Comprehensive schools on Sutton

[rumpusboo]

My daughter has just completed Year 5 and is preparing for the Sutton 11+ exams in September. As Sutton is a super selective grammar area, we are considering other options in case she doesn't get a place in a grammar school. Please let me know your thoughts

[Zinnia]

https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/schools-by-type?step=default&table=schools&region=319&la-name=sutton&geographic=la&for=secondary

Looking at that table makes me very glad I live in a non-selective borough!

[JoJoSM2]

Zinnia, what don’t you like? Overall, Sutton has the highest attainment of any local authority in England and there are many excellent comps.

OP, your choice will depend on where you live due to the furthest distance you’re likely to be admitted from. Also, what are your daughter’s strengths and favourite subjects?

[Zinnia]

Jojo - the top schools (on this table) do clearly seem very, very good. But the bottom of the table looks awful. In my borough the spread is much smaller, even the schools that most m'netters seem to swerve by choice perform significantly better than the "worst" schools in Sutton (I say this without knowing the schools in question obviously). It looks very much like an illustration of how a "super-selective" system affects (some of) the non-selective schools.

[JoJoSM2]

Zinnia, were you looking at mainstream or special schools? If you just glanced over the chart, you would have seen several special schools (with understandably low progress and attainment).

There are 15 mainstream secondaries in Sutton: 5 grammars and 10 comps. All but one comp range from average to fantastic. There’s only one bad comp.

All but the one comp have good/outstanding Ofsted, they have a good range of specialisms eg STEM, sports or performing arts and cater successfully for a range of abilities with excellent GCSE results.

Anyway, OP, you need to check which ones you’re likely to get in on distance and take it from there. Other than distance, Glenthorne has less straightforward admissions policy and you can get in from further afield. It’s an outstanding national teaching school and sought after.

[rumpusboo]

Thanks for your responses so far. My daughter loves everything science related. She is quite academic but there is no
way to predict how the 11+ will turn out. She is also quite sensitive, having been badly bullied in primary school and it's important that she attends a school where bullying is not tolerated.

[JoJoSM2]

Harris South Sutton could be great for a girl who likes Science. It’s only just opened a year or 2 ago and the building is still being finished. Y8 or 9 will be the oldest this September.

It specialises in STEM subjects and has state-of-the-art science facilities + links with the Royal Marsden next door.

[JoJoSM2]

Oh, being a new school is admits from quite far away.

[rumpusboo]

I've just looked at the prospectus and there is so much that would interest her! I've also looked up the academy's gcse and a levels results to compare with others as the Sutton school is new but it seems quite a mixed bag.

[JoJoSM2]

It’s a brand new school (not converted from anything) so there aren’t any GCSE results.

If you looked up Harris in general, then they have loads of schools across the country. Some of them would have been dire, failing schools that Harris took over so they can be pretty bad anyway. That won’t mean anything for this particular school, though.

If you want a school that has been around for a long time with an excellent track record, then look at Cheam High, Glenthorne or Greenshaw.

However, even if you go with somewhere average like Overton Grange or Carshalton Girls, they also do have top sets and many students getting pretty much straight 9-7 (A*-A) at GCSE.

The only bad school at the moment is Stanley Park which was run into the ground by the previous head/SLT. Their results literally dropped off a cliff in the last few years. Luckily, there’s a new head with an excellent track record so thI school should be up to scratch again in the next few years.

One thing I would say (having done bits of work in all but 2 of Sutton grammars + 100+ secondaries across London) is that none of the Sutton schools are rough and the behaviour is amazing even in the schools at the bottom of he league table.
Obviously bullying can happen anywhere and it’s all about how schools deal with it.

[rumpusboo]

Thanks JoJo

[Zinnia]

I stand corrected, Jojo. But surely The OP is unlikely to have a choice of comprehensives, just a preference? Sounds like all the schools in the borough are pretty good OP, so your best bet is to visit the ones your daughter is likely to get into and work out your preference order from there.

FWIW, the Harris chain has s reputation for iron discipline, which isn't everyone's bag. There's one near us and I wasn't keen for DD. But they do get great results by and large so worth looking if you're likely to be close enough.

[JoJoSM2]

Yes, only a preference. Some schools you do need to live very close to in order to have a chance.

lbos.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=b943f2cedac34bb5a0959d4b3d9625d6

OP, that’s the school distance checker so you’ll be able to see what your realistic options are based on distance.

Glenthorne admits all abilities but you need to read the admissions policy as it isn’t straightforward. Greenshaw has 60 out of 315 places based on the 11+. Other than that, it’s the usual need/siblings/distance stuff but you do need to live quite close.

[JoJoSM2]

Oh, if you’re Catholic, then St Phil’s is a great option (and stunning grounds but hideous uniforms). Some girls come from quite far away.

[rumpusboo]

Thanks for this :). I agree about st phils uniforms 😝

[Undaunted77]

Are St Philomena’s still that hideous brown?

[BendingSpoons]

Yes, with the horrendous slouchy off white socks!