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Original poster

St Dunstans, Blackheath High, Eltham College- Which school?

30 replies

whiteros3 · 07/02/2023 15:16

Hi everyone,

My daughters are curently in state school and we want to move them independent school because we want to avoid 11+ stress. DD1 is 9 years old and DD2 is 6 years old at the moment. We applied few independent schools; Dt Dunstans, Blackheath High, Eltham College and Colfes. They didnt sit on Colfes exam yet as addmisison team told us that they will let us know if there will be space around end of March. I searched a lot from online, read reviews and attended all open days of these schools but its hard for us to decide because I need to find right school for my 2 daughters in the same time.

School 1 St Dunstans :
My 2 daughters got an offer from this school. School is about 40-45 mins drive away from our house. We liked the facilities and new junior building but I feel like it will be headage to drive there twice in a day. So not sure if it is worth it. But they can both travel with school bus with addtional cost. The advantage of this school for us is the juniors and seniors building is the same ground so when our DD1 moves to senior they will still be in the same building. This advantages of this school is becaus of the long journey I will need to pay school bus for both of them at least for 5 years.
GCSE 2022 results: A* 23%, 49% 9/8

School 2 Blackheath High:
Both of my daughters also got offer from this school. Its about 8-10 mins drive from our house. We always wanted single sex school for our daughters in secondary stage, also our daughters liked the armoshere of the school when they did taster day. But not sure as they are still in primary. This advantages of this school is there is no swimming pool and their field is not on site. But one of the staff in the school told me that girls still have swimming lessons and clubs. My daughters already attends private swimming lesson in the weekends and they are good swimmers so thats not a big deal, maybe?
The advantage of this school is I work in the city so when I travel back home I can pick up my daughters easily as Blackheath Station is 5 mins away from the school. And there are so many buses that we can use to get home or even we can walk (18-20mins).
GCSE results: A*%34, %70 9/8

School 3 Eltham College:
my DD2 got an offer for year 3 from this school but DD1 didnt have chance to sit on assesment. This school recently became coed in 2020, it eas boys only school before that time. The school is 20 mins drive from our house and no alternative bus or train route. If I sent my DD2 to this school I need to arrange school bus for one of my girls which is a extra cost for us. Because this school is in different direction then other 2 schools. Also fees are little bit higher than School 1 and 2 but we can still afford if it is worth to go. This school is more selective as entry point is 7+ and so they are slighly better in league tables.
However it is a bit risky for us because I dont know if my DD1 will be able to get an offer in 11+ also if she is happy where she is I dont want to change her school even if she has an offer.
GCSE results 2022: %37 A*, %66 9/8

I would like to know what is the first thing I need to consider, distance, journey, academic results, single sex school/mixed school? And also what is your opnions/feedback about the school bus for primary school students?

WWYD?

Many thanks!!

OP posts:
Original poster
whiteros3 · 07/02/2023 16:46

Hi everyone,

My daughters are curently in state school and we want to move them independent school because we want to avoid 11+ stress. DD1 is 9 years old and DD2 is 6 years old at the moment. We applied few independent schools; Dt Dunstans, Blackheath High, Eltham College and Colfes. They didnt sit on Colfes exam yet as addmisison team told us that they will let us know if there will be space around end of March. I searched a lot from online, read reviews and attended all open days of these schools but its hard for us to decide because I need to find right school for my 2 daughters in the same time.

School 1 St Dunstans :

My 2 daughters got an offer from this school. School is about 40-45 mins drive away from our house. We liked the facilities and new junior building but I feel like it will be headage to drive there twice in a day. So not sure if it is worth it. But they can both travel with school bus with addtional cost. The advantage of this school for us is the juniors and seniors building is the same ground so when our DD1 moves to senior they will still be in the same building. This advantages of this school is becaus of the long journey I will need to pay school bus for both of them at least for 5 years.

