St Dunstan’s in SE London

[Clinomania]

I’m thinking of applying for DD to join the junior school with a view to staying all the way through if is she doesn’t get in elsewhere with the 11+ and if she wants to stay. I believe the junior school is expanding and backfilling places. Does anyone know how many spaces there are for years 4 and 5 and does anyone have any experience of the types of tests they do for occasional places admissions?

Lastly, if they get a space do they have to fight it out in the 11+ with all external applicants or do they get preferential treatment?

Any views on what we should prep for, and any insight into positives and drawbacks gratefully received!

Bump!

Close family friend goes there and really likes it. We thought it was lovely on the tour but it was just a bit too far a journey for us.

I think the admissions team will be best placed to answer about available places.

The website says:
>It is anticipated that Year 6 pupils transfer automatically to the Senior School; however, the offer of automatic transition is the decision of The Junior to Senior School Transition Panel (the Panel). The Panel comprises of members of the Junior and Senior School Leadership Teams, the Foundation Executive Team and representatives from the Individual Pupil Needs and the Admissions Teams.

My daughters had a offer after 7+ and 11+ assesments. They said exam was easy and teachers was helpful. We visited the school on open day - lovely building… I also liked that junior and senior side is in one bulding - easy drop off and pick ups. But I really do not like the area, Catford. I dont feel its too safe for teenagers. In the same time one of my friends daughter who goes to St Dunstands had some problems (bulling) and recently they changed the school. So end of the day we didnt prefer that school.

Thank you @KillingEvenings . I was always a bit underwhelmed at the local area - though it’s not too far from my house - but I guess it’s about the ethos and feel of the school rather than that!

Interesting @mrsdshe. I had heard it was getting harder to get into so well done on your DC getting offers. How long ago was that? I’ve heard they pride themselves on their anti-bullying culture so that’s concerning to hear about your friend’s DC.

Sorry but in SE London we do not have so many options for private school. But St Dunstands is the one and only one who I heard people been bullied. My friend is not the first one. For example Colfes or Blackheath High they have 0 comments about bullying however there are complaints about St Dunstands- You can check previous comments in here as well.
They took the exam 2 years ago. My daughters said exam was easy but they had offer from 4 other independent schools and some of them was more academic then St Dunstands - so when they compare it they said it was easy -Maybe thats why. But I must that my daughters liked the teachers, environment of the St Dunstands. Its not bad school. But if you care about bullying etc.. definitely there are better options locally.

If I were I would try Blackheath High and Colfes. I heard junior Blackheath is so great. all kids and families are happy there. My DD went to Blackheath Post 16 and also my twins went to Colfes senior and junior. I pick Colfes for boys and Blackheath for girls.

Thank you @renna123 . I always had the impression Blackheath High wasn’t that academic. I know lots of girls who go to the junior school then get into slightly more academic schools or go to grammars. Colfes was never known for being selective - it was more the place for people who wanted an independent school for the sake of going private or for very sporty kids but I gather that it’s changing. I wrongly assumed Covid would lead to economic hardship for some higher earners and therefore fewer pupils in private schools but the exact opposite seems to have happened. I think many who thought their kids would maybe change to selective private schools for secondary felt terrified by the lack of learning in the first lockdown at least and have turned to local preps to try and catch up the lost learning time. Not sure how effective that’s been so keen to hear feedback!

Well…
you have two options..

1. would you like your daughter to flourish in mix ability (less selective school) or
2. racing with other doable students in academic (selective school)

I believe in primary or secondary stage kids doesn’t need to be in so academic environment. They just need nurturing, warm, friendly school that stretch them enough to achieve better.
I prefer my child to feel unique, special maybe be a head girl or head boy in less selective school. Rather then being average in super selective school.

Plus, St Dunstands is not so academic than Colfes or Blackheath High. Please check 2022 GCSE and A level results!

There are some quite sweeping statements above about bullying at St Dunstan's that don't seem as if they have a lot of evidence to back them up. As a parent there, I don't think it's perfect in this respect (I wonder what school is), but most parents and kids seem to find it friendly and supportive, and school leaders seem to try to tackle any situations in which bullying or any form of harrassment is suggested in a pretty serious way. My impression is that quite a wide range of children, including some who haven't had a good time elsewhere, are happy there.
Catford isn't the leafiest of areas, but the school environment is very nice once you are inside, and there's something to be said for a private school at least being in the midst of a diverse inner city area. As it's on the main road and very close to bus stops and stations, a trouble-free route home is not too hard to find.
It's moderately selective, I think - I think of it as being a bit like an old-fashioned grammar school in its intake (not like the super-selective ones around London) - but getting harder to get in. There are a good number of very able kids who do very well, but quite a range.

There are people commenting on this thread who don’t know how to spell the name of the school they are writing about 😄

I live in the area and have four children. DDs 1 and 2 went to JAGs, DS 3 went to Alleyns and DS 4 went to St Dunstans and I teach in a local state comprehensive in the area.

The thing that sets the school apart is the pastoral care and the involvement of parents. I am therefore really surprised at reports of bullying. Of all the schools I know in the area I would say it was the least likely to have problems with bullying or bullying which wasn’t handled well.

It isn’t the most academically pushy of schools, but that was perfect for DS and I think he was stretched and challenged enough. I have heard parents with younger children say they think the school is becoming academically pushier but it’s not something I noticed and to tbh given competition from other more academically pushy schools in the area I am not sure how the make up of the school can be changed that much.

I never worried for a moment about the school being in Catford and I never heard of any reason to suggest it’s not safe. I have lived in SE London all my life and the location of the school is nothing to worry about.

I realise I didn’t answer OPs question about entry from the junior school. I can’t answer that as all of my children went to state primaries and entered at 11+. I would be quite surprised if any school (especially St Dunstans) didn’t allow junior school pupils from going on to senior school. I know that in theory it’s not automatic because most schools want to make a show of being choosy but I wouldn’t imagine they would turn down very many (if any)

I’m intrigued : why do you teach in a comp and send your own kids to private schools? Does that suggest the school you teach in is not good enough for your own kids? What do your colleagues think?

@IsThePopeCatholic I would have been thrilled if any of my children got a place at the comprehensive where I work. It’s not that far from us. We applied to state comprehensives for all four of our children. Our first was not offered any place AT ALL until October which was by then too late. The others were offered places at a school which did not teach our family language or agree to enter them at GCSE. Three of my children got large bursaries for the fees as we are a low income family. One child got a 50 per cent scholarship.
I come from a working class family where nobody went there university let alone private school. Among my family and the people I grew up with (solid Labour voters) it was totally understood that you do what’s best for your children. I only ever hear criticism against people who send their children to a r are schools from middle class people who can afford to move to expensive catchment areas and pay for private tutors ( neither of which we can)

The class gap in education in this country is entirely systemic not the fault of individuals.

My daughter was in St Dunstans… years ago. We had no problem with bullying but heard that some parents were complaining about it (few). We were so happy with the teachers and facilities of St Dunstans but I didn’t like my daughters behaviours after attending to the school. We decide to change it to single sex school. She did much better and her behaviour is much much better now.

How was your daughter’s behaviour negatively impacted at St D’s, @seven017 and what age was she when she left? Thanks for all the feedback