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Original poster

rubbish local secondary school choices - London - did you end up moving?

213 replies

080878tukh · 15/11/2022 10:17

DC is currently in yr 2 in a local London primary and all our local secondary options are quite rubbish. Contemplating whether it's worth moving - but with things as they are - not really the right time interest rate/house prices wise. I guess our dilemma is not unusual for London - we are only in the catchment of one single sex school that is really not very good. Not sure that DC would pass an entrance exam for the local private schools - that have become incredibly competitive of late. For those who decided to stay or move - do you think it was worth it either way?

OP posts:
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RosieRiveting · 30/11/2022 08:50

Word on the street is Sedgehill got a Good in their latest Ofsted visit. Report hasn't hit the website yet though.

sm40 · 30/11/2022 08:18

Langley boys has a lovely new building with great sport facilities. It's on a very nice area with a small catchment and everyone who is there seems to love it. However it is getting a new head soon and now has a sibling policy with the girls school (who have a larger catchment) so this may change things in the school and admission wise.

Original poster
080878tukh · 30/11/2022 07:58

I think Langley boys is better than most other boy schools in the area but no their results dont seem that amazing

OP posts:
ChiefButler · 29/11/2022 22:11

Stopsnowing · 19/11/2022 06:45

OP. If you want to leave London do. But you don’t need to go now. In year 4 visit the local schools. Then decide if you need to move. Everyone I know who started at FHb this year really liked it. I was underwhelmed by Kingsdale. I think you have to the the right kind of child to get the best out of it. If I had my time again I would have moved to be in catchment for Langley Boys.

I'm looking at Langley boys as people keep raving about it... but gcse results doesn't seem good?

Garibaldibikky · 26/11/2022 13:47

ridiculously ** !!

Garibaldibikky · 26/11/2022 13:46

080878tukh · 26/11/2022 12:33

Sorry I hit the wrong button on 0hone and only noticed after posting. He is in yr2 and just turned 7

Ah ok. I'm in same position as you OP. DS in yr 2...doing well...and I've been thinking about secondary. Closest school is dire...progress scores below national and local authority average...GCSE English/Maths grade 5+ only 23%...teacher friend has worked there and nothing good to say...it's undersubscribed every year which of course is no surprise. I doubt it will turn around anytime soon as it's been this bad for 10+yrs.
Next closest is 0.6 miles away but riduclously oversubscribed (of course) and looking at data you need to be 0.3 miles away to stand a chance. So we are wondering whether a house move to better area with better schools will be required but I really don't want to move...lived here 5yrs, like our house and it's convenient for work, and we would have to significantly downsize.

Have decided to hold tight until yr 4 then reassess....by then will have better idea about 11+ and Grammar prospects (there's one top grammar which isn't far) or private...or whether local options have improved/further options become less competitive. There's also a couple of semi selectives with aptitude tests...I think yr 4 will be when we have to really have a strong plan in place....

Original poster
080878tukh · 26/11/2022 12:33

Sorry I hit the wrong button on 0hone and only noticed after posting. He is in yr2 and just turned 7

OP posts:
MagentaTulip · 26/11/2022 12:33

Sedgehill's progress 8 for high achievers is 1.06 and 0.56 for middle. Yes they have a much smaller number of the high achievers in their last lot of numbers. But the middle is more comparable to Charter.

Garibaldibikky · 26/11/2022 12:30

080878tukh · 26/11/2022 12:14

So DS is only 5in yr2 but is somewhere between mid-high achiever. He is not a genius with a perfect memory i.e. the school environment matters to him. So he would definitely benefit from being in an environment where the assumption is that you study, do your homework, assuming getting high grades is the norm. For my GCSE we were all streamed and yes it was easier to get top grades when you are in a top set and you just assume that everyone studies. Even my bad local comp for A'level had dedicated after school prep for getting into Oxbridge. You could only take an A'level if you got an A grade and most of the kids in the class we pretty focused.

So much about achievement in school is linked to the school environment - do you feel left out if you didnt do your homework. How much disruption is there in a classroom etc. I will definitely have a look around FHB

5..in year 2? Should be 6/7....

Original poster
080878tukh · 26/11/2022 12:14

So DS is only 5in yr2 but is somewhere between mid-high achiever. He is not a genius with a perfect memory i.e. the school environment matters to him. So he would definitely benefit from being in an environment where the assumption is that you study, do your homework, assuming getting high grades is the norm. For my GCSE we were all streamed and yes it was easier to get top grades when you are in a top set and you just assume that everyone studies. Even my bad local comp for A'level had dedicated after school prep for getting into Oxbridge. You could only take an A'level if you got an A grade and most of the kids in the class we pretty focused.

So much about achievement in school is linked to the school environment - do you feel left out if you didnt do your homework. How much disruption is there in a classroom etc. I will definitely have a look around FHB

OP posts:
cantkeepawayforever · 26/11/2022 11:34

Does your child fall into that group?

Original poster
080878tukh · 26/11/2022 11:09

Just checked P8 for FHB and it's only about 0.03 for most able kids. In comparison Charter is 0.72 for most able kids. It's just such a massive difference.

OP posts:
Bluefluffyclouds · 26/11/2022 10:20

080878tukh · 22/11/2022 22:17

I always thought Ursuline was a perfectly nice school but it's girls only and too far away from us. My problem in the area is that most girls schools are ok unlike boy ones. I appreciate that some local parents do like FHB, I think I was disappointed with the latest Ofsted and the fact that their progress results arent all that great either

Forest Hill school’s Progress 8 score is above average….

