Share your opinions on secondary schools in and around London for black children

[Jamdown123]

Please let us know your thoughts on secondary schools in and around London, with particular regard to their approach towards anti-racism and inclusivity. Private and state, all welcome.

I've learned a lot from a recent thread, so thought it might be an idea to have a dedicated broad thread. Not meaning to kill off the other at all.

I thought that maybe interested posters who'd like to focus on other areas can start a post too?

I am interested in North and West London especially - Ealing, Brent, Hammersmith and Fulham, Westminster. Where would you send your children if you wanted somewhere that takes academics very seriously and the culture is. to work hard and achieve, but that will not sacrifice pupil's wellbeing.

I can say that I have been speaking to my friends about this recently, and they say south London boys' indie's can be good - Dulwich for example, because of the number of black boys there and JAGS for the girls.

pls excuse typos

@Jamdown123 - hopefully things have changed at JAGS. At the junior school 8 yo daughter of good friends was left confused when at show and tell her teacher informed her, to a class audience, that it was not true that both of her parents were doctors. Was left wondering if her parents wore white coats every morning for pretend play.

This was some years ago, so hopefully the school's now on script. Friends now live in Canada!

So sad. This happened to my daughter at the GP when my mum took her for a mild ailment (different mix of professions, but similar). At least the GP was not entrusted with her education.

Awful.

There are so many of these deplorable people in our lives....

How long ago was that JAGS incident?

@Jamdown123 I have heard good things about Grey Coat (Westminster). My friends rates it highly.

I have heard of that school, too - thank you!

Anything on Sacred Heart in Hammersmith or Twyford in Acton?

Anyone know much about the privates in West London, and how they are for black children?

@Jamdown123

So sad. This happened to my daughter at the GP when my mum took her for a mild ailment (different mix of professions, but similar). At least the GP was not entrusted with her education.

Awful.

There are so many of these deplorable people in our lives....

How long ago was that JAGS incident?

That was over 10 years ago. I recall seeing a class photo and she was the only black child in her class so hopefully numbers have changed since.

I also wonder if senior school would be different in that some black parents may hold off the indies until the later years in which case you'd find higher representation at JAGS girls.

there is a convent school in harlesden; is she a catholic, as you mention sacred heart.

it's convent of jesus and mary, harlesden.
rated outstanding.

I'd be very interested in hearing about some South London schools.
There are very few that I would like my boys to attend and not being lucky enough to be able to send them private I need to find a good state school.

So far I've short listed Kingsdale, Charter, Haberdashers aske's (Borough) and St Micheals college.

I feel like it's a struggle to find the right school especially for two young black boys in london.

@Turtletales have you contacted the independent schools that you might be interested to ask about bursaries? Income levels can be surprisingly high at some schools, I wouldn't rule yourself out until you have spoken to them.

@soma I have spoken to one school about bursaries and it would be likely that I would fit the criteria for their school, however I have twins and the likelihood of getting two full bursaries are slim to none.
I wouldn't want to even try and get their hopes up when I wouldn't be able to send them.

@Turtletales, no need to tell your twins until you have a better idea if it's possible. Some schools have lowish income thresholds and others are more generous.

@Soma That's very true, but would we not have to attend open days and things before applying?

I would love for them to attend and will definitely call round a few schools to find out, tbh I called one and was told the likelihood of being accepted and didn't call anymore, which is very defeatist of me.

My head is honestly spinning with everything and trying to do the right thing by both of them by myself.

Hi, I'm an ex student from SHHS, Hammersmith. Whilst I'm Irish Caucasian - I hope my experience may help a bit.
The school environment always promoted and encouraged mixing of students from all cultural backgrounds. As an adult, many of my closest school friends are black or mixed race - their parents would also be adults I love dearly and who also would have been a huge influence as I grew up.
My kids are being raised in ireland. The wonderful experiences I had in SHHS and the diversity of my friends was a key part of me choosing the secondary school my kids went to here. I want my kids to grow up respecting and cherishing their friends - from all cultural backgrounds. I hate the idea of all my kids friends being white Irish. I

@Turtletales , you can apply any time without attending an open day. Many schools have virtual tours on their websites. Are you looking for co-ed or single sex? The John Whitgift Foundation have generous bursaries - www.johnwhitgiftfoundation.org/ . The girls' schools don't have such deep pockets.
Do your twins have any particular skill in music, sport, art or academics? If so, they could also try for a scholarship. A DC we know got 60% non means tested fee reduction through combined scholarships, another, also, non means tested got 50% reduction from combined sports & music scholarship, which was then topped up with a bursary. The same child's sibling was given a 120% award at another school to cover fees, lunches, uniform and travel to and from school.

Forgot to mention twins at our primary school were awarded substantial music scholarships to attend the same secondary school.

There is nothing to lose from asking far and wide, schools want to give bursaries, you just have to try for the ones with the deepest pockets.

Thank you @Soma You've been a great help.
I and definitely going to give a few a call today. They both play football for a team and are quite good, ds2 is very good at art so I may well also look into scholarships.

I wanted to send them to co-ed, but if the right single sex school came up and they liked it then that's always an option.

@Turtletales glad I could help.

Top tip no.1
Target schools that have football as a major sport and regularly play against other schools. These schools will be on the look out for new talent to enhance their teams. Ignore the naysayers who state DC have to be county level players or junior academy footballers to be considered for scholarships.

Top tip no.2
Stick your DS2's art in a big art book, even the work in progress. Get him to write a few words underneath each pieces, what made him create it, what he liked about it.
Take him to some art exhibitions, lots of galleries and museums have online exhibitions. Including international ones.
Sign him up for any extra curricular art clubs so he can try different types of art.
Does he like films? He could write a mini script and make his own film on his or your phone / tablet. One of mine wrote their own script in Year 4, including all the parts with some "director's" notes (lol), and for my sins I made the costumes and we made some props together and tried to film it. Unfortunately DH was a terrible camera man. But great fun all round.

@Turtletales I’m in same area as you and my black boys will be going to Haberdashers.

Sorry pressed send to soon. My children are still at primary but I’ve spent a lot of time and taken steps to ensure they get to go to Haberdashers. It’s very much an active decision rather than a default one.

@Lndnmummy how have you gone about that?
I have been looking at the school and following them since before they even opened as has my Sil who's dd will likely get a place as that is now her feeder school.

@Soma This is the reason I was looking at Kingsdale as they have a very good sports scholarship.

We have most of ds2 art work in a portfolio already as he likes taking it places with him.
He's not really a writer, but will tell you a story for days and would much prefer to illustrate than to write it down.

I get confused about Haberdashers - which one is that and how are they all different?

Also, what makes Habs good for black boys?

My child's godfather was looking for good high schools in s London for his European / African son last year. He did not ever talk to me about Haberdashers, I wonder whether he missed trick?

@Jamdown123 Haberdashers is one of the leading secondaries in London, they also have an independent school.
It's not so much that it's perfect for black boys in particular I liked the school and its whole ethos which I feel suited my dc.

In the area I live, unfortunately is smack bang in the middle of well known gangs and those gangs attend or hang around outside the schools that are closest to me, so I looked at haberdashers in borough as at the moment they only have 2 forms (year 7-8) as they have only just opened their new site, so my thinking is that although nothing is guaranteed with troublemakers the children that are there are less likely to be involved and will knuckle down more at school than be distracted by the goings on outside.

@Jamdown123 there are lots of Habs , some are state and some are Indies - haberdashers.co.uk/our-schools
Maybe your friend was referring to here - www.habsboys.org.uk/ (Indie)

Right, that helps. I always found it confusing.