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Original poster

St Dunstan College- Catford and The Charter School North Dulwich

45 replies

Luna9 · 16/09/2016 13:09

Hi,

I am considering these 2 secondary schools for my DD.

I went to see St Dunstans and it gave me the impression it is a happy school. DD is sporty and creative, likes arts, hard worker and is doing well at school but likes having fun too. I would appreciate any comments from parents with children attending this school.

Our closest state school is The Charter school in North Dulwich but I am concerned they don't have much in terms of extra curricular and sport activities; not sure about arts. Can anybody with children there give me an honest opinion.

Thank you

OP posts:
chameleon43 · 21/09/2016 13:28

Colfes is the one that seems to get the vote

ApocalypseSlough · 21/09/2016 13:11

Where Chameleon?
I agree with Blu

chameleon43 · 21/09/2016 12:10

Ok maybe you all know a different crowd from me. For the vast majority of people I know, they wouldn't consider St Dunstan's - simply because if you want a non selective, more comprehensive style of independent school, there are other options with better facilities and better results.

I can't comment on Charter.

Blu · 20/09/2016 23:04

Knowing a wide diversity of parents in the area, including Dunstan's, independent-but-not-Dunstan's, Alleyn's , Jags and DC, and all the local state schools, I have never heard of Dunstan's (or charter, for that matter) having anything like a 'bad reputation'.

Original poster
Luna9 · 20/09/2016 22:02

By the way; I know there are more schools but don't want her to be commutting a long way; will look at the schools you recommended though

OP posts:
Original poster
Luna9 · 20/09/2016 22:00

Thank you very much Anecdotally. Hope we are still ok for the Charter. Will se what DD thinks after the opening days for both schools

OP posts:
AnecdotallyChallenged · 20/09/2016 19:59

OP people regularly move to be that close to Charter. I know quite a few.... it's where everyone wants their kids to go to if they live round there and can't afford/don't want independent school.

Doesn't mean it's perfect though. There are more schools than those two though ;-) visual arts bursaries at Chestnut Grove in Balham (you missed the deadline for 2017 entry for that though) and also the Norwood School.

Original poster
Luna9 · 19/09/2016 22:24

Thank you

We have not applied yet; going to the open days in the next 2 weeks for both schools. I read old threads about St Dunstans and all the comments were positive. It would be good to have more recents opinions from other parents as the threads were a few years old.

We are within 600 meters of the Charter; facilities and extra curricular activities put me off a bit; I would like to hear opinions from parents with children there. My DD loves arts.

I like Alleyns too but I feel it may be too competitive and feel concerned about the social aspect ( classmates coming from lots of different parts of London); plus the increase in fees every year seems a lot compared to other schools.

OP posts:
janinlondon · 19/09/2016 14:57

Chameleon you are right - in terms of academic achievement there is no comparison with the academic hothouses. Dunstans only has 62% A*/A at GCSE, compared with 92% at Alleyns or JAGS. But I think to say it has a poor reputation is a bit much, without any real basis....?

chameleon43 · 19/09/2016 14:20

am gathering you're a parent then!

I don't really go by the league tables - so many schools choose not to participate that to say a school is 'top ten' or whatever is meaningless.

So if you were 150th - where were all the other local independent schools in comparison? And how many other London independent schools were below you?

janinlondon · 19/09/2016 14:11

A school that never turns anyone away that can achieve 150th in the country would be a bit of a shocker, surely.........?

janinlondon · 19/09/2016 14:10

Chameleon they are ranked 150 in the UK based on their most recent GCSE results. Is that what you mean.......?

ApocalypseSlough · 19/09/2016 14:09

Which is the easiest journey? If you go for Charter you could spend the fees you've saved on extra curricular. Have you applied though? The Catchment is tiny.

chameleon43 · 19/09/2016 14:07

Well - it has poor results and has never been know to turn anyone away.

I appreciate the OP is looking for an all round school that is not an academic hothouse, but St Dunstans is really going a long way in the other direction.

janinlondon · 19/09/2016 13:54

Ummmm.............is there anything a bit more useful you could add to that chameleon?

chameleon43 · 19/09/2016 10:38

St Dunstans doesn't have a great reputation locally?

Original poster
Luna9 · 18/09/2016 06:46

Any other parents with children at any of these schools ?

OP posts:
Original poster
Luna9 · 16/09/2016 21:33

Bumping for more opinions

OP posts:
Original poster
Luna9 · 16/09/2016 13:37

Thank you very much

OP posts:
janinlondon · 16/09/2016 13:24

Have PMd you OP.