Jackiebrambles · 23/11/2022 10:38

080878tukh · 22/11/2022 22:17

I always thought Ursuline was a perfectly nice school but it's girls only and too far away from us. My problem in the area is that most girls schools are ok unlike boy ones. I appreciate that some local parents do like FHB, I think I was disappointed with the latest Ofsted and the fact that their progress results arent all that great either

I just think you should go and visit FH school and listen to the head teacher and meet the boys/see the facilities. Then assess. The head explains in his sessions how they are working on the content of the ofsted report and improving.

cantkeepawayforever · 23/11/2022 09:48

The Progress 8 for FHB is above the national average. It is pulled down by a low P8 score for low prior attainers, and a lower progress score in Maths and non-EBacc subjects. And overall, the only real point where it is below eg area averages is i. EBacc - as the Ofsted says, they need more boys to continue with languages.

The DfE itself says that this year’s progress results are not that reliable due to Covid - progress is likely to be affected by eg those living in households which had few suitable devices and less supportive adults during online learning, and that is always going to be more common in totally non-selective schools as selective (stealth or otherwise) schools will have parents of a different socio-economic and value for education profile.

As I said earlier in the thread, the issues in the Ofsted report are mainly solvable with SLT leadership and prioritisation (though of course specialist teacher availability is likely to be an ongoing issue nationally, both in Maths and languages). You have the time to watch how things change year on year, and are likely to see another Ofsted inspection before you need to apply. If the issues don’t change, then that us of concern. However, I don’t think it is just to write the school off as an option at this point.

RosieRiveting · 22/11/2022 22:21

I know I’ve mentioned it before as an option, but Sedgehill got a great progress 8 score this year.www.find-school-performance-data.service.gov.uk/school/148003/sedgehill-academy/secondary

Original poster
080878tukh · 22/11/2022 22:17

I always thought Ursuline was a perfectly nice school but it's girls only and too far away from us. My problem in the area is that most girls schools are ok unlike boy ones. I appreciate that some local parents do like FHB, I think I was disappointed with the latest Ofsted and the fact that their progress results arent all that great either

OP posts:
Frusli · 22/11/2022 22:12

RosieRiveting · 22/11/2022 21:48

Three schools in Greenwich and you write off all of SE London. Looking at the results for St Ursula's, they are above the national average for progress 8, Ebacc, grade 5 maths and English, everything. www.find-school-performance-data.service.gov.uk/school/100193/st-ursula's-convent-school/secondary

Not that this is of much use to the OP because she's in SE23.

Oh my goodness! on paper..this school looks great!!!

RosieRiveting · 22/11/2022 21:48

Three schools in Greenwich and you write off all of SE London. Looking at the results for St Ursula's, they are above the national average for progress 8, Ebacc, grade 5 maths and English, everything. www.find-school-performance-data.service.gov.uk/school/100193/st-ursula's-convent-school/secondary

Not that this is of much use to the OP because she's in SE23.

shreddies · 22/11/2022 21:39

Swedishmeatball · 22/11/2022 12:57

Im also in SE London. I think unless you live here it’s hard for people to understand just how bad the schools are. After talking to young people on our street (regular babysitters - I knew them quite well) and friends who teach in the local secondary schools - again very compelling first hand accounts - we thought no way. One DS passed the out of county Kent grammar well enough to score a place and commutes, the other is at a local private school on a scholarship and we pay the rest of fees with grandparent help.

Oh don't be ridiculous.

Kids are perfectly happy and get into good universities from all the comprehensives near me.

Jackiebrambles · 22/11/2022 14:37

Swedishmeatball · 22/11/2022 13:58

St ursulas, Tallis and Roan

I don't think op would be in catchment for any of these schools.

RosieRiveting · 22/11/2022 13:59

Swedishmeatball · 22/11/2022 13:53

The schools I am talking about I have friends who are teaching there and know young people attending there now - I spoke about it with them just last week. I'm not referring to information gathered years ago, which I fully appreciate would date quickly. I am, though, referring to just three secondary schools - the ones closest to us. Naturally I can't speak for all of the SE London secondaries, I am sure some of them are great.

You can’t speak for all of them? You DID speak for all of them. You said “just how bad the schools are”. You didn’t say “some” schools. Or narrow down which schools. Atttitudes like this are harmful to the schools and the children who go to them.

Swedishmeatball · 22/11/2022 13:58

St ursulas, Tallis and Roan

MarshaBradyo · 22/11/2022 13:56

Swedishmeatball · 22/11/2022 13:53

The schools I am talking about I have friends who are teaching there and know young people attending there now - I spoke about it with them just last week. I'm not referring to information gathered years ago, which I fully appreciate would date quickly. I am, though, referring to just three secondary schools - the ones closest to us. Naturally I can't speak for all of the SE London secondaries, I am sure some of them are great.

Which ones?

It might help the op

Swedishmeatball · 22/11/2022 13:53

The schools I am talking about I have friends who are teaching there and know young people attending there now - I spoke about it with them just last week. I'm not referring to information gathered years ago, which I fully appreciate would date quickly. I am, though, referring to just three secondary schools - the ones closest to us. Naturally I can't speak for all of the SE London secondaries, I am sure some of them are great.