Bromley High Juniors

[Bromleymum4]

Hello, we are looking at Bromley High for our daughter, she is currently in y4 and we are on the list for an assessment for a mid year place. Are there any past / current parents there who have any reviews on the school ? DD is averagely bright and loves art , sport and drama so we want somewhere that offers lots of this. We are fairly comfortable but by no means super wealthy - is there any such thing as an "average" family theye ?! Grateful for any replies .

I have a daughter at BH and she went through the junior school. Bromley High Junior school is a really lovely, well balanced school and they seem to make all the girls quite academic without piling on the pressure. Lots of interesting topic work, for example, amazing topic dress up days that I reckon the girls will look back on when they are much older. Year 4/5 onwards there is loads of sport too (hockey/netball/swimming, gym, summer cricket etc). They do lots of art in class and sometimes put on art extension classes. The Head of Art in the Senior School seems very good. It is definitely a very sporty school and everyone is encouraged to participate in sport. My DD only did a bit of drama but there were always productions to participate in and you can sign up for extra drama classes at lunch. I would say you and your DD would fit in perfectly. Most people seem to be hard working professionals comfortably off but not necessarily super rich looking for a nice well rounded school that brings out the best in their daughter. Your DD could progress to the senior school without all the angst around 11 plus and that is a definite bonus too.

Avocados thank you for your reply ! We loved it at the open day but it's fantastic to get some information from someone who has been through the school. I want somewhere where DD is encouraged to try new things and there is a high expectation but at the same time not a hot house. Like you say I dont want to put her through all the 11+ angst if we can avoid it. Your comments are very reassuring !

Pluses of Bromley High compared to state are the specialist teaching of science and languages - makes Y5 and Y6 feel more like a middle school.

It just didn’t suit DD and she couldn’t wait to leave. Maths teaching was mediocre. Academic success wasn’t rewarded, the focus was always on sport. She was teased for not being into designer clothes and teased for liking tests. A couple of girls were downright mean to her. Then again other girls fitted right in. DD is far happier being at her state school where she is encouraged to be herself.

PettsWoodparadise - that is a shame your DD didn’t have the fantastic experience she deserved. It sounds like the fault of a few mean girls rather than the school though. It is good to hear she is thriving now. Our experience with Bromley High has been very positive. It isn’t a hothouse but the girls are academic and many score highly in cats and do make the grammars but then decide to stay on due to the facilities and all the extras an independent school can offer. You see many middle class parents these days actively don’t want a hothouse, but a school that stretches a child laterally and builds their emotional resilience and confidence in the long run rather than burn them out early.

Thank you for responding . Petts it sounded like your daughter had a horrid time this would upset me so much if something similar happened to DD. We want somewhere that will echo what mumof3 has said but I would be devastated to spend all that money for dd to be bullied. She definitely has no designer clothes and this comment has me thinking that if may not be the right place for her.

My DD is at Bromley High and very happy. Our experience same as pettswoodmumof3 so would be a shame not to consider it . Not found it to be designer clothes sort of place at all (and not heard this from other parents either). Great school - warm, caring but also sporty and academic. Pleased with the teaching. Lots of nice opportunities eg dance, trips etc. Good luck with your decision

Re my comment about the maths teaching. A local tutor to us I regularly see girls in BH uniforms there so it can’t have improved since DD left. Also if you are thinking about not staying on the school do not support 11+, if anything they take a very slow pace in Y5 almost to hold the girls back. DD found the teaching uninspiring. I have better contact and enthusiasm from teachers in the state school she now attends. PM me if considering the senior school as problems there are not ones I’d expose my DD to. Many leave at end of GCSEs, sixth form is small.

Our experience of Year 5 was quite the contrary. Lots of homework and quite stretching and would have been very well prepared for 11 plus English and maths testing. BH do test the girls in reasoning at the beginning of year 5 but they won’t practise in class. Not sure what pettswoodparadise gripe is with the school. I honestly don’t know a single parent who is unhappy with the school. Op please make your mind up yourself and don’t go on the opinions of some strangers on the internet. I know some grown up Bromley high girls in their forties. All very happy with their educational experience, lifelong friends etc, not a bad word to say.

Friends of ours have just moved their child from state to BH juniors and are very happy with it.

Should clarify that I’m actually a BH senior school parent. Lots of lovely girls, supportive staff. Other parents very happy.

I have a daughter in the senior school. My DD would have no clue about designer clothes and this is not an issue at school! Honestly haven't noticed any social issues like that. She likes it there. She has a scholarship and she certainly seems to get plenty of academic stretch. The school gets great GCSE results - it is academically selective, but not as much as the grammars yet still gets better results than most local grammars. Lots of emphasis on maths and science. Art and music department is great. French has been a bit disappointing as some of the kids arrived with a head start but haven't been pushed. Great for sport and all girls are "strongly encouraged" to do an extracurricular sport. Pastoral care seems good - the girls seem to have an easy and friendly relationship with the staff. Programme of talks from inspirational women. I still constantly fret over whether it was the right decision, but that's parenthood!

I don't know if the lower school is different. In the school my sons are at, there is quite a culture difference between the junior and senior schools.

My dd is near the end of the senior school having come from the juniors. Year 6 was a real low point for us (and other parents felt the same, we definitely weren’t on our own ), very cliquey, designer clothes, mean behaviour by a small group of girls (and some parents dare I say!)but quite horrible but things have definitely improved in the senior school. It is all about fit and because DD is very average in lots of subjects, she often goes under the radar which is a shame so I am just not sure whether it is the right fit for some girls. Having said that the education and the results are good. So they should be for the money!

Bumping just in case anyone has more feedback on the school. We are moving back to the UK in 6 months time and would like DD to go to Bromley High if she gets in and a space becomes available. We are fortunate as fees will be paid for but other than that we are very ordinary & slightly anxious about fitting in but feel DD would love the art &sport on offer in particular. Also wondered do many mid year places become available? TIA.

Bumping again ! Looking at this school for juniors. Really dismayed& worried re the behaviour in particular of the children at her current "good" nearby state primary. Shes fairly able and loves english, art and dance but I'm sick of her having to be victim to & witness the appalling behaviour (particularly of boys in the playground) that seems to be getting worse.