School advice : location vs results?

[VjB]

Have a dilemma ( a good one at that!)- we accepted a place at Heber, which is on our doorstep (and our daughter is already at the nursery there, and has made some very good friends). Then I received a call yesterday from the school admissions to say we now had a place at dulwich village infants (about a 20min walk away). I just can't decide what to do- DVI only goes up to 7 and we wouldn't be in the catchment for the Hamlet- but DVI is such a fabulous school.....

What would you do?!

[Pickle]

I would go with the one closest to you, especially as it eliminates the stress of having to move schools at 7. Being at your closest school makes it much easier for children to form bonds with others, as you are generally at school with your neighbours (or people very close by). We find now that we can do impromptu play dates that are arranged on the walk home, which is lovely and gives a real sense of community.

[tadpole39]

Speaking as a parent whose child was at dvis, and who didnt get a place at the Hamlet, I would strongly advise you to go with the nearby school that takes you to year 6. We are now in the position of having to scout round for school places, ironically, Heber is an option, but living in Herne Hill it is a good 30 mins walk away! Dont ever assume you will get in at the Hamlet, 8 families are still looking for schools for september! you may end up with something you are not happy with.

[VjB]

Thanks! I just spoke to DVIS and their sibling policy only applies if the older child is still at the school- I am currently pregnant, so there will be 4.5 years between them- so will have the same school dilemma for baby no 2!! I think all roads point to Heber!

[tomskip]

Heber is a fab school! How lucky are you being offered a place at DVI when you live 20 minutes walk away? I always thought the catchment was tiny.

[VjB]

Tomskip- I am very surprised we have been offered a place given we are so far away- which is why I am so torn- I feel very lucky to have the option and don't want to look a gift horse in the mouth- but I guess the Hamlet is the biggest obstacle!

[verds]

Can I ask if you were on the waiting list for DVI, or did they just call you randomly? I would deffo take the place and bear in mind the Hamlet catchment is bigger anyway. Good luck!

[VjB]

We were on the waiting list- then southwark school admissions rang yesterday and gave us an our to decide! I spoke to the school, who said they couldn't do that- so now we have until Monday to decide!

[Cora]

Definately stick with your nearest if it is a good school and you like it, especially as it will be for the full term too.

[tadpole39]

verds, thats what I thought too, luck cant be relied on! vbj there were 40 extra applicants for the hamlet this year, children from all the schools in lambeth and southwark, we're only 10 mins walk away and didnt get in. pleases dont end up in this position, its unbelievably stressful.

[sillywoman]

My children have all been through DVI & DHJS, but I would say go with Heber. Not because I haven't been happy with the village schools, far from it - but because I'm a big believer that, with the proviso of your child being happy there, a school you live near and can walk to makes a big difference to the childs' perceptions of their world. Walking there each day makes them confident in their community, they see people that they know each day and have friends who live near to them. As they get older they can be trusted to walk to their friends houses on their own, and this gives them confidence and a geographic knowledge of their environment. If your daughter is already happy at Heber then stick with it.

DVI is just lovely, but the transfer is absolute hell and, as far as I can see DHJS is great, but no better or worse than Heber. I'd say stick with Heber.

[canela]

Heber is a great school. We also live 5 mins walk away and it is lovely to be so close to friends for playdates etc. I think it's also really nice for the children as they start to have friends on the same street that go to the same school etc, and also start to feel part of a community. All school runs, pick-ups, playdates etc can be done on foot instead of car - and it's great in the morning to be so close by.

[Saila]

Also, I am totally assuming here - but aren't some school's results boosted by extra tuition rather than the school? So perhaps both schools are excellent but the parents may push dvis kids more.

Have zero evidence of this, its merely speculation. But worth conisdering as the gained standard of living when u choose a school near you is massive.

[Mens]

I think it's better to be in Heber all the way to year 6 than to have the fantastic DVI up to year 2 then end up having to take a place at an absolutely horrendous school with 30 kids in a class, fights, too many supply teachers, a lengthy commute.... I could go on...

Basically, Heber is not a bad option at all and if you are not happy with their academic record then you could always pay for a tutor or Kumon or top up any learning yourself.

[Sol]

EDITED. I edited it as I think you got enough good advice already

[VjB]

Thanks everyone- have to let DVIS know tomorrow- husband and I are still at odds.. Will let you know what we (I)decide!

[Carbonara]

Having school friends in the same catchment, i.e on your doorstep, becomes ever more valuable as they get older. The DVI results are arguably a result of intake, not actually the education on offer, and given the doubt about transfer, and sibling entrance, no way would I turn down Heber, and excellent school, for a school a 20 min walk away!

The Hamlet may well have a bigger catchment - but not that big. How many children from your street do you see going to the Hamlet? And catchments tend to shrink every year as housing becomes more dense and the population rises in this ever more popular area for families.

[LondonMix]

For most of the reasons stated I would go with Heber but to be fair to DVI, the school's value add score is better than Heber's so arguably DVI's good results are not just based on intake but on better teaching practices. However, given neither school is bad (just good and better) the other things like convenience, play dates and the risk of not having a place at Hamlet would make me on balance choose Heber.

Good luck. It's a hard decision.

[Scrummymummy]

We has the same dilemma last year. We spent a week debating it. We were 3rd on waiting list for DVIS and got a call in July last year saying we had a place. We were all set to go to Heber, but switched. Really happy with the school and walk along Townley Road isn't too bad. Daughter scooters just about everywhere anyway. We'll take our chance with The Hamlets. We are very close to Heber (150m) so we might get back in if she doesn't get in The Hamlets. It was a tough choice though. Good Luck.

[bornagain]

Hamlet is an unusual school and is quite different to other schools in the area. Excellent in many ways, academically, musically, sports but it is rather old-fashioned in some ways and has a very competitive ethos at its heart.

What I'm saying I suppose is that it won't be everyone's cup of tea - and also will not suit all types of children.

If you go the DVIS/Hamlet route, you are choosing a less inclusive, private ed leaning education. Schools serve the community that it's in.

[MelbyG]

We are much further down the line and six years ago were offered a place at Dulwich Village after agreeing to a place at Dog Kennel Hill. As our place was a waiting list place and we were right on the fringes of the catchment, we went for DKH. We also had a younger child to consider who wouldn't coincide with our first. We thought the benefits of consistency and not having to face two separate entries in the Hamlet outweighed anything the DVI place would offer.

[Carbonara]

What did you decide, VjB?

Win / win choice, really, and I hope you child will be very happy.