South west London parents of secondary kids this mummy having a meltdown needs your help!

Sorry just to add...the crappy school was universally shunned by all the parents I spoke to. They were all on waiting lists to move their child out.

I live in Southwark. Even though I put down my nearest secondary school as first choice, we initially got a school two buses away that had very poor GCSE and A level passes. There is no "choice", per se. Your child's future is defined by a computer algorythmn. My daighter now goes out of borough to a decent school, but only after we put her on a lot of waiting lists and standing firm against Southwark council. (As far as they were concerned, DD was offered a place at a school, and so they washed their hands of us)

If it is your local school – aren’t there parents at your primary school you can talk to who already have older kids there? Are they happy? Rather importantly - what has the school’s response to CV19 and online learning and support been?
I have zero knowledge of Lambeth Academy or other schools in your immediate area, but we do live quite nearby and your post could have been me this time last year. Our local secondary school has had a bumpy past and for many was perceived as the option for those with no other options. We went to view it this time last year (with new head in place to bring it out of RI) and I was amazed that the behaviour and engagement in learning that I saw was better than some supposedly ‘outstanding’ options. Then we had CV-19 – and they have smashed it out of the park with their determination, embracing of technology and innovation, and all round support for the students. DD is now half a term into y7, incredibly happy and secure with delightful, clever, new and old local friends and we have no doubt we made the right decision (we ended up rejecting a July offer to our original 1st choice ‘outstanding’ school). I think that some schools are resting on the laurels of ancient OFSTED reports while those that haven’t been great are under far more scrutiny and are far more proactive in terms of making positive changes.
I think my point is – speak to people who have kids there and don’t judge it on its past, judge it on what it is now and the direction it is going in. Having said that, I’m sure wherever your child ends up they will be absolutely fine. As parents we worry far more than they do.

You get to rank (6, usually; depending on borough) schools in order of preference. There really isn't a huge element of actual choice involved.

Where do kids from your primary usually go?