GCSE 2022 results: A* 23%, 49% 9/8

School 2 Blackheath High:

Both of my daughters also got offer from this school. Its about 8-10 mins drive from our house. We always wanted single sex school for our daughters in secondary stage, also our daughters liked the armoshere of the school when they did taster day. But not sure as they are still in primary. This advantages of this school is there is no swimming pool and their field is not on site. But one of the staff in the school told me that girls still have swimming lessons and clubs. My daughters already attends private swimming lesson in the weekends and they are good swimmers so thats not a big deal, maybe?

The advantage of this school is I work in the city so when I travel back home I can pick up my daughters easily as Blackheath Station is 5 mins away from the school. And there are so many buses that we can use to get home or even we can walk (18-20mins).
GCSE results 2022: A*%34, %70 9/8

School 3 Eltham College:

my DD2 got an offer for year 3 from this school but DD1 didnt have chance to sit on assesment. This school recently became coed in 2020, it eas boys only school before that time. The school is 20 mins drive from our house and no alternative bus or train route. If I sent my DD2 to this school I need to arrange school bus for one of my girls which is a extra cost for us. Because this school is in different direction then other 2 schools. Also fees are little bit higher than School 1 and 2 but we can still afford if it is worth to go. This school is more selective as entry point is 7+ and so they are slighly better in league tables.

However it is a bit risky for us because I dont know if my DD1 will be able to get an offer in 11+ also if she is happy where she is I dont want to change her school even if she has an offer.

GCSE results 2022: %37 A*, %66 9/8

I would like to know what is the first thing I need to consider, distance, journey, academic results, single sex school/mixed school? And also what is your opnions/feedback about the school bus for primary school students?

WWYD?

Many thanks!!

OP posts:
Original poster
whiteros3 · 07/02/2023 16:48

Anyone? You dont need to know these schools… I just need a advice which one sounds better option for us?

OP posts:
NoSquirrels · 07/02/2023 17:00

Seems fairly clear to me that Blackheath High is the best choice. Any commute will be awful over time. Plus I’ve only ever heard good things about Blackheath High. (Used to live in area).

When you say BH is 5 mins from the station, though, I’d add a bit on!

BadgerFace · 07/02/2023 17:35

Our school (also GDST like Blackheath) is a 10-15 minute drive and I would not recommend anything further than that as the commute will become very tedious and when there are roadworks (which are very often!) it becomes quite stressful. We're in year 6 of the commute! As the children get older it will also be easier for them to get themselves to/from school if local and easier for play dates, parties etc.

Original poster
whiteros3 · 07/02/2023 17:48

@BadgerFace @NoSquirrels thanks for sharing your opinions, means a lot as I am so in dilemma! What about driving 1 kid to school and arrange school bus to another to another school- do you think its going to be hard to manage this every single day? Because schools are in different directions and they start and finish in same time- even if I arrange breakfast club or after school care for one them. I believe it will be so hard for me to drive that much twice in a day

OP posts:
Holdingonforspring · 07/02/2023 18:02

BHS is a great school. A range of girls from the very sporty to the academic and everything in between.
It’s not just the commute it’s the ability to be self sufficient before and after school getting home and where friends will be located. You are 40 drive to St D , then their friends could be 40mins the other side. Makes social events hard
Also ask how many girls are actually in Eltham C- not many. It’s a boys school with a few girls. Nightmare for friendships. Also have issues with food and canteen

blackheathmum7 · 07/02/2023 18:18

I am Blackheath High parent. School is amazing. My daughters and all children I met at school are so happy there. My daughters just feel like home. You can pm me if you have any question about BH. By the way BH junior students do not need to pass the 11+ assesment to go to senior school so if you consider that l believe BH GCSE and A level results are amazing. Because BH start from nursery level, in that case they don’t have chance to get more doable kids but still so results are amazing as I mentioned above.

Twizbe · 07/02/2023 18:22

We live near St Dunstans and are considering it for our kids as well.

The traffic around there is awful during rush hour. It's horrible most of the time going through Catford to be fair.

NoSquirrels · 07/02/2023 18:23

What about driving 1 kid to school and arrange school bus to another to another school- do you think its going to be hard to manage this every single day?

