsdale 9.30-11 and 5.30-8pm

Harris Academy Peckham 5-7pm

City of London Academy 5-7pm (this is the only date left)

Bacon's 5.30-8pm (final date)

also nearby Lewisham Schools

Forest Hill Boys 9.30-11.30

Haberdasher's Aske , Hatcham 12-7pm (only date)

and lambeth schools

London Nautical (boys, allocated by lottery)4-6pm

please note that this list is not exhaustive, they are many other open days going on!

Renata

[Renata Hamvas]

I forgot to say, when you visit the schools, assess how you find the journey, if it's tough for you, it will be even tougher for an 11 year old in rush hour!

Renata

[BB100]

It is much better to ask the children that go there already. I thought the side-road walk to Harris Crystal Palace was too long but when my child started there we discovered there is a back entrance that the children use and is much quicker. It's those little bits of knowledge that make all the difference to asessing the journey.

[Renata Hamvas]

The rest of the week:

(sorry didn't post early enough for this morning's sessions!)_

Thursday 22nd

Walworth Academy 5.30-8pm

Lewisham

Addey and Stanhope 6.30-8pm

Bonus Pastor 6.30-8pm

Prendergast-Hilly Fields 5.30-7.30pm

Friday 23rd

St Michael's, Bermondsey 9.30-11.30

Lewisham

Forest Hill School 9.20 for 9.30 start

Sedgehill 9-10.30

Saturday 24th

Harris Girls ED 10-12

Kingsdale 11-1

Lambeth

Dunraven 9.15-10.30

Evelyn Grace 10-12

Lewisham

St Matthew Academy 10 onwards

[savana]

The Charter School has the best GCSE results for children recieving 5x A*-C including English and Maths of any school in the local area acording to recent government figures, it seems wierd that it has not been mentioned on the East Dulwich forum, when it it the one of the biggest schools in the proximity of East Dulwich.

[Renata Hamvas]

Hi Savana, I did put Charter's result in the 2011 GCSEs section (67%)

sorry, I didn't post yesterday's or this morning's open days, here are some more:

Southwark:

Tues 27th

Notre Dame 1.15pm onwards

Charter 2.15-5pm

[Renata Hamvas]

Lambeth tonight

Elmgreen7-9pm

[Renata Hamvas]

Rest of the week:

Southwark

Weds 28th

Sacred Heart 5-7.30pm

St Thomas the Apostle 5-7pm

Harris Girl's 5-7pm

Thurs 29th

Harris Boy's 5-8pm

Harris Bermondsey 9am

Sacred Heart 5-7.30pm

St Thomas the Apostle 9-11am

Walworth Academy 5.30-8pm

Friday 30th

Harris Boy's 9-12

Sat 1st

Harris Boy's 9-12

Walworth Academy 10-12

Lambeth

weds 28th

St Martin in the Fields 5-8pm

Stockwell Park 4-6pm

Thurs 29th

Evelyn Grace Academy 8.45-11am and 5.30-8.30

Norwood 4.30-7pm

Sat 1st

Elmgreen 9.30-11

St Martin in the Fields 10-1

Lewisham

Weds 28th

Prendergast-Hilly Fields 5.30-7.30

Thurs 29th

Bonus Pastor 9.15-11am

Deptford Green 6.30-8

Forest Hill Boys 9.20-11.30

Prendergast- Hilly Fields 1.30-3.30

Prendergast Vale (held at Ladywell Fields) 10.30am

Fri 30th

Bonus Pastor 9.15-11am

Forest Hill Boys 9.20-11.30

St Matthew Academy 9-10.15

Sat 1st

Deptford Green 10.30-12.30

Prendergast-Ladywell Fields 9.15-10.30

[Dorothy]

Hi Renata

I am applying to Charter (unlikely to get a place due to where we live), Kingsdale (very unlikely to get a place due to their selection process) and Sydenham Girls (hoping for a place) for my very academic non-sporty non-musical daughter. Which schools should I put in places 4, 5 and 6, given that I would like her to go to school relatively locally? Thank you.

[Renata Hamvas]

Hi Dorothy

I'm guessing you live in ED. Harris Girl's has the same 66% 5 GCSE results as Kingsdale and Charter, and I have been informed by the head there that there is now a joint sibling policy with the boy's school (increasingly important as both had a waiting list this year). I don't know exactly where you live, but I know some south of borough residents have got into Prendergast Hilly Fields, but it depends on the band.

I will PM you with some other possibles.

Renata