Trying to choose a secondary school in SE London. Why do I feel there is no choice?

I used to teach in a very low achieving school and our able pupils used to get an exceptional amount of attention partly because so many were not interested so if you ran an after school session there would only be a few there but also beause it made light relief from the uphill task elsewhere. In a similar way hard working but average children were made to feel special because they wanted to work in an environment where many did not. I did sometimes worry though that they left school thinking they were far cleverer than they actually were and the real world might be a shock.

Monty, not thinking of any particular school, just that teachers in a generally lower acheiving school usually relish the prospect of teaching children who are bright and motivated.

Tilly - is that CP you speak of?

Just at the b*llx of it all!

Oooo Spudmasher, I could have written exactly the same a year ago (my 11 y.o. has just started at one of the schools you mention). It's beyond a joke - all of it - and I was incandescent with rage for most of the year. We looked at several independents because home edding was not an option for us but we felt we had to have some kind of back up plan should we not be offered anything we felt was, in the truest sense of the word, acceptable. I found that the hardest thing because a) it was never really an option for us financially, even with scholarship offers; b) I only ever wanted my children to be educated within the state sector and c) the disparity of resourcing, of opportunity, of staff:pupil ratios ... well that just made me want to cry.

In the end we fluked a place on distance. Going by the stats given in the booklet, we would never have got a place in the previous year. But we did in our year of application. Just one of those flukey things. You never know. Now she's there, I keep asking her 'and what primary did she go to' when she tells me about a new friend. My brain is still in overdrive: where do they live ... how did they get a place ... it's a kind of insanity. And most of the time the answer is 'I dunno'. LOL.

I taught at Haberdashers many years ago and am sure one of their priorities was musical aptitude. It may be worth enquiring.

Prendergast has a good reputation, doesn't it? And you never know about the others.

Don't forget that even if you don't get in initially, you can try appeal or just stay on the waiting list and keep ringing - places sometimes come up even after term has started, if you can do that?

Most of the schools we've been looking round are giving their results for last year out in their packs.

What you want to know is not just the overall results for the school, but whether they will be able to need the needs and interests of your child - academic, sports, music or whatever. Schools which on the face of it don't have fantastic results often welcome more able children gladly and work very hard to make sure that they do as well as they can, because it is rewarding to teach them and see them learn, etc.

Haberdasher's is mixed, Prendergast is girls. St Dunstan's is... well... expensive. What's your closest?

Thanks choosyfloosy, thats what I wanted.

Those results are the year before though aren't they (Jan 09)
I have 3 weeks to complete the form and therefore make a decision between 2 particular schools. I like them both, so thought the results could help me decide.

I wonder if the results will be available before the deadline?
I have kind of made my decision on gut instinct which could easily back fire.

is this more what you need, kid? column 3 is the % of GCSEs A-C.

Nat av maybe try googling a particular school with 'bbc tables' and the BBC pages compare the school's results with the natioal figure.

I'm hoping my DD (2 yo !) will either get a place at Habadashers, or I will have to sell my body parts and send her to St Dunstans. I haven't looked into it that closely yet, but I thought Prenderghast was meant to be good too?
Will watch this with interest...

Can anyone tell me the national average for A*-C GCSEs? Would also be interested to know the average for Hackney too.
I have been browsing online but I can't seem to find what I am looking for.

TIA

The thing is, there may indeed be a few good schools - but the majority aren't. And statistically MOST children will end up in one of those. And, somehow, the illusion of having had those good schools in the list, also works to stop people from looking at the fact that the majority of dc are not at good schools (in London, anyway).

And I cannot be the only parent who feels really, really knackered when I see what "parental support" can involve.

What about Habs, Sydenham, Prendergast...?

Thought I was going to be so flamed for that!

All sympathy to you spudmasher.

One day I'm going to be v. brave and post my Trotskyist-inspired views on school allocation.

I can't tell you what a relief it is to read this thread. I'm constantly being told that I shouldn't complain about my local comp (31% 5 GCSEs) and that good kids with a supportive family will do OK. But why should we have to put up with second best?

A family member of mine is dealing with this in the same area. I would be shitting bricks myself, moving out, paying or home educating. The schools where I am are not exciting but they are quite bearable. I agree, it's crappy and it should be better.

I agree. 29% getting GCSE passes is NOT acceptable.

IT needs govt intervention. And until proper solutions are forthcoming, I would take every step possible to make sure my kids are not subject to ideological positions (especially those held by people who have better options than you).

I'm fed up, fed up, fed up being told that I'm a middle class whinger if I object to the fact that the majority of secondary schools in London are not what I would want to send my dc to.

We're stifled by the fact that someone's dc have to go to them, and so some kind of (misplaced) right on-ness keeps us quiet.

It's not OK. We're a rich country. The schools should be better. They should deliver proper, real academic results for most of their pupils, in a secure environment.

Why on earth are you being told that you are judgemental thinking 29% GCSE A-C is, perhaps, an indication of a school you're not keen on?

There is absolutely no way you'd go to a restaurant that was offering an equivalent service - or use a hospital - so why, why, why can't we just be honest about this?

Nobody's dc should have to put up with this, all the while being told that, maybe, it has great hidden qualities and it's just some mc mania for academic success that makes us a bit squeamish.

My local Comp gets 61% of kids with 5 GCSEs A*-C incl Maths & English. The next nearest gets 43%! The worst in this borough gets 27% - that's South London for you, I'm afraid!