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Original poster

Norwood School vs Kingsdale

28 replies

Nunsmet22 · 03/03/2020 10:15

So... National Offer Day has passed.
We didn't get our first choice Kingsdale (we live 5 min away) but ended up with Norwood School. DS was very keen on Kingsdale as he was hoping he could go with his friends from primary. Said friends didn't get in or will go for independent options now. DH is very keen to get us on the Kingsdale waiting list but I wonder if Norwood isn't the better fit for DS anyway. He's quirky, sensitive, bright and dyslexic and has gotten one of the drama bursary places at Norwood.
I would love to hear from parents of Norwood and/or Kingsdale children about their experience with those schools and what they think we should do. Try to move heaven and earth to get into Kingsdale or happily settle with Norwood??? Grateful for any thoughts and advice, thanks!

OP posts:
Original poster
Nunsmet22 · 03/03/2020 13:18

Thanks, that's very good to hear. Just received our place on the Kingsdale waiting list which isn't encouraging at all...

OP posts:
EkaterinVorkosigan · 03/03/2020 12:51

SENCO at Norwood also had great attitude.
I don't know about Kingsdale as it's too far from us, but there's rumours they only get great results because of their intake.

EkaterinVorkosigan · 03/03/2020 12:14

My friend has kids at Norwood and mine will be going there in Sept. Friend's kids love it, especially science.
It was their first choice and also mine after looking at it and another school during a normal school day.

What I liked was the new building with excellent facilities, but mostly the attitude - kids and staff talked to each other like human beings. The admin staff weren't hiding behind glass. Lots of classes had open doors and happily let us stand just inside and observe their lessons. Other school wouldn't let us inside any classes while lessons were going on and seemed scared of the kids.
I also liked the way they let Y7s run the open day and let families wander around where they wanted. Showed great confidence.

Child liked the fact that the library opens at 8am, there's various areas to go at breaktime including ones where ball games aren't allowed, the breakout areas outside classrooms, and the excellent theatre. Also liked the uniform.