Primary schools in the Dulwich / Denmark Hill area, SE London?

[imaginaryfriend]

We're currently living in Bermondsey and are possibly about to move down to Dulwich / Denmark Hill kind of area. I've got the League Table results in front of me listing schools in the area but of course I'd rather hear from people living in the area what they think are the nicest schools / areas to aim for. I can't find Dulwich Village school on my list, is that because it's an infant school?

I'd really appreciate any help you can give.

Are there any MNetters in the area?

Dulwich village is primary I think. Although isn't it called Dulwich Hamlet ?
I come from this area but have not lived there for a while so I don't know how the schools are at the mo. I went to Bessemer Grange and my mum was deputy at Dog Kennel Hill ( which has a very good rep)There are sooo many primaries around this area.
Hope someone can be off more help to you.

On my school application pack map there are two schools, Dulwich Village and Dulwich Hamlet. But on the League Tables there's only Dulwich Hamlet listed. One of the places we're looking at is right next to North Dulwich Station, is that close to those schools?

Dulwich Hamlet/village is the closest primary to North Dulwich station.
Friends of mine went to Dulwich Hamlet and I'm sure it is the one in Dulwich village. Maybe it's changed its name. I've also changed mine to my bonfire name btw in case you're confused

I think one of them is the infant school and the other is the linked, but separate, junior school - so whichever one is in the league tables is the one with the Y6 results. Could be wrong (I'm not local), but a friend looked at the local schools there.

There are 2 schools in Dulwich village - One is Dulwich hamlet, which is a Southwark Community school, and is divided over two sites, Infant and Junior. Inbetween them (and adjoining the Junior school, I think) is the CoE Dulwich village School - not quite sure what it's real title is - it's the school attached to St Barnabas .

I do know they are both very very over-subscribed, and both have very good reputations...look at the admissions criteria? And see which site proximity is measured to? I don't know how far away the catchemnt spreads to. Part of the Dulwich Hamlet school is much closer to the station than the other.

IMO the league tables mostly tell you what kind of intake the school has, rather than how good the school is. The head at one of the Dulwich schools we visited admitted as much - they were top of some league table this year, but she said they won't be next year, purely because they had a lower ability intake. And the best predictor of academic performance is the social background of the kids.

There is no substitute for visiting the school yourself and seeing what you think of it. Word on the street can often be misleading as not everyone has the same criteria as you. Though I know it's hard if you don't know the area and are trying to narrow things down.

In the Denmark Hill area, the school I know of is Dog Kennel Hill, which has a good reputation. I live near Goose Green and looked at Heber, St Johns and St Clements and Goose Green. And would have been very happy with any of them. But I think I'm unusual in not particularly agonising over this decision! And in Dulwich Village I have heard good things of both Dulwich Hamlet and Dulwich Village schools.

I particularly liked Goose Green, which is a school that many middle class parents wouldn't even visit, because a few years ago it was in special measures and really struggling. It's now got a fabulous head and a lovely atmosphere.

In the end my dd will start at St Johns and St C in January, which was my dp's choice because it is our closest school. I didn't want a faith school, but was persuaded that I shouldn't let my politics get in the way of dd1 being able to walk to school without crossing a road .

Good luck. My experience is that the primaries round here are great.

Dulwich Village Primary is split into 2 schools .. Dulwich Village Infants and Dulwich Village Junior .. however admission to one does not guarantee admission to the other ... tight catchment .. most luck if you're a church-goer

There are many primary schools in Dulwich which are pretty good if you ask me:

Goodrich (about 600 kids, very middle class, good reputation, new head starting in January),

Heber (about 300 kids), very much a rising star, superhead about 3 years ago turned it around and huge improvements / investments,

St Anthony's Catholic school you need to be catholic .. excellent ethos and results

Goose Green I believe has some of the highest SATs results in the area

St John's and St Clements - great church school, strong results

Dog Kennel Hill - also good, have heard the head is not that communicative

Denmark Hill I don't know really

North Dulwich Station would also put you in the catchment for the charter school (secondary) which I believe has a really strong reputation (mixed 11 - 16s) .. but I haven't looked into it myself yet as eldest is only Year 1

Thanks ever so much everyone.

Do any of you have direct experience of any of the schools then?

Your list, Twiglett, was more or less what I'd marked as looking like nice schools. But of course I'd love to be able to visit before we move. If we move (it's a work move) it will be very sudden and we won't have an awful lot of choice of location, maybe 2 or 3 options. So far the one I liked the look of the most was by North Dulwich station although i can't find the road on my A-Z, it's called Kempis Way if that rings a bell for anyone? They say it's near Alleyn's Schools but I guess they're not primary schools? If we were in roughly that area, which would be our closest schools? That we might have a chance with? (we probably wouldn't get into a church school - I'm a non-practising Jew and dp isn't remotely relilgious)

would you like to CAT me if?

Yes I would although it never seems to work when I do. Would you CAT me? I'd appreciate it!

You wouldn't get into Goodrich or Heber from N Dulwich, would you? What do you think, Twiglett?

I have direct experience of one of those schools and know a fair bit about the others, having lived in Dulwich for 6 years until recently. You can email me at [email protected].

Yes, visiting will be important and I'll do that as soon as we have confirmation of our move. But I do really value advice from people who know the area well too. Experience is priceless, and my intuition frequently lets me down .

I'll email you glassofwine, thanks.

If we were by North Dulwich Station which would be our most likely schools then? The other option (so far) of a road would be one called something like Oggendale Rd. (I know I've got that wrong), closer to East Dulwich Station, kind of going from there into Peckham I think on the map. Does anyone know Kempis Way?

Sorry ... glassofslime ...

I have never heard of Kempis Way but if they are saying you are near North Dulwich Station I would say it was the other side and so none of the schools I've mentioned would be appropriate .. I think it might be a whole new set of schools .. probably more likely within SE24 than SE21 / SE22

Alleyns is an independent secondary school on Townley Road

If you are near East Dulwich Station I think your closest schools would be Goose Green and Dog Kennel Hill AFAIK

HTH

sorry to confuse you imaginary - Glassofslime was my halloween name, will change it back so my email is [email protected]

I think the postcode said SE22, I'll check later. It looked very close to Dulwich Hamlet on the map. Are the catchment areas very tight around there then?

No problem, glassofslime, I'm easily confused!

I sent you a cat if btw

Thank you Twiglett, I'll check for it later when I'm at home.

I'll email you too glassofslime/wine when I'm back home.

Incidentally, is this area also nice for general mum / small child things to do? I know the park is lovely but I don't know anything else like shopping, leisure centres, other activities.

Oops, sorry for my earlier incorrect post. That'll teach me to post when I'm not sure of my facts. Glad that other useful people have come along!

The catchement for Dulwich hamlet will be very tight indeed, I would think. Southwark hoiked two kids out of the playground last year when they found out that someone had pulled some stunt to get in - using relatives address or something.

It's a brilliant area to live in if the public transport suits what you need. Lordship Lane is bustling with excellent 'small supplier' type shops, brillaint cafes, many v child freindly, famous sweet-shop, excellent children's shop. Also v close to Brockwell Park, another fantastic park. There are toddler groups and TumbleTots and other groups in St Faith's church hall at the bottom of Red Post Hill, other groups in Herne Hill (which is v v close to n Dulwich), whippersnappers music classes in the Lido buildings at Brockwell park, Excellent children's bookshop with lots of storytelling sessions in herne Hill, Hornimann Museum close by for winter days out, active Lambeth and Southwark NCT group.
We drift over the east Dulwich, Dulwich and Herne Hill for lots of child-orientated things.