No catchment schools in London

[Maikeru]

We live in Sutton and surrounded by super selectives, but need other backups for my DH given the competition. We are Catholic. Our preferred list in order is probably:

1. Wilson’s
2. Sutton Grammar
3. Wallington County
4. St Olave’s (far but a comfortable, if long commute)
5. Glenthorne (would need to pass highest or second highest band for our distance)
6. St Andrew’s Leatherhead (out of catchment but waiting list places occasionally available for Catholics)
7. Cardinal Vaughan (central London Catholic lottery school)
8. London Oratory (same)
9. Graveney (70 selective places)
10. Ashcroft Technology Academy (24 technology aptitude places)
11. Kingsdale Foundation (South London lottery school)

Other backups include Wimbledon College, Greenshaw and Chestnut Grove (selective places) but these are more in the high 50s for Attainment 8 than low to mid 60s or higher like those above.

I think I’ve literally found every ‘lottery’ option out there that doesn’t have a catchment (at least for a portion of its intake) but are there any I’m missing apart from the north and east London grammars which really are too far from us?

@cottonwoolie Harris Sutton is a couple of miles away so too far for the catchment (you’re right that we’re close to Carshalton and Carshalton Beeches stations). I won’t waste a CAF slot on it but might as well sign up to the waiting list if needed in March.

@Violetpuffin I totally get where you’re coming from regarding the commute and for that reason Glenthorne will almost certainly be 4th on the list. However, I wouldn’t discount the outstanding lottery schools with commutes since:

• We live very close to both stations (6-12 mins walk).
• He’ll be 12 in the September he starts.
• He’s used to very long days and getting home after 6 every day from nursery and after school club since he was a toddler - he’ll be home much earlier than that in any scenario.
• He’s not into sport so club activity likely to be limited.
• He’s very good at just losing himself in a book for hours.
• The commutes are very straight forward (1 or 2 trains with a seat as we’re near the start of the line).
• Fisher is still a 40 min door to door journey by bus (less reliable) whereas Wimbledon College is 55 with one train (and has considerably stronger performance).

Don’t get me wrong, being able to walk to Sutton Grammar or Wallington County in 25 mins would be the dream… but as a borderline grammar pupil I’m keen for an academic option that would challenge him.

Commutes do depend on the dc, myself and siblings had various different London commutes (we went to different schools). Mine was 1 hr but never really bothered me but I did have a neighbour who I was great friends with. One of my siblings hated his 1 hr commute & transferred to Graveney for a local 6th form.

DD was at Kingsdale with a long commute.

Is your son musical? Does he sing well? Sporty?

Worth looking into aptitude tests - DD got a place at KFS on a music scholarship in the initial round.

@Maikeru Assuming he’s had offers from all 3 Sutton boys Grammars, I’d be very surprised if he’s not offered a place at one of them. We know of families whose boys only received an offer from 2/3 or 1/3 and were offered a place. Fingers crossed for him.