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

Tallis had an offer area of 1875m last year, that's not massive.

Yes absolutely. That's what I meant by "if it's an option", but I should have been clearer as it isn't just "oh you passed go to the grammar". You really need to check you have a chance of getting in if you pass.

Is it the case if you are top 180 you are guaranteed a place? I lost track because we decided grammar wasn't for us.

I don't think Tallis is oversubscribed? Still have a huge catchment area as of last year, might be close enough for OP

I agree that it's early to know how good schools will be in 5 years. My son is currently at a failing comp but there's a new team in place and I'd bet its Good in 5 years.

London always has had a three tier education at secondary. Private day schools on top, middle classed state schools in the middle and then everywhere else.

Take a typical borough in South East London, Greenwich.

You have Colfe's private day school ( over 30% achieving AAB+ at A level) then good state school Tallis , massively oversubscribed with 12% getting AAB+ at A Level) then schools like Plumstead Manor, still rated good , getting 5% AAB+ at A-level.

This is repeated across every borough across London. There are very few truly 'rubbish' schools in London, given the uplift by the last Labour gov on London schools which has left a legacy of them being well ahead of state schools outside of London.

Within London, even ofsted 'good' schools seem 'bad' , as London has the highest concentration of the best schools in the country. A school like Camden School for Girls, or Mossbourne in Hackney, or Brampton Manor in Newham have A level results private schools outside of London can only dream of. Brampton outperforms Eton currently for Oxbridge places.

The school situation in London is ....complicated. But the 'disconnect' comes from the many tiger middle class parents who use primary state schools as unoffical prep schools in London then enter private at 7+ to prep up for selective secondary

If it's an option, plenty of people do the 11+ tests for the Bexley, Bromley and even Kent grammars. And remember you don't have to only apply within your borough, check what schools in your neighbouring borough you might be close enough to.

I don't know if it's changed more recently, but apart from the super-selectives eg St Olave's, it's not just a case of passing the 11plus - the schools also admit on distance. Depending on where in SE London you live, it may not be close enough unless you get a very high score. It would be worth checking the councils' websites before going down the grammar route. It is possible (my 3 DSs all went to grammars from SE13) but passing the 11plus doesn't guarantee you a place and parents often don't realise this.

What I found in my bit of SE London was that schools which had a bad reputation it was hanging on from years ago. When I spoke to current parents and when we looked round I was really impressed. Obviously I don't know what bit of SE London you are so what your options are. I would have thought it was unusual to have only one because there are undersubscribed schools that take from all over.

You could also look at schools which you are just out of the usual area for. We got a waiting list place at our first choice as there was quite a lot of movement.

If it's an option, plenty of people do the 11+ tests for the Bexley, Bromley and even Kent grammars. And remember you don't have to only apply within your borough, check what schools in your neighbouring borough you might be close enough to.

Lots of people do move in Y4 and 5 though. I think Y5 might be the most popular year to move from what I've seen.

I used to live in SE3, and I totally agree with pp who said schools change a lot in 5 or 10 years. That's exactly what happened with my DC's primary. Rubbish, then outstanding, then rubbish again. Several heads in a few years.

People in my area were always talking about trying the grammar schools in Kent. That's probably what I would do.
(I have a few friends who moved to Brighton as well).

There is a well known disconnect in education quality between primary and secondary schools in many parts of London. Lots of people move from Year 4 onwards. You can see many outstanding primary schools, having tiny catchment for reception intakes and long waiting lists, then have vacancies in Year 4 and above.

You have years until secondary.
Schools seem to go in cycles of good/bad. I have local schools that were top of league tables/over subscribed/fantastic exam results 10 years ago and are now "requires improvement" dreadful places that everyone hates.
And vice versa.
You could move but in the space of a couple of years the fantastic secondary you are wanting now could have become a dreadful dump.
It's an expensive risk.

Not me personally but in my area ( west Kent) there are are many people who move out of London for their children’s education. It’s a bit of gamble because of the 11 plus but there are also private schools which are less competitive than London independents.

Where do you live OP?

Not very helpful but I moved away from the UK entirely. In Europe now and much happier about schools. My DC had no chance of a decent education had we stayed there.