Eltham College Blackheath Prep Merger

@TJsAunt Not sure what you mean? If you're referring to the last results (2022), they're all on their website.
As mentioned, Eltham did not apply their highly selective criteria for Sixth Form Entry due to Covid as they felt it would be kinder letting them stay on, even though other years they would not have gained entry to EC's Sixth Form.

@purplefairy287 I think it's fair to say that the grade inflation was mainly due to there not being exams and coursework was assessed. At the end of the day, if a student turn in excellent work, they have to give the grades as is.

Generally, pre-Covid, Eltham was always up there with Dulwich in terms of exam results, and just behind Trinity and always a fair bit ahead of Colfe's. Last year's results were not as impressive as the aforementioned schools which mainly due to the fact that Eltham did not apply the usual Sixth Form entry criteria (of a minimum of 7s in GCSEs, I think, and 8/9s in Maths/Sciences etc) to the cohorts affected by Covid so essentially ending up with a less selective group. I doubt the other schools mentioned were as generous so therefore their results were obviously better!

And, as a through school without an exam for internal junior school applicants (although I believe that if Eltham think your child is not up for the senior school, they will tell you in Y5/6), they will not have the same ability to be selective as Dulwich/Colfe's etc but they still do amazingly well, which presumably shows the added value in terms of progress.

As for the area around the school, Mottingham - it's not exactly gang land territory ;) and it's perfectly safe to get to and from home from there. Lots of big (expensive) houses near the school too.

We have children at EC and have been very happy with the school and leadership.

Unfortunately I have to agree with previous comments on mumsnet about the staff at this school - we also felt that the head had a somehwat cold and rigid attitude when we visited. I also echo others' concerns about the school over-inflating their grade predictions recently: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2022/feb/06/labour-seeks-inquiry-into-huge-jump-in-top-grade-a-levels-at-private-schools . EC has just introduced another radical change at very short notice, to award from this year unlimited "priority places" to Blackheath Prep School “ahead of all other candidates” into Eltham Senior School, “thus by-passing the 11+ exams" https://www.blackheathprep.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Eltham-College-Pathway-Infographic.pdf: for sure this would considerably diminish the admission chances of other external applicants. I've had concerns about other bad press as well: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/jun/13/ex-pupils-who-compiled-sexual-abuse-dossier-accused-of-blocking-inquiry . On top of all this, Mottingham, the area surrounding the school, is unsafe with high crime rates - not an appropriate place for school teens to go out for a snack after school. Too many red flags about Eltham College for us, we will be seeking a safer and better school somewhere else for our DC.

@Intergalacticcatharsis I haven’t heard as well🤷🏻‍♀️

@naomienira - it is on the Blackheath Prep website.

https://www.blackheathprep.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Eltham-College-Pathway-Infographic.pdf

Eltham Junior students who wish to explore 11 plus “options” rather than sign up and pay up immediately are then treated like all other external candidates and have to sit with external candidates. I wonder if they are also asked to pay another registration fee? Does anyone know?

So if you are not sure about Eltham College Senior School yet, then it makes no sense to sign up to Eltham College Junior School, in my opinion. The child is better off either going to the Prep or another prep or state primary (where you can use a tutor, or at least your child is in the same position as other children in their cohort whereas here they will be in the minority).

My issue is not with the new policy per se. All schools can change their admissions policy. It is just atypical for a private school to suddenly change its admissions policy on existing parents in this way. I haven’t heard of this kind of thing happening elsewhere, but I might be wrong?

I have now heard rumours that the Eltham Junior kids are not given a guaranteed place in Year 7 anymore if they even apply for another Year 7 school (so no more trying for grammar etc). So basically if you join Eltham in Year 3 you have to be sure you want to stay long term.

@Intergalacticcatharsis are you sure about this? If it is true.. it is ridiculous:O

I think there was some hype around Eltham Junior when it went co-ed and lots of pushy parents applied and got places for their DC. The school now want to try and trap those parents to ensure future good results?

You can’t push the pushy parent though, or at least that is what I have heard. It backfires… you have to entice and placate the pushy helicopter parent and run pleasing circles around them.

And they have merged with a pushy prep. I feel sorry for the staff and Admissions team at these schools. I wonder if they realise what they have gotten themselves into.

Also imagine the competition over academic, art and music scholarships between the two primary bits now. How is that going to work?

Agree it will backfire. I hear that many from the current Y5 at Eltham are being tutored heavily for grammar schools - why not just do the tutoring at a prep or state school will be the new thinking. One of my friends in fact picked Dulwich Prep over Eltham Junior at 7+ just to have the extra choice of senior schools as everything is just so competitive and uncertain in London.

