Junior/senior schools in SE London

[SarfEasticated]

We currently live in SE4 and our DD is due to start school in 2 years time. We are on an average income (both £35k salary) and would consider moving to get into a good schools catchment area, or would possibly pay to go private if necessary.
DD is very interested in books, not particularly intrepid physically and is quite quiet and sensitive. I would love her to go to a friendly little school where she is encouraged in her love of learning, rather than a massive boisterous school where she might get overlooked.

Questions:

1. good areas in SE London which affordable housing and good schools (but we will both need to commute into London to work so good train line)
2. Is there a nice private school in SE London that is for parents in a moderate pay bracket rather than catering for the wealthy? Thanks in advance ? I know I am asking a lot

My mother taught at Prendergast before the Hilly Fields move. She always said was pretty tricky to get into. But good results.

My maternal grandparents grew up in Sandhurst/Torridon Roads.

I live in Bromley and I'd agree vehemently with MI about the fact that schools can change loads in a relatively short time.

Ravensbourne for example had an appalling reputation when I was younger but I hear good things these days. More so than Hayes really.

Like MI I've also heard excellent things about Cator Park. Whereas about 5 years ago it would have been a different story.

Other schools that girls from Catford travel to include Eltham Hill (all girls) and Sydenham School (also all girls). In the 2010 intake for Y7 I know of girls who live beyond the Tesco in Lewisham who were offered places at Sydenham School so, provided you move close to a decent bus route, that might be an option in time to come.

Word on the street re: Trinity school is generally positive but it will be interesting to see what impact the rebranding/new building has. It will always be a small school due to its physical size and, at present, 40% of Y7 places are 'open' and allocated on home to school distance, whereas 60% are for families who 'attend any christian church regularly'.

Nunhead has good primaries, Hollydale, Ivydale, Edumund Waller and Turnham close by and good train links, it's in zone 2> If you are Catholic it's also in catchment for St Francesca Cabrini Primary.

GDST schools are good for academic girls, not many of whom come from super-wealthy families. The academic profile varies a lot from school to school, but fees are set by the Trust across all schools: currently £12k per year.

Hi, I just read all the messages here a year later (I notice all the messages are from 2010). Can anyone please update me about Prendergast Ladywell college? Thank you

Nice new buildings. Improving, but from a very low base. The Prendergast connection could make all the difference. I hope so, as this area needs more good schools.

It has a lot to shake off, in reputation terms, and its GCSE results this year were better but still not fabulous. I am not hog-whimpering wild about it, but will be checking out Prendergast Vale (the new school).

Mm, not hearing great things about it TBH mamiglia.

Feeling very anxious about secondary school for my DD. She is currently at a catholic primary. We live just over 1 km from Prendegast Hilly Fields & I think for a band 1A we are out of the catchment area. Does anyone have any views/info on St Ursulas in Greenwich??

marking my place- moving to SE13 soon and interested in views on Ladywell Fields- will be nearer Hilly Fields but doubt dds will fancy a girls' school muchly

(they're not secondary age yet, but am Thinking Ahead)

My son has been offered a place at Prendergast Ladywell Fields in September 2012. I really liked the school when we looked round at the open day and so I feel optimistic about it, but my son is anxious as he knows no one else that is going there. I would love to hear from any mums in a similar situation or from anyone whose child is already at the school. I have posted on other local websites and had no response at all yet. Is anyone out there sending their child to Prendergast Ladywell Fields?

Hi I live on the border between Southwark and New Cross and the primary School closest to us is Edmund Waller. my boy is only 11 month old but I am already worried about primaries. I really don't want to move once my LO has started primary school as I would not want him to leave his little friends so my partner and I are trying to make the choice to stay in the area or move from the area now.

Does anyone know anything about how oversubscribed that school is and what the general situation is around the Nunhead / Telegraph hill areas?

I am also already in a panic about secondary schools, but won't bore you with that yet ;-)

Many thanks for your replies!

F.

Just revisiting this thread, we decided to stay in our tiny flat and keep DD in her nice community of friends. She is now at John Stainer and loves it. It is such a nice friendly school and it has just got an "outstanding" by Offsted. The head is very good - lovely, enthusiastic, strict, and never misses a trick. DD's other nursery friends now go to Myatt Gardens, Beecroft Gardens and Edmund Waller and all are very happy there. We seem to be pretty spoilt for good junior schools now. [hoorah]

Hi,

Need Help ....

I am planning to take admission got my daughter in St. winifred's school. My daughter has ADHD and Speech Delay, and i want to check is this school good for Special Need kids ?

Anjali Mavi