private secondary schools from se london for an average boy

[4669hhg]

We live in a nice area but all the boy schools are terrible around us our part of south east london are terrible. Ds is still only in yr1 and in a state school - he is fine but not a genius, but neither was I and got into Oxford fine at 18.

Thinking ahead about secondary schools, we could move so he gets into a decent state secondary or just send him to private. Our nearest is Dulwich - which I think has become a lot more competitive than in my day when it was nice but not that hard to get into. Would anyone have any recommendation as to which private school is accessible from south east london but isnt a hyper selective one or a hot house. I think he's a bit like me - so a hot house would just scare him off as he is a bit fragile and not always driven by competition. Instead he would benefit from a school where everyone just strives forward and is quite studious but without the crazy competition.

Also how far in advance do people start preparing for the entrance exams? Am assuming yr5. But as didnt grow up here and only went to private due to my nationality - I am not as familiar with the system.

The less selective private schools in SE London that would probably work for you are St Dunstan's and Royal Russell. Both are co-ed though rather than single sex. I know a number of families at St Dunstan's that live in Dulwich who are very happy with the school.

If you are near Dulwich the Charter school (state) is one of the best in the country but the cost of moving in catchment is probably more than private school fees for one child (and that's just the stamp duty)!

@4669hhg exactly thats basically my thinking, move to the catchment 9f Charter North or go private. Financially probably the same thing or thereabouts.

What about Colfe’s in Lee?

Are you wanting boys only?

You've actually got a lot of good choices otherwise round you for state schools - Charter and Kingsdale for starters.

I'd prefer it if he goes to a mixed school but I appreciate that not all of them are like that. I've seen that both Charter is good - but we would need to move while Kingsdale is a lottery. Was pondering whether sending him private might actually work out cheaper than paying a premium for Charter. This would also give us more options. But my concern would be whether he would get in to somewhere uber competitive and selective. Have already thought about Dunstans will add Colfe's on the list.

If you only have one child the stamp duty for the move and the private school fees are probably pretty similar depending on the size of property you'd be moving to. That's not even to mention the additional house price if you need to pay more as well.

I'd probably base it on how disruptive the move would be for your lives and if your son would particularly benefit from any of the additional co-curricular opportunities at one of the potential private schools.

Eton?