Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Difficult choice- Jags, Bromley high and Eltham

28 replies

Lingar · 11/02/2023 19:55

Which school is best for music and academic girl in year seven entry?

We got Jags offer, Bromley high music scholar offer (not much incentive but free instrument lessons), and Eltham waiting list.
Travel time is Jags over 1 hr (train and coach) - Bromley 40 minutes (coach or 50 minutes bus) - Eltham (30 minutes bus or 10 minutes drive).

We had two scholar auditions with Eltham, but she is still on the waiting list... It was our first choice. Now very tricky to wait until the deadline after. 30% girls VS 70% boys currently.
Still trying to figure out how is Jags' music (they will have a new music director from Sep 23), and they only have a few clubs and activities information online. Some negative well-being reviews on google worry me.
We also have Colfes and likely Newstead (I think they need better music).
Both Eltham and Bromley have good music programmes. But Jags has better academics than Bromley. I feel Bromley is a warm and caring school.
It is a hard decision. I hope I can get some advice here. Thanks

OP posts:
WellTidy · 11/02/2023 20:10

I don’t have girls at any of those schools, but live locally, and know of girls who have gone to all of them.

Bromley High does have academic girls, but there is a mix of levels of academics. I don’t know anyone who applied for a place at year 7 for bromley high and was turned down, for escarole, and I know of quite a few who haven’t been offered EC and JAGS. That said, everyone I know who has a girl at Bromley High speaks very highly of it. Being part of the group of schools they’re in gives lots of opportunities for collaboration.

Original poster
Lingar · 11/02/2023 20:03

Iamagenius · 11/02/2023 20:01

I can't answer much specifically about these schools but two things stand out for me. Free music lessons are amazing, they can run up to thousands of pounds every year. Also if the feel of a school is more caring then that is what you want.

Thanks, I forgot to mention is not unlimited instrument lesson. 10* 30minutes a term. Fee % deduct can just cover the school coach. Thanks for the comments :)

OP posts:
Iamagenius · 11/02/2023 20:01

I can't answer much specifically about these schools but two things stand out for me. Free music lessons are amazing, they can run up to thousands of pounds every year. Also if the feel of a school is more caring then that is what you want.