Secondary schools??

[JessiElsa82]

I'm about to choose secondary school for my daughter and thinking about Crown woods, Eltham or Coopers, Chislehurst.

Anyone has children attending any of the schools?

I would prefer a mixed school, not many in the area. but could consider bullers wood and chislehurst school for girls as well.

Any advice would be truly helpful xxx

Thank you.

I have a DS the same age and recently looked at Coopers and was quite impressed. Their GCSE results were good this year as well. We also looked at Coopers for my older DC a couple of years ago and I put it second choice then as he preferred the layout of another school. I went to a recent open day and thought the teacher's speech was good. Other people I know who go there are happy with their choice. You probably already know this but you have to fill in an expression of interest form by 21st October if you want to put Coopers as one of your choices. This is for the banding test which I think takes place in November.

I also want a mixed school and have looked at Bishop Justus and Ravensbourne as well, both of which are good.

BullersWood is the best school in the area.
Eltham College as well, but I think it is private?
Langley for girls is an excellent school but the catchment area is tiny.

YogaPants, is there any movement in the bands once they have been streamed do you know?

Personal fit for your child is important but for data they have just released the progress 8 data for every school. It shows how a child improves from when they enter a school to when they are 16. www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/find-a-school-in-england Anything over 0 is above average. Most comprehensives score -0.03, Bullers gets a very good 0.29 and Coopers gets minus 0.24, Crown Woods gets minus 0.07.

I know someone who recently taught at Coopers for a few years.

He believed that the discipline was terrible. He would have two 17 year old boys (so man-sized people) talking loudly to each other during a test, or whatever, and have no recourse to any kind of sanctions.

He compared it very unfavourably to another local school, where he felt the SMT really had his back as far as discipline was concerned.

I would be very wary of sending my DC there, and didn't even put it as an option for DS a few years ago, despite it being quite close to us.

I don't know anything about Crown Woods, so I can't give any opinion.

As previously stated BW for Boys did not open as expected in 2016. Ravenswood is boys only and there are not many other mixed schools in the area we live. I was negotiating tutoring for my both DC before the school year started, he was an acting teacher from another secondary (Catholic) school in the area.

That's really useful, thanks YogaPants. I thought their enrichment programme sounded very good when I went to a recent open day. Also, the year 7 kids who showed us round were very proud of the school and seemed happy there. Loved the 6th form block too!

PettsWoodMum thanks for posting that link. I've been looking at the comparisons between the schools and the one my older DC goes to fairs significantly better. Difficult decision.

In state schools you get different children from different families and backgrounds as the students are selected by distance.

Just to point out that Eltham College is a boys school, with girls in 6th Form, it is an Independent School. Also, contrary to widely held beliefs, you get children from all walks of life at many Independents, may be different at the Etons and Harrows of this world but I have taught at a few and we had children of skip drivers (didn't own the company) nurses, firemen, lots of taxi drivers and loads of teachers, so do not let that element put you off. The most important thing is that the school suits your child, their personality and their abilities, and of course that you are happy with the subjects taught, the discipline and the pastoral care. Go to open days, speak to everyone you can speak to and always ask for a visit and tour on a normal school day, you will often be taken round by a pupil and they will have been chosen to do this but will answer your questions and perhaps give a little insight - if you ask the right questions! Good luck with your research.

YogaPants, I have pm'd you