Blackheath secondary options - Shifting to state - Tallis? Leigh?

[Blackheathmama]

Hi all, appreciate there are similar threads but nothing too current. I am considering Thomas Tallis or Leigh Academy Blackheath for DD. She is very sporty and at a private primary currently. She would probably pass the 11+ (not top 180)but with catchments shrinking, plus the impact of VAT exasperating this I doubt we would get an offer based on our address. In any case I like the idea of her being able to walk to school and have very local friends. I would prefer secondary state for lots of reasons but not many of her peers are considering these options so it is hard to get information. She is a good girl who tries hard, wants to do her best and is used to being an environment where there is fun but also everyone wants to learn/be there. I would hope she would be able to find ‘her people’ , that she connects with at secondary school but again as we don’t know anyone considering these schools it makes me worry. I would love thoughts from people with children at either school, especially on that last point about her being comfortable in the environment /finding her tribe! Thank you

Hi, my children aren't at either of those schools so apologies can't answer direct experience.
Assuming your DD is currently Y5 I would suggest that you go to the open days this month to have more time to consider and explore options. You could also try asking on the Mummies Gin Fund FB group as that used to be very useful.
Are you near enough to John Roan to consider that too?

Thank you, yes we have attended all the open days during September but I am still finding it hard to call. We are also in catchment for John Roan, do you have experience of that school and thoughts in regards to my questions above on that school? I liked that school and the head, I get the feeling the other two have a better reputation so I had been prioritising them. Thank you very much for your reply!

Hi @Blackheathmama no I don't have direct experience of John Roan either, although we did like it and it was on our list of secondary schools.
Friends have children just started and are very happy with JR.
It doesn't have as good a reputation as Leigh that it true, but that could be due to location of schools and local catchment areas.

@Blackheathmama I am in a similar dilemma and looked went to see both school and they are totally different, however I think they will be both good options. I would prefer Tallis, but my daughter prefers Leigh so not sure. Have you taken the band test for Leigh?