Please help me find a decent state secondaries for a central London girl!

Guys! If you think St Maylebone is perfect, I shall tell you go and visit it. For me, I shall tell you it is like any other Secondary school around the area. It isn't that brilliant , as people and it isn't that outstanding as people . If you like it, apply for it. Sorry, guys waiting outside in that messery well weather whiles my daughter had to test. I have tell I am thinking guys.

I'd really recommend The Grey Coat Hospital, my DD is there, thriving, lots of new friends, really happy, although viewed as specialist in languages it has an amazing & vibrant arts provision too.

Actually the maths was really only down to one teacher, so no reason to suppose it would affect you. The head of maths is quite inspiring actually, and I found a brilliant tutor who lives near the school, so it all worked out OK. SMMA (as they call themselves) only do the international baccalaureate in the 6th form, so bear that in mind; though that's the main reason DD ended up there- we're very pro-IB.

know girls at Marylebone and they are very happy there. seems to be a very good state school, with a vibrant performing arts section. The results are great and as someone else said it is quite small which would probably be an advantage.

interesting to read the recommendation for City Academy Hackney. We visited and loathed it - seemed like a boot camp not a school. But just goes to show you have to visit these places yourself. Ditto Marylebone which just sounds a nightmare of petty rules. Perhaps have a look at Elizabeth Garrett Anderson.

My DD is at St Mary Magdalene and I'd recommend it- before that she was at Highgate Wood which I definitely wouldn't (unless they get a new head). She's about to leave, being in year 13, and has had a great time. Pastoral care and general support has been very good, as well as the teaching (although maths left a lot to be desired). Other DD is at Mill Hill County, which is the best school in the world, but too far from you unfortunately.

You could look at schools south of the river too, as the bus ride would be quite straightforward. This would mean schools in Southwark, Lambeth or (just possibly) Lewisham. It's still early days so you will need to keep an eye on Ofsted reports and so on, and above all visit, visit, visit. I'd suggest visit a few schools when your daughter is in year 5 to start getting a feel for what you like and don't like about schools in general, and then focus down in year 6 on the serious contenders.

The Southwark secondary transfer booklet can be downloaded here. There's a map on page 43 that shows where all the schools are and all the admissions criteria are given as well. St Saviour's and St Olave's is a C of E girls' school which as far as I know (no first-hand experience, no friends with children there, just general reputation) has been a solidly good school for a long time. Many of the other Southwark schools are fairly new or have been converted into academies, so it's early days to know whether they are going to be good long-term, but you've got time on your side there.

Good luck!

Perhaps consider the UCL Academy also.

yes was going to say St Marylebone. They take girls from a very wide catchment but it's probably difficult to predict if you will get in because there seem to be so many different entry routes for different criteria.

you might not have considered hackney but the city academy there is sponsored by the city of london corporation and each year they have nine places set aside for children who live within the city boundaries. these places are never filled. ds is there and i cannot praise it highly enough. they have nurtered ds brilliantly and completely on the ball regarding his dyspraxia. is a new school too so while is only goes up to year ten and has no results as it were the kids are thriving and majority achieving well above nat av ny nearly ayear. the head is amazing.

Cardinal Vaughan only takes girls at 6th form level. I have no idea where the 42% comes from. You also have to be a Catholic to attend.

chockrock FT is showing them as mixed school, I guess they could only be doing mixed 6th form but still 42% girls is too high for just 6th formers!!!

Schools like St Marylebone and Camden might be particlarly suitable because, as well as having good reputations, they are also fairly small which may be helpful because of your DD's medical needs. Also neither is too far to get to. Greycoats may be OK but the school is over 2 sites, so this may present a problem.

My friend has a girl at Marylebone and she only has good things to say about it.

I know people with daughters at Marylebone School and they are very pleased with it. I'm not entirely sure of the admissions criteria but I think that all applicants sit an exam (in order for the school to ensure a mixed ability intake) and I think that you can also get in through a choral route.

You've started your research in plenty of time so you're in a good position to find the right place for your daughter.

www.educational-grants.org/

Check out Buttle Trust: Buttle UK
Jane Edwards / Karen Melton
Audley House
13 Palace Street
London SW1E 5HX
Registered Charity number 313007
Tel 020 7798 6223 Fax 020 7828 4724
E-mail [email protected]
Website www.buttleuk.org/

The Trust will consider grants for the children of single parents, adopted children and those cared for by relatives and friends. Awards are given for day and boarding education when children (normally of secondary school age) are facing significant social, emotional or health problems.

Have you thought of going private - there's a charity that does give financial support for adopted children. I came across it recently and will have a look to see if I can get the name. Worth a punt?

Cardinal Vaughan is a boys school OP
Marylebone School is very central and is a girls school.