I suspect this will backfire. In future, those who would have selected Eltham for the safety now will just go to a prep. At least at a prep they school will help with preparation for external exams and if they’ll be in the same position vis-a-vis Eltham. Only families who are 100 percent certain they want Eltham for senior school as their first choice will apply.

Do the junior school parents at schools like Eltham, Blackheath High indirectly contribute fees to the senior schools? I have always wondered this. Does anyone know? Because they have much fewer teachers, typically less use of facilities, less clubs etc., hence the question.

Why are prep schools often cheaper than junior schools attached to senior schools?

Eltham College always been so ambitious.Schools first entry point is 7+ but still not cannot beat Alleyns, Dulwich College or JAGS.But this new rule is so unfair for Eltham College Juniors current parents and students.I wish them the best luck.

I wouldn’t accept that guaranteed Eltham senior offer for my child! So its not guaranteed place anyway for us.
Its also so bad strategy for Eltham I think, students who trust themselves will try other school exams but the ones who may not feel will have an offer going to stay in Eltham.
One of my friends son had an offer from St Dunstans for year 7 but he went to local state secondary but unfortunately he couldn’t settle well. So they decided to move him St Dunstans in year 8. The admission team said to them that year 8 entry is so competitive because they only have 1 or 2 places but they also said it is an advantage for him that he had an offer for year 7 entry. Now he is in St Dunstans and he was the only one who received an offer in that year.
So, Its also good to attend exams for future references.

I believe it is an advantage for children to sit on 11+ exams; even when they are in all-through school and happy there. Because, they might get an offer from more academic/selective independent or grammar school or better scholarships - Its good to challenge them and see their potentials. They might get good reduction (scholarships, bursaries) form other independent schools and you may feel its worth to go - When you join in Eltham in year 3 you never know what will happen in 10 years.

We recently had an offer from Eltham Juniors but we turned it down and stayed in our GDST School - I am so happy with our decision now.

@Intergalacticcatharsis agree!

It all looks very desperate as well…

“Guess they were fed up holding places for kids who then gave one term's notice in year 6?”

I don’t think that is the point because it makes the school all powerful. If they are going to change it, they should only change if for new joiners. Not for those who joined earlier relying on the old policy who are paying almost 20k in fees. They could have just stayed in other schools, private or state (it is a 7 plus school).

Plus it is now cheaper to go to Blackheath Prep than Eltham Junior. I don’t see what the Eltham Junior parents will gain from any of this? Especially if it is true that Blackheath Prep kids can still sit 11 plus at the beginning of Year 6 and wait for an Eltham Senior offer?

If you want Eltham at Senior Level which school would you choose now? Eltham Junior or Blackheath Prep? The latter is cheaper and gives more options.

Personally, I would choose neither and go to Blackheath High with girls or Colfe’s where there is none of this stuff going on.

It absolutely would be a breach though I’m not sure if there would be any recourse legally.

A promise of guaranteed place was unconditional. Saying it’s only guaranteed now if you don’t apply to other schools is materially different and the change suggest the school has serious concerns about their numbers in future. The entire merger seems designed to play on parents fears around the 11+ so they commit early to Eltham and don’t apply anywhere else for the sake of certainty.

I would think a contract clause preventing alternative choice would be in breach of the Competition Act or similar?

Well the source it has come from is reliable and pretty annoyed… because they think they didn’t contract on that basis originally. It is a sudden policy change from the top.

There will be new children starting in Year 3 in September, whether they were told this information before signing the parent contract or not, I don’t know. I don’t know if they can back out now or not, might require legal advice.

parents at Eltham Junior are used to being offered a guaranteed place in the Senior School without sitting an exam. Now they have been told if they sit for another school (state or private) then they don’t have a guaranteed place anymore. They can still sit for Eltham Senior but they have to then compete with external applicants.

OMG! is that true?

@Millie465 - parents at Eltham Junior are used to being offered a guaranteed place in the Senior School without sitting an exam. Now they have been told if they sit for another school (state or private) then they don’t have a guaranteed place anymore. They can still sit for Eltham Senior but they have to then compete with external applicants.

As they joined originally thinking they have a guaranteed place and might also just try for a grammar in Kent or Bromley or Bexley go to a top private school like Alleyns, JAGs or Westminster, they are now annoyed.
There are many kids at through schools using the schools as a back up to wait and see what happens. GDST schools still allow this and I think Colfe’s as well (not sure). St Dunstan’s I don’t know.

I guess you cannot tell with a young child at 6 what Senior school will be best for them so some people went for a backup option. And then when it changes because the school change the policy, they are annoyed.

To be honest, I think if a school changed the policy half way through then it is a bit unfair, no?