Kingsdale Foundation School

I didn’t know reg smart phones; first time I hear. What apps do they use for timetables and homework. DD is at different school; she can use her smartphone outside school.

I was initially concerned about the journey when considering this school for my list and it was a huge factor for me. Now having children in more local schools it’s definitely a luxury being able to get home nice and quickly especially if they have evening clubs etc and homework .
However, friends I’ve spoken to who have children there don’t seem too worried about it. The only concern they’ve mentioned is that, since students can’t use smartphones, it can be challenging to navigate changes in train schedules, especially at night but have helped their children in learning those more independent skills. Still, this issue isn’t significant enough to deter them from choosing the school.

I think that sounds like a definite place in first round (the wording is never totally clear - but we had something similar and got a place when offers were sent out).

My DD has been doing that walk for 4.5 years and often stays late for clubs. Never had a problem. There are loads of kids - and staff - taking the trains so generally they will be with others. In the morning and evenings the back gate is also open (and staffed) so it's a very quick route. It's well lit so they don't need torches or anything.

My daughter achieved full sports scholarship / top 4% standard in the scholarship assessment for 2025 entry. Although the letter confirming the outcome was a bit impenetrable, I understand this gives her a very high chance of being offered a place in the first round (grateful if anyone could correct me on that if I am wrong). I have read the Ofsted report and comments on this and various other forums and it all sounds really positive, so we will be putting Kingsdale as first choice on our application.

My only real concern is the relatively long journey (we are in Bromley) and the walk through the nearby estate to the train station. While I am sure this is fine at the end of the normal school day when there are loads of kids about, I wondered if any other parents - current or prospective - had had concerns about that. Was thinking particularly about her making that journey if she stayed later to attend after school activities, particularly in the winter months.

You waited a month before posting? Is this the headteacher?

Yes, I was referring to the average Ebacc point score of 6.36 (borough average 4.82) and A8 score of 66.7 (borough average 51.9).

Sorry I think you were referring to scores beyond progress 8, I misread

Charter North is 0.8, but obviously 0.68 is excellent

Watched this thread with interest as I have a child in Yr 7 and want more experience of the school before weighing in.

However, I saw some discussion of scores. In the performance tables that have just come out the progress score is now 0.68. The average score and attainment 8 for 2024 are now above Charter North and Graveney, which I would consider the other outstanding comps in the area. Whether this is a one-off remains to be seen!

Well I didn't say that. I was responding to another poster. I don't know how else to explain it.

@LondonHOPDad what’s the point of that post. Your experiences aren’t more valid than mine, or anyone else’s. Bizarre take.

I think any school can be amazing or terrible for different children. I think the point is more to understand what people with children there like and don't like about the school, so people can make a judgement if the school would be a good fit for their child.

Some parents and kids will love it, hate it or as you say find a bit meh. What I and other posters have tried to do detail are the positive and negative experiences our children have had to try and help prospective parents get a feeling for the school.

It's often a stressful time for people choosing schools so hopefully some of the posts in this thread can help people decide on top of tours and other research.

@LondonHOPDad I think the point of this thread is that Kingsdale just isn't anything amazingly special. It's just a very large "meh" comp and it's a bit of a mystery why children travel very long distances to go there.
Pretty much all the kids I know that go/went to Kingsdale had it on their choice list simply because it's the nearest school. They/their parents pretty much all say "it's alright I suppose" when talking about it. The kids are generally happy, come out with a bunch of GCSEs etc but it really is just a school that's no more amazing than the other schools in the area.

Well go for Sydenham. Loved it there.

You clearly don't like Kingsdale, so which local schools are you putting down instead?

There are 400+ kids per year, and the tour guides are kids who volunteer to do it from multiple Year groups, so there is a good chance teachers will never have taught or possibly even met some of the kids doing the tours. If you want a school where all the teachers know all the kids in the school by name for sure this isn't the school for you or your child, and a smaller school would be more suitable.

Yeah I agree. My ultimate take home was that in other schools we went to passing teachers in the corridor knew the tour guide pupils' names but in Kingsdale it was clear they didn't.

This made me laugh as the only time our mute pupil spoke was to tell the teacher he’d got his name wrong when he introduced him! It was awkward as teacher was clearly pretending he knew him well….

Why do they not let you in the classrooms. Because they all so generic? The ones I peaked into just had basic tables and chairs and nothing else to make it an inspiring/ homely/ enjoyable environment to learn in.

One of the teachers thought he was a comedian but most looked like they wanted to go home. They told us nothing we couldn’t read on the website/ brochure. Example being Languages where all they told us was you could learn 2 languages if you want (🤷🏼) and what they were. English department told us some of the books they would read (standard ones) It was so generic.

I think this was the salient point for me. I've had kids in several secondaries for various reasons and Kingsdale does a lot of talking about offering things that, really, quite a lot of schools also do. And I do speak as someone who was a Kingsdale parent so I have direct experience. It has this weird exceptionalism that grated on me! It felt quite smoke and mirrors, unnecessarily, although part of that is also the admissions policy which perpetually confuses people. And its seemingly ever-growing size is a factor that really won't suit some kids, who would be better off with perhaps slightly fewer subject choices and extra-curriculars for the sake of a smaller school.

I know a few people who’ve children have gone there, some have thrived and a couple have taken their children out (for bullying and the other for SEN daughter not getting enough support). My daughter went to Sydenham girls and came out with same results and was really happy and I also know some people whose kids have done well at Kingsdale. I think it’s a good a school but at the end of the day doesn’t really offer much different to other schools.

@Floofypuppy you have described our sentiments exactly. Other than we had two mute pupils and two horribly behaved show offs leading the tour we were on. Teachers (with the exception of Geography and Art) were unenthusiastic and looked like they would rather be anywhere else on earth. PE HoD particularly disappointing both at the ‘scholarship’ morning and Open Day. DC plays their sport at the highest level possible in Y6 but we didn’t bother going to the specialist sport assessment as a consequence. Classrooms a mess, facilities run down other than the admittedly impressive Music building.

That said I know a Y9 pupil who travels past two very strong Academies and the much lauded Graveney (& would likely have got in) to get there so maybe it’s just a bit Marmite!

It wasn’t the building works - there weren’t any when went. It was the mute pupils who looked totally disinterested ‘showing us’ around and the teachers - who honestly were a bit odd in a few cases. It wasn’t just us who thought that. A number of people asked to leave before the end. Plus we didn’t actually ‘see’ anything. Just walked the prison corridors and tried to get glimpses into run down classrooms. At other schools they welcomed us in and they seemed warm and nurturing. This, seemed impersonal and processed. I have no doubt if I lived near to no good schools then I’d put it down, am sure the education is good, but if you have a choice….no.

it’s almost like they’ve hyped themselves up by presenting themselves as the option for those that have no good choice,. With no catchment. And they claim they’re massively oversubscribed. Strange that

@Floofypuppy I know several parents who put it on their list simply because it's the nearest school. That corner of Southwark is a bit empty of alternative schools.

@urbanbuddha so why has it made your list?