South East London secondaries - thoughts please!

Yes, SpringHeeledJack we did sort of meet - I think I was teaching my Y4s when you visited 'my' then school.

What did you go for in terms of secondary schools in the end?

Harris Boys Academy East Dulwich definitely worth a look if you can manage it. I have a Ds in year 7 there , I know its only 6 weeks in but we are really happy with it so far . Ds is a very shy introvert boy , but is really happy and confident going off to school each day , and coming home full of it . Such a relief for us as our older son is at Forest Hill and although we are really happy with it for him it is too big for DS2 to manage , so quite a big decision for us to stray away from the tried and trusted . DS2 has found it really easy to adjust to his new surroundings and finds the staff easy to approach , the lessons very interesting and the building easy to navigate . He has made lots of new friends , which is not easy for him as he is so shy . As I say so far so good ....... sighs with relief , and wishes all of you going through secondary transfer at the moment every good wish .

have you looked at Sedgehill, syd?

we all really liked it. Might be well out of your way, but maybe you're on a direct bus route?

it reminded me of Kingsdale years ago-school shaking off its bad rep and really, really trying

Anyone else with boys? We are 15 min walk from Kingsdale, also visited Forest Hill (in number 1 position for me at the mo, DS dazzled by kingsdale's free goes on iPads...). Also went to Harris CP, and feel like I perhaps should have gone to Harris Boys East Dulwich - not as close, but direct bus.

Ah, the illusion of choice. 3 schools, possibly 4 - and two more slots on the form.

Anyone else in my position? What are your thoughts?

Shameless advertising here but i notice a few of you are near me. We have a local meet up for ladywell/hither green which is all babies/todders/ young primary atm so if anyone with older children wants to join us then please do. We meet once a month at various times and places to suit people, and you can find details on mumsnet local Lewisham (click meet ups then select ladywell/hither green).

My DD isn't yet 2 but I'm dreading school applications already, good luck everyone!

Re Harris CP - have no idea what's going on. But that percentage was based on the opinions of only 28 parents.

Have to say that the parental dissatisfaction with Harris reflects many of the comments made by friends of mine with children there.

WOAH that's interesting quark

mind you only a small sample?

and re Sue Roberts- that's also really interesting. Perhaps she should play that (pastoral care) up a bit in her head's talk

that said maybe she's just giving the prospective parents what they want

Just a quick word about Harris CP, see the parentview: here 75% do not recommend the school!! What's going on in there?!

Many years ago a friend of mine was a supply teacher in another Lewisham school. A child she was teaching had already lost most of her family. Her mother was all she had left. Sadly, the mother died. My friend went to the funeral. Not one single other person from the school was there.

Around the same time a girl from Prendergast had experienced something similar. Not only did Ms Roberts attend the funeral but a close relative of hers led the service. The school staff used all their charitable contacts to get hold of money to help with the costs of the funeral and the headstone.

Not long afterwards there was an awful family tragedy affecting another girl there. The school staff acted immediately in a number of practical ways to support her and her family, which made a crucial difference to them at a very difficult time.

All of these stories are from a good few years ago now, but I'd be surprised to learn that the place had changed much.

I can see that Ms Roberts comes across as rather traditional, but there's a very deep-rooted streak of social conscience in her nature and she's straight as a dye.

I think she's retiring at the end of this academic year, tho' I expect the Governors will be looking for someone similar. Prendergast has always had a reputation for high standards academically, and in behaviour, but also a genuine sense of trying to help the disadvantaged, whether in ability or social background.

I agree it does feel a bit old-fashioned, nothing cutting edge or trendy about it, but it's a very solid and reliable sort of institution.

LOL, DD said on finding out she had been offered PHF 'and they take boys in the sixth form, and by the time I'm in the sixth form I'll be old enough for a boyfriend'. I said you just keep thinking like that, darling.

Oh, those days of innocence!

Oh god poor you

don't worry, I promise it gets better in about 4 years or so

(can't go into any detail as am pretty identifiable on here, but I feel your pain. And am bracing self for having two 14yos at once)

we all have reservations about PHF, but we shall see. Apart from that none of us are too happy with idea of single sex schools-all found it quite an odd environment. One D thinks ss is strange, the other wants to go mixed 'because I think I'll probly want a boyfriend by the time I'm about 14 or 15'

SpringHeeled, don't write it off though, for sure. I'm not coping very well with having a 14yo and it is colouring all my perceptions a bit! I'm not sure the school is so high-performing that your top or nearly-top daughter would struggle - in fact she'd probably get the benefit of whatever it is that those in the top sets get the benefit of (sadly this is outside my experience ).

