Applying to Sydenham Girls vs Kingsdale (secondary schools)

[uphillprampusher]

Yes it's that time of year again, we are applying to secondary schools in the next few weeks. I have a question about which school to put first. We are pretty close to Sydenham Girls and are very impressed with it. However, we would potentially also like to put Kingsdale down as an alternative first choice. Does anyone know how the first choice thing works with Kingsdale. If I put Kingsdale first and dont get it, would this mean potentially missing out on a place at Sydenham, which is our nearest secondary school? That would be a bit of a disaster and I dont know how the first / second place thing works with Kingsdale's somewhat complicated system. Any advice? thanks

Put the schools in genuine order that you want them.

All state schools operate a preference-blind system; you will get an offer from the school that you qualify for that is highest on your list, regardless of where you put it. Basically that means each school looks at all its applicants, without knowing where on the list you put them, and decides where you rank on their admissions criteria list. If you qualify for an offer, they will make one. The local authority will collate all the offers and if you qualify for more than one, give you the one from the school highest on your list. This

So put them in genuine order. If you put Kingsdale first but don't get it, this has no impact on whether you qualify for Sydenham - if you do, then that will be the offer you get if you don't qualify for Kingsdale. If you qualify for KD and put it it first, that will be what you are offered!

Thanks Patricia, that is sensible advice. I just wonder why every school we visit emphasizes that if we want to get in, we must put it first. I know it's not the school which decides, it's done by the Council. So maybe I should check with them how it works.

They tell you to put them first so they can say that more parents put them as first choice than any other school in the area. 🙄

I my dd went to Sydenham and my boys go to Kingsdale. Sydenham was very supportive of my daughter and there are lots of great girls there. My boys are happy at Kingsdale too! Lucky to have such good choices!

What does your dd think?

Sydenham operates a distance only admissions criteria. It was oversubscribed this year and I know people who put it first choice and didn't get it, although there is often movement in the first month so even if you don't get it at first you may be offered it later. It's a state school so Lewisham council arranges the admissions.

Kingsdale is different as it's a Foundation school (whatever that means!) as far as I know it operates on a Lottery and banding system. So if you put Kingsdale on your list (anywhere) your child will sit a banding test and they take a percentage from each ability Band (although I can't say how many bands or what percentage, as I never looked into it that far). Kingsdale also offer sports and music scholarships, if you get one of these you are more likely to be offered a place. I don't know who makes the admission decisions at Kingsdale but it's in Southwark so you could always ask the Admissions officer at Southwark council for advice.