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Original poster

OK, I want the REAL story on Lambeth Secondarys please....

61 replies

serenity · 18/09/2008 14:09

It's finally come to that dreaded time - I've got to actually apply for a place for DS1 (been panicking about it since he started Primary School )

ATM (before we go to any open evenings) we're tentatively going to apply in the following order...

Elmgreen
Dunraven
BTG (not going to lie about church attendance, so unlikely although he's at a feeder school atm)
Norwood (but that's just as a safety net)

Any thoughts/comments on the schools? The few friends I have with older children don't live around here so, with the exception of BTG, I have no personal experience of any of them. Any truly wonderful school within reach of Streatham that I should be looking at? Anyone else in the same boat want to panic with me?

TIA

OP posts:
Blu · 02/10/2008 12:34

BRIT in Croydon - if he has any performing arts interest? A colleagues sin i there and doing v well and loves it.

Original poster
serenity · 02/10/2008 14:32

I've thought about Brit School, but it's from Yr10 (or 9, I can't remember) DS1 is/was pretty good on the guitar and is into acting etc so we'll see, he's also G&T with ICT, Maths and English (geek boy) so it's going to be a case of seeing what interest/career ideas develop over the next few years. My BFs DS1 goes there and it's a fantastic school - he was really struggling before he went (dyslexic) and he's really blossomed since moving there (is blossomed masculine enough, lol?)

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Blu · 02/10/2008 14:36

We-e-ell if he's G&T in those areas he may well get into Graveney - which is a technology college, I think. I know w teenager who goes there - and my neighbours boys went there - did v well indeed.

Original poster
serenity · 02/10/2008 14:42

He might, but I doubt DS2 will, and I think DS2 will benefit from being at the same school as DS1, and DS1 will do well pretty much whereever he goes - hence Graveney not being the first choice (that was very long, but I hope it makes sense!) Dunraven is a Maths and ICT specialist too.

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mimsum · 02/10/2008 22:55

graveney's catchment area is tiny - we're less than 5 mins walk away and not guaranteed to get in on distance (ds1 going somewhere completely different so not an issue for us at the moment) - if you're not in catchment, you're looking at a minimum 98% mark on the Wandsworth test - most kids I know there are relatively happy - OFSTED not as good as it used to be (now 'good school with some outstanding features')

have heard good things about Dunraven

Chestnut Grove is definitely on the up - very charismatic head who's trying to change the outdated perception of the school - particularly good for languages/arts - still some rather scary looking girls in the playground ... at the moment relatively easy to get in

batters · 08/10/2008 12:49

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1dilemma · 10/10/2008 01:43

I'm pre all of this but behaviour of Chestnut Grove kids out of school pretty poor IMHO

batters · 10/10/2008 14:12

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1dilemma · 12/10/2008 09:57

uh not sure what you are asking
I'm pre all of this because of my dcs age
I say the behaviour is poor because I see it and it is, pushing shoving shouting littering generally loutish rather than mass robbery IYSWIM

Original poster
serenity · 12/10/2008 10:36

Hi batters - we're well within catchment for Dunraven. Head said that that it was roughly 1 mile from the school, and we're only the other end of Valley Road. I liked Elmgreen (we went last saturday) but going there it is a big huge leap of faith - no results, can't even see the building yet. It's only the fact that the DCs primary school was brand new when DS1 started that makes me consider it. I've seen the advantages it can offer, and seen that it can work.

It was the sixth former at Dunraven talking about the after school fencing that got him all excited

I'm torn atm about Graveney - we're not that far, but definitely out of catchment. We're absolutely fine and happy with either Dunraven or Elmgreen but feel that we're asking for trouble only putting two schools down on the list. But on the other hand, what's the point in listing schools just to make the list longer? Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Would only putting down two schools be A Very Bad Idea?

(thanks for all the posts btw, I really appreciate it )

OP posts:
batters · 12/10/2008 10:51

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1dilemma · 12/10/2008 11:23

I think I misread the emphasis on your post !

