Info re Wimbledon college, please

It is not a "rugby" school.

OK. One of DS's godparents is an Wimbledon College boy. Lovely chap although mid 50's now. We are local. On the catholic criteria we have friends who got into the oratory even though they lived further away on the basis of their commitment to the catholic faith. Going back 8 or 9 years though.

We are closer than SW2 and probably equidistant between the Oratory and Wimbledon College.

DS goes to school just over the road and is 17 now. We have been doing the journey for 9 years. 9 years ago I would have said WC might have been a "free" option had we been catholic. The boys I see on the Ridgeway now, do not seem to be of the same calibre as they were 9 years ago. They look chavvy nowadays - and DS tells me they are troublesome and often looking for a fight.

Can't comment on the academics but from what I see on the streets in the mornings there might have been a downward shift.

If you look at the website it has the admissions criteria, which changed a couple of years ago. Priority (after SEN, siblings etc) goes to baptised practising catholics who attend church every week and holy day, once all those boys have places those who attend church less get a chance & then distance will kick in. Last year the furthest distance was around 6km for attendance every week. You should go to the open evening & check out the school in Sept.
As mentioned earlier it is a good school if you are bright & love rugby. If you end up in the lower ability sets it's not as good. As your son is set on going there he must know something about it or have friends going. As with all schools certain ones will suit certain children.
Good luck, it sounds like you have plenty of choices & all pretty good schools so I am sure he will be fine.

No probs Barks,

VERY IMPORTANT: What you have mentioned re how the schools are allocated and not getting a school unless it is your first choice is a system that ceased over 2/3 years ago. The new system is law and applies to all boroughs. SW2 is lambeth, here's a link to the admission process here www.lambeth.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/B5364ABC-E621-4456-A082-0684F8E3B169/0/SecondaryTransferScheme2012.pdf.

PLEASE NOTE POINT 7 AND SHARE WITH OTHER PARENTS IN YOUR SCHOOL.

No school knows where you''ve put them on the list!!!!! FACT. It was stopped for the very reason you mention. How it works is, If he was in say WC's first 120 (depending on the number of places that they have) and it was his first choice, then you'll get WC. If he's not listed in their first 120, then you LA will look at what is next on your list -the vaughan. Are you in Vaughan's top 120? If yes, you get offered vaughan, if not they go to your third choice; are you in BTG's? Yes, then you get offered BTG. All the schools do, is send in their list of names in priority order to their LA and that info goes into one massive pot so to speak.

Okay so for the school, if St Josephs for example, had you in their 120 also, and you've already been allocated your preferred choice of BTG, then the massive pot would then go to number 121 on their list.

I wish primary schools would make more of an effort in stopping this false information, spelling this out and most importantly, explain to parents that the old method is no longer in existence.

Sorry to rant, it just makes me so cross. This is why it's important you see that you still list six, because if they don't have another one off your list to go on, then it's their allocation next.

PS: Did consider Nautical myself but their results are not great. People seem to be speaking less favourably about St. J at the moment. But it's still okay to have on the list, after all, like I said, the councils allocated poo school, would be a lot worst.

Ok cool. You really shouldn't have any problem then. Even though it may be a dead cert, please, please, please make sure you still put six choices on the form as it's always best to cover yourself. And believe me, your local councils choice if you didn't get a place there, will be more akin to a young offenders institute.

Being qualified and not taking advantage of the likes of say The Oratory and Cardinal Vaughan as your back up choices, which are much sought after schools would be brave. People travel far and wide and cross many rivers (excuse the pun) to get to them. John Fisher is extremely popular also. I know of parents who would bite your right arm off to get a place in any of these schools. BTW did you look at the Vaughan? Quite a different culture to Wimbledon College, so he probably wouldn't like it, but just wondered?

Good luck, was the most stressful time of my life. Wouldn't wish it on my most hated enemy:).

Hi there,

My own DS won't be going there but know the parents of around five to six boys, some with siblings already there, who will be starting in September. They absolutely rave about it and it was the first choice for the majority of them. What I picked up from parents nattering is that, as long as your ds is in the top two sets, it's brilliant (get the impression that Sats results are used to help set their sets). I kind of get the impression that it's the more relaxed version of say The Oratory and The Vaughan. Parents with ds's who are more keen on say Football opt for this school too as opposed to say The Oratory, who don't do footy at all.

In terms of getting in RC wise, priority goes to the usual, holy communion, baptised catholic, etc, even if you live quite a way away and as long as you tick all those boxes, you'll probably get in as they get quite a few applicants who don't and are still able to get a place as long as they live near enough. Last year, distance played a part in getting a place, but like I said, not a prob if you tick all the RC boxes.