primaries im the lewisham area

[spendthrift]

My delightful and quite bright godson is three and an active little boy. He's currently the only child. Can anyone recommend nice stretching primaries in the lewisham area? Wide social and ethnic mix, all round activities as well as value added academics desired..

Are his parents prepared to move, spendthrift? State primaries in the Lewisham area (other than faith schools) will, I think, give top priority to children in care, next priority to children with an older brother or sister in the school and almost all the other places will go to those who live nearest the school. There will usually also be a few places for children with medical/social need to go to that particular school rather than any other. So you normally need to live very close to the school of your choice to be sure of a place for a first-born child.

There are 70 or so primary schools in the London Borough of Lewisham so without a better steer on which part they're interested in, it's hard to name any school in particular. Mine went to Gordonbrock in SE4, which I thought was great - it's never been anywhere near the top of the league tables but it has a lovely atmosphere and a good social mix. Myatt Garden in SE4 has a terrific reputation locally and that has been the case consistently for about 15 years now. Stillness and Fairlawn in SE23 are also supposed to be good.

They could look at Temple Grove in New Cross, which is a primary school in the Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham federation of schools. Children from TG get guaranteed entry to the senior school, which is (arguably) the best co-ed state secondary for many, many miles around. Aske's is also seeking permission to open a new free school (primary) on its main Telegraph Hill site (SE14/SE4) and children from that school would also have pretty much guaranteed entry to the senior school. Not sure if it would be open in time for your godson, but there are details on the Aske's website.

Good luck to them (and you) in your search!

They currently live in Catford but are prepared to move around.

Good point about Habs - I have been thinking about the secondary side too but know the ones like Ladywell fields ex Crofton better. I'll look at the Hab's website and Temple Grove.

No faith stuff possible for them I think.

But Gordonbrock sounds great too and just what they're looking for - I knew about Myatt garden. Stillness I knew some years ago, and I don;t know Fairlawn - so will dig out the stuff.

Godson is actually incredibly bright and innately muscial - nothing to do with me so can boast - and seriously want him stretched and with lots and lots and lots to do. But family doesn't know its way around the uk system particularly well and what to do about it, so advice like this invaluable.

Thanks v much indeed. V helpful.

Depending on which part of Catford they live in, Torridon and Sandhurst are both good schools (on Corbett Estate)

Rathfern (SE6) got amazing SATs this year and has a good reputation. Dalmain (SE23/Catford borders) is very musically focussed.

No need to move from Catford; there are plenty of excellent primaries. Kilmorie is also great (and the music teacher is terrific). Kids in my road attend a huge range of local primaries, and we're all well served. Some schools do rather live off their reputation for being posh desirable, that's my only caveat.