As in why I say that, as in why do I have an opinion not what do I base my opinion on IYSWIM one of the perils of the computer rather then the voice I think. Sorry

(I'm not surprised you have not chosen it! as with nurseries and primary schools I think places are learning what ticks OFSTEDs box hence increased numbers of excellent reports, seems like that in the places I look at anyway)

Original poster
serenity · 12/10/2008 11:50

TBH I have a vague idea which schools are doing 'well' and which are doing 'badly' but I haven't looked over results - I'm more concerned with how the schools feel, and what else they offer the children. I went to a school that got exceedingly good results, but I don't think that it was a great school (not for me anyway)

After discussing it with DH I think we're going to skip Graveney and just put Dunraven and Elmgreen.

How long is it until March?

OP posts:
RSVP08 · 13/10/2008 02:06

I am also looking for a secondary school, went to visit the Evelyn Grace Academy (nearest to where we live), it sounded very good and my son really liked it.... but I would like to opt for Dunraven and Bishop Thomas Grant (have not heard any comment about this school yet, a friend went to visit and was very impress)Can anymore give an opinion/or have heard about the Academy and Bishop Thomas Grant. hmm

Original poster
serenity · 13/10/2008 14:54

Bishop Thomas Grant = BTG, so mentioned a few times above! As I said, I didn't like it, but I'm the only one I know who feels like that. Our primary is a feeder school for it so there's plenty of parents I know who are more than happy with it. I do think it's one that you need to see for yourself - I didn't dislike it until I visited and heard the Head speak. Academically it's fabulous but far, far too religious for us.

Don't know anything about Evelyn Grace I'm afraid.

OP posts:
Blu · 14/10/2008 17:53

Since the current intake at EG Academy is the very first, I guess that one of the advantages will be that for any child entering now, the school will not reach full capacity until they are about to leave - so will be smaller than it should.

Depends how much disruption there will be moving to the new building when it is built.

I have actually met the Head once - he is very very firm about what enables good behaviour and good aspirations - how do you feel about the being in school doing activities til 5pm (or whatever time it is that the school day goes on until?)?

batters · 15/10/2008 18:56

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Blu · 15/10/2008 21:23

Well, yes.....

They are apparantly providing a huge range of arts an sports and other activities to keepyoung people off the streets.

Original poster
serenity · 07/11/2008 09:39

batters - have you had your date through for the Dunraven test yet? DS1's got 1pm at the lower school

OP posts:
batters · 10/11/2008 11:16

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Original poster
serenity · 10/11/2008 16:50

They get a break though, and some of that time will be practising, so probably not as bad as it initially looks. Ds1 is fairly laidback about the whole thing, but it'll be interesting to see what he feels about it afterwards - it can't be worse than SATs surely?

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batters · 11/11/2008 11:34

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Blu · 11/11/2008 11:44

3 HOURS!?

Blimey.

You see - I think this is where these 'banded' secondaries do to a certain extent select - because it isn't every parent and / or child that is going to get it together to arrange and turn up for the test, or agree to sit thorugh 3 hours of school stuff on a Saturday, is it?

I'm impressed that they get a chance to practise, though.

Original poster
serenity · 11/11/2008 16:56

I think he has it fairly easy IIRC I took the verbal reasoning one in school plus 2 or 3 other all day entrance exams. I was exceedingly nice and didn't bother putting Graveney down because it would be problematical for DS2 and I felt mean making DS1 do another test for a school we probably wouldn't send him to anyway.

wonders whether to wander down at 12 and see how stressed all the children coming out are......

OP posts:
elle23 · 31/01/2009 01:03

when I was at school pupils from Dunraven were teased & taunted everyday by pupils from other schools. Times don't seem to have changed, I see the same kind of behaviour now. I think among the pupils there's some kind of ranking system and Dunraven are obviously at the bottom...