I don’t know why you’d even consider it, tbh. The traffic situation in Blackheath and surrounds is pretty horrific sometimes. You’re just storing up a problem you needn’t even have - both your DDs got in to Blackheath High, which is closest, great results, single sex (which you wanted to prioritise) and very importantly the DDs themselves liked the school taster day. What’s the dilemma?

deesun · 07/02/2023 18:24

We live local and we also consider Blackheath High. I saw so bad sexual abuse news online about mixed schools, including Eltham College and Colfes.

HaggisBurger · 07/02/2023 18:29

I’d defo go for BHS. A 45 min commute for Primary aged child is way too much. Their friends would be local and that counts for a lot at weekends. I’d not be that worried about swimming of site.

BadgerFace · 07/02/2023 18:36

We are hoping to use one of our school buses from September as my younger DD will be old enough. You have to be at a specific spot to collect them each day and the time can vary depending on local traffic so I would not want to have to worry about the timings of driving on a second school run and what about if they have sports matches etc. With two schools you’ll have two lots of sports day, parents evening, assemblies etc. I would not want 50% of those things to be a 40+ minute drive from me.

We live about 2 miles from St Dunstans and I would not want to have a split drop between there and our current school which is also 2 miles from there. We had offers at 4+ from St Dunstans and our school. I tried out both commutes in rush hour as part of my decision making process. The traffic between our house and St Dunstans can be awful even though on paper it’s a 10/15 minute drive…

Ericaequites · 07/02/2023 20:09

A short commute to a good school your daughters will like is a huge advantage. My sister and I attended the same school, and it’s so much easier. It also gives them shared memories and experiences.

mummy1720 · 07/02/2023 21:18

School 2 Blackheath

ExcusesExcuses · 07/02/2023 21:22

SDC isn't brilliant to be honest. I would go with Blackheath

SaintJac · 07/02/2023 21:22

in your exact circumstances I’d go for Blackheath High. I have connections to all the schools you mention and they’re all good.

(My DS has been at Eltham for 8 years - in response to PP, the food is fine!)

ChnandlerBong · 08/02/2023 12:26

another vote for Blackheath High - you say clearly that you always wanted single sex for senior school and the other 3 are coed. plus the logistics sound like the best for you

mummy1720 · 09/02/2023 11:09

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at poster's request

mummy1720 · 09/02/2023 11:09

This tread was so helpful for me

mummy1720 · 09/02/2023 11:11

i am in similar stituation for my DD3

mummy1720 · 09/02/2023 11:16

We prefer single sex school but My daughter loves sport - do you think coed option will be better for sportive girl?

NoSquirrels · 09/02/2023 15:31

Secondary schools divide into single sex teams anyway, so I don’t think coed would have any advantage in sport at all.

ChnandlerBong · 09/02/2023 17:30

Blackheath HIgh not great for a sporty girl though as sports ground on separate site quite a walk from the main school, and there's no pool if she likes swimming/water polo.

edwinbear · 09/02/2023 18:48

Personally, I'd hold out for Colfe's if your DD's are sporty. DD is currently at Colfe's in Y6 so we're expecting her offer tomorrow, she already has an offer in hand from BHS. We just weren't impressed with the sports facilities at BHS. The lack of pool is a bit of an issue for us, DD does swim, as does her older brother who is Y9 at Colfe's and early morning swim squad and water polo club are brilliant! Plus the sports facilities not being on site and the lack anywhere to properly run which is also a bit of an issue for DD as she does both athletics and cross country. They also don't do Saturday sports fixtures, which DS enjoys at Colfe's. If your DD's aren't so bothered about sport, then BHS would certainly be better than a long commute to St Dunstan's or Eltham.

siennalara · 09/02/2023 18:51

My niece goes to Blackheath…. she attends swimming clubs and lessons somewhere in Greenwich. Sport field is 15 min walk away from the senior side, I think sport field is closer to the junior side. But she is happy there. She says they have 1 court in the school garden as well, also massive indoor hall sport hall in the senior school so she never complained about it. But Colfes has massive grounds on side if thats what you looking for. Good luck