Did Colfe’s school change their entrance selection policy a few years ago?

[mumsqna]

Looking at their results there’s been quite a jump since the last time exams were sat.

2019

GCSE (A* -A%): 53.3%
A Levels (A* - A%): 51.5%

2022

GCSE (7-9): 80%
A Levels (A* - A%): 71%

This is quite a jump even with the grade inflation. I had previously looked at the school but turned it down because the grades weren’t impressive ( I liked other bits). Now I’m reconsidering

With James Cleverly becoming foreign sec they seem to be the winners of 2022. I imagine their phones are ringing non stop and their applications are going through the roof

Do you work for the school? 😉

Lol I don’t I’m just curious. Want to see if I should add it to my list

It’s definitely an exceptional set of results- beating all local rivals including Eltham College.

no change to entrance process or SLT. They’ve always been generous with scholarships, maybe it just paid off in that year group.

nit sure why James cleverly or his foul sons being at the school would make more people apply?

Don’t know anything about his sons but the strength of a school is the accomplishments of its Alumni.

Eton is well known because it’s had 20+ prime ministers.

In the back of the mind it makes people think if I send me kid there could they one day become that or become friends with someone who would become that

@ChnandlerBong that was my first thought but the GCSE results were also much better and last year they beat their records for secured oxbridge offers.

it just makes me wonder, with their focus on D&I. They could really become the school for choice of minorities in south east london

they have been extremely generous with their scholarships in recent years.

eltham college going co-ed has thrown quite a few high acheiving boys their way

the improved quality of their pre prep several years ago has attracted parents and families, and this is now making its effect as children move up the school

Typing with one hand so sorry for typos!!

@mumsqna James Cleverly’s attendance would actively put me off- do people genuinely think like that?

I think local families like the fact it starts at 3 and goes to 18- no other school offers that in a coed setting

Did they use early entry for some exams and therefore have CDG from last year that they’ve added to this years actual results to inflate. I’m in wales and it’s really hard to compare results this year as this is what quite a lot of local schools seem to have done. They don’t have to state in their results that there were any early entries they can just add them all together, it make true comparisons really hard!

@ChnandlerBong are his sons adults or did you just call two children foul?

I dont know about the results etc but I visited senior Colfe’s I liked the facilities. But can not say the same think for the juniors also juniors ISI report is Good NOT Excelent.

@FlamingoSocks his kids are age 17 and 20. They are both foul. Hth

I think Liz Truss’s daughters go there. No connection to the results just a fun fact.

"In the back of the mind it makes people think if I send me kid there could they one day become that or become friends with someone who would become that"

This is like an antiadvert. I may indeed consider exactly what you say but the end of that thought process would be "my DC must NEVER go there." (Michael McIntrye voice)

Imagine, with horror, the idea that your DC could emulate someone so disingenuous and self serving and dishonest as Boris Johnson.

Schools that can guarantee that they will never become like those corrupt and slopey shouldered, power abusers would get my vote instead!

@FiddlefigOnTheRoof ahh thank you that makes sense now

@ChnandlerBong see here: www.mumsnet.com/talk/black_mumsnetters/4631952-all-white-exclusive-school-or-mixed-school?page=2

people do in fact make decisions this way

@mrsdshe i liked the facilities too but the results put me off. Now that I can see an uptick. I’m reconsidering

@DickDarstedly really? I assumed they went to state schools as there was no mention of their school during the campaign

@DickDarstedly Rishi’s kids got mentioned

Liz Truss’ daughter goes to a grammar, not Colfes. I won’t name it as I don’t think that info is in the public domain.

Truss has 2 daughters. One passed the 11+ and went to a grammar. The other stayed at Colfes.

I'm finding your thinking a bit off. Apart from wanting your child to be/be friends with Tory leaders...

If you didn't think this school was worth considering before, based on results, but now the results are better you think it is...but you suspected the results to be related to different selection of pupils....then what has the school added? Why does that make it a better school rather than a school that's picked 'better' students?

@SeagullSausage peer pressure drives results. If you’re in an environment where it’s cool to study and the children are from driven homes. Your much more likely to do well than if the children are from wealthy homes where they don’t care about grades

Yes, it is true that Colfes is more selective nowadays. For example all Colfes junior students needs to take 11+ exam to get into the senior Colfes. But that doesnt mean it is better school now and it wasnt before. My twins DD and DS went to Colfes from nursery to year 11- we never had any problem they were happy but end of year 11 they wanted to move other school (its not because they were unhappy, just wanted to change environment and be more independent). My son got in to the Eltham, my daughter got in to the Blackheath High. My son was always more academic then my daughter. But end of year 13 my daughter had brilliant A level results - higher than my son! I couldn’t even believe it! By the way they studied so similar subject only one of them was different. When my daughter didnt get in to the Eltham I felt sad because I was still wanting them to be in same school but now I say thank God she went to Blackheath. She found her place. But again all these schools are great. What I am trying to say we shoudnt worry about the exam results of schools that much. If you have a boy try Colfes but if its a girl go for Blackheath. I call Colfes and Blackheath a happy place now! I never heard anybody complaining about these school. Its not so selective but similar exam results than others… means they do grade job! Good luck with your choice xxx

@renna123 thank you very much for the information. That makes perfect sense.

if I may ask, how did you find black heath high?