I was actually more impressed than I had expected with Sydenham when we went round there, but we were happy with the offer of Prendergast (our second choice - we put Aske's first as DD is an only child and of the two we would have preferred a mixed school). I dare say it will turn out OK in the end if I don't drive myself insane first.

thanks SE13Mummy- it's good to have another perspective. And the last bit is making me see the head in a new light- not quite as Malory-Towers-y as I'd thought!

(I think I met you ages ago, looking at primary schools. Tho I might be thinking of someone else entirely...)

HappyPrince we haven't looked at Conisbrough, although it was on our list- I know it's popular; the catchment area looks quite tight for us, but then we're quite a long way away

(I appreciate that isn't very helpful!)

SE13Mummy, that's good to hear!

Prendergast has had a link to one of the City Livery Companies (the Leathersellers - now largely a charitable institution, like all the Livery Companies) since the school's foundation by a former head of Colfe's. He left money to found a girls' grammar school in Lewisham to be the counterpart of Colfe's (which was in Lewisham then). Colfe's has been sponsored by the Leathersellers since it was founded, so they were a natural choice to get involved with Prendergast as well. They take their links very seriously and have put up a huge amount of cash over the years to help with the buildings. Their nominated governors are always extremely hardworking and effective. I think it makes a considerable difference for the better in the school.

Re the pastoral care - yes, Ms Roberts is absolutely ace in that respect. I have immense admiration for her.

SpringHeeledJack, we visited Prendergast Hilly Fields, aka the Real Prendergast, last week and were impressed by what we saw in terms of facilities and opportunities. DH particularly liked that the year groups are divided into classes of 20 for art and design classes/that there was clearly enough equipment to go round. DD liked the trampoline because that is a good way of telling what a school is really like and I liked that the headteacher's speech was not about blowing her own trumpet (unlike the speech given by the head of a selective girls school one weekend) but about parents needing to choose a school that suited their children and where their children would be happy.

I have a few friends whose DDs are in Y7 and Y8 (plus some with older girls who've left and are at university/art college) and they have all been incredibly impressed at what a smooth transition their DDs have had, the brilliant extra-curricular opportunities (academic, sport, art and other interests e.g. dance mat club) and what a positive experience they've had so far. The friend of a friend is a head of department there, has been for ages, and chatting to her over the years it's clear that it's a school that values its staff and its pupils - lots of the new buildings were modelled on what the staff said was needed in order to teach the subject rather than by consultants deciding for them. That alone probably explains why the science labs are enormous compared to others we've seen! The headteacher is the sort of person who will take home and launder herself the dirty PE kits of girls whose lives are too chaotic to manage that sort of thing

I saw the two Norwood School Bands playing today - they are of a really high standard. It was at a community event, their teacher had gone along to support them (even though the band is run by the borough music service). There were some incredibly accomplished and talented young people. They were also very lovely - personable and friendly and well behaved. I was impressed.

Ladywellian I hear ya

your DD sounds like my DS

I have one v driven DD, and one who is as able, but less arsed.

I can see your DD's scenario playing out with at least one of my DDs

the other I think is used to being at the top, or nearly. In a high achieving school I think she would lose confidence and struggle

SpringHeeled I'd say it depends on your DD as to whether she would get on at Prendergast. They are very good with the most able and I believe those that really struggle get a lot of help too. Unfortunately I have a DD (now Y10) who is resolutely average and she is very unhappy there at the moment. She doesn't help herself though as there are things she could excel at if she could be bothered. All that is another story, however. She loved in in Y7 and Y8 and I'm just a bit disillusioned at the moment. There are some nice kids there and some less nice. Again, DD has pitched herself on the wrong side of the divide. If your DD is musical - particularly if she sings as well as playing an instrument - they have vg choir and orchestra, and also their own recording studio. You don't have to get a music place to take advantage of these if you are on the doorstep. Also sports facilities are good. At the end of the day, though, a lot of it is 'you get out what you put in', and my DD ain't putting in shit ATM.

HappyPrince my nephews go to FHB and they (and SIL and BIL) really like it. Good luck!

this is more on your Bromley/Lewisham patch, but- we looked round Sedgehill, and it's lovely- reminds me of Kingsdale a few years ago. Nice nurturing atmosphere, in spite of the fact that it's enormous, and the kids are great. At the open day they even encourage you to stick around for playtime, which is unprecedented ime