Bromley High Junior School

[Jixin]

Just wondering if anybody has any thoughts/inside information on this school. We are considering it for reception next September. Thanks

Sorry don't have any information about the school, but bumping as we are thinking about moving our dd there in year 3 as we are unhappy with her current primary school.

My nieces all went/still attend the senior school.

Looked round before dd was due to start school. However, things that I found off-putting were:

• single tier entry in September. DD is a summer born child and I was keen for her to have the opportunity to start at 4.5, particularly since the Reception teacher put great emphasis upon the structured learning environment. This did not appeal to me though I appreciate that it might to other parents.
• all girls. I wanted dd to be at a mixed primary school, particularly since she had a younger brother.
• I chatted to the teacher about potential of entry at KS2 or at KS3. She was rather keen to persuade me that without the grounding of the BH primary experience, dd would be very unlikely to get in at senior level. And that chances extremely poor if state educated at primary level. I'm afraid that that had the opposite effect of making me feel pressured unnecessarily and running for the hills.

I'm aware that all these points may be seen as positives by other parents. Just my take on it.

I know several children who go to Braeside and love it, as do their parents. Mixed school and IMO less pressured environment. If we were to go private, then that would be our choice I think, though we are actually very happy with the state school dd and ds1 attend nearby. Another independent school I hear good things of is St. Christopher's the Hall in Shortlands. Lots of sport, mixed, small classes (incidentally, I didn't think that the class sizes at BH were that small - can't remember exactly, but about 22 -24 IIRC - to justify using smaller class sizes as a reason to go private).

Thanks Pooka for your really helpful feedback. Funnily enough I have had similar doubts to you so it is really useful to hear what you have to say.

Jixin Have you looked at Bishop Challoner? We visited for open morning this weekend intending for DD to go to seniors in 2012 and were so impressed we are now looking at juniors after Christmas!

There was no "hard sell" at all, they were very encouraging about children coming into seniors from state primary - in fact yr 8 child who showed us around was from local state primary and was very reassuring to DD who had concerns about going to differant school to friends.

Other bonus is it seems to cost less than BH and others loaclly (unless I am missing something...)

They are officially a catholic school but good percentage of non catholics attend and very mixed in terms of gender and family backgrounds which appealed to us alot.

HTH if you phone them they can arrnage for you to go see or they have another open day in the spring i think.

Reading this has made me join Mumsnet! My DD sat the secondary entrance test for Bromley High last year and despite (or maybe BECAUSE) she was educated at a state primary school she did extremely well and was offered an academic scolarship! So please take no notice of junior school teachers who try to tell you your child will stand no chance at 11+ without attending the junior school - it's simply not true! Just look at this school and as many others as you can and make your own mind up!

I live near this school, and it is one of the schools we are considering for our daughter. I know a lot of people really regard it highly, and although my daughter seems fairly bright I am still concerned that either she won't get in or if she does she will struggle with the intensity of the work.

I am also going to look at Braeside, and we are also considering Babgingtons and Farringdons. (I am finding the decision making almost impossible!).

Did you decide?

Hello Everyone
Thanks for your really useful replies. Sorry to have taken so long to get back to you. I really relate to what you say Sallyssss about the decision being impossible - didn't think I would find it so hard! At the moment (we do change our mind regularly) we are considering our local Catholic school (if she gets offered a place) or keeping her on at Breaside where she already attends Kindergarten. Have given both Bromley High and Farringdons a lot of consideration, however and haven't completely ruled either out yet.

Has anyone's DD done the year 3 entrance? What was it like?