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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Living in Beckenham and Primary Schools in Dulwich

15 replies

ridinghighinapril · 08/12/2014 22:07

Apologies if this is in the wrong section but wasn't sure where to post it...

...We are considering a move to Beckenham (near Kent House & Clock House stations). Our daughter has/will be sitting 4+ assessments for JAPS & Alleyn's and we will also be applying for state schools in the Dulwich area for Reception 2015; we also have a 20-month old son.

Our timing is lousy in that we are not going to complete our move (wherever it may be) in time for the state school application deadline or for the local indies.

So, assuming that she will definitely be in a Dulwich school of some sort come Sept 2015, my question is: how do you manage the school run then the dash to work if you live in Beckenham, particularly in the Kent House/Clock House area? If our daughter gets into JAPS then that will be at least 2 different school runs, as my son definitely won't be going there(!).
I'd be interested to here from those with young kids who are liable to get tired with the commute and also those with teenagers that may be doing the journey on their own.

Thanks in advance!

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downandoutindulwich · 09/12/2014 06:43

hi,in my experience most Dulwich state primaries have tiny catchment areas. I don't believe they would take someone living in Beckenham. On the other hand her school does see several children commute by train from Beckenham.

ChalkyC · 09/12/2014 06:51

I don't do it but think the commute would be a pain, tbh - that route up through Sydenham is always busy and could easily take half an hour, then you'd need to dump the car and get a train. Are there any preps in beckenham you could look at too? (I think they mostly tend to be more the Bromley side though....)

Triplespin · 09/12/2014 08:45

I know lots of parents during a similar commute to JAPS, dulwich college etc. Not quite sure how they manage it- but they haven't indicated that it's particularly problematic. Are you working? I think most parents working full time have a nanny to do drop offs / collection.

Iggly · 09/12/2014 08:48

Why don't you apply for Beckenham independents? I'm sure location isn't an issue.

As for the commute - you can get the train from Kent house to west dulwich in about ten mins so could take your child with you to school and have a nanny look after your youngest who could also collect your daughter from dulwich.

I live near where you suggest (Kent house is my station) and you see plenty of parents with their kids going to dulwich in the morning.

Iggly · 09/12/2014 08:49

(Also out of curiosity why won't your son go!?)

ChalkyC · 09/12/2014 09:22

JAPS is a girls school iggly!

fleurdelacourt · 09/12/2014 09:38

Do you maybe need to add a couple of other independents in if you've got your heart set on Dulwich? You won't get into the state schools if you don't live locally and JAPS and Alleyns are both very selective.

DUCKS? Rosemead? Oakfield? I'd have at least one of those down as a back up?

Hooliesmoolies · 09/12/2014 09:49

I know someone who moved out of Beckenham to do the JAPS school run. They are now at the top of Sydenham and find the commute a nightmare. Some days they can be in traffic for hours. Coming from Clockhouse/Kent house would be even worse. You wouldn't be able to drive (unless you wanted to spend up to an hour getting there on some days).

How will you get into a Dulwich state? Anyone you would get into would have to have no catchment area, and in Dulwich that would make it school in pretty dire straights. Although your ds wouldn't get in to Japs (for obvious reasons), why not Allens or DUCKS?

NynaevesSister · 09/12/2014 10:37

I think what the OP means by the timing of the move being lousy is that they have to apply to Dulwich state schools as they won't have moved before the 15th of Jan.

I have a friend with two children at state school in West Dulwich and who has moved to around that area. The commute is a pain, although they have a nanny her daughter is frequently late even though they allow an hour, or if traffic is freakishly light they are hideously early. Is really hard when the nanny is off to combine both the commute to work with the school run.

Original poster

ridinghighinapril · 09/12/2014 22:28

Yes, NynaevesSister, that's exactly what I meant about lousy timing!

My daughter is currently at Herne Hill School, which is a pre-prep i.e. until age 7y, but thought we'd try our luck at JAPS/Alleyn's at 4+. She has been offered a place at Sydenham GDST for reception and, although it is a lovely school, our commute from there to work would be very convoluted and long!

One option is to keep her at Herne Hill until 7, hope my son gets in and then do the 7+ (which I would prefer to avoid) but that is short term gain only.

Thanks for the advice! More advice welcome :)

OP posts:

Iggly · 11/12/2014 09:36

Ah OK Chalk

splendiferous · 12/12/2014 01:59

Sounds like it might be a bit of a crappy commute for you and your daughter. I think someone else mentioned but if you're definitely moving have you thought about applying to one of the private schools in Bromley - or going the state school route and then doing an in year transfer when you move? I guess everyone is different but I know I wouldn't want that sort of journey everyday for the next 7 yrs - it's hard enough some days when we only have a ten minute walk to contend with!

Original poster

ridinghighinapril · 08/01/2015 22:33

Thanks for your replies. I am not familiar with the independents in Bromley. I assumed that we would've missed the application deadlines for Sept 2015 Reception entry. Do they have assessments for entry, too?

Hooliesmoolies - if we stick with the Dulwich schools for my daughter then we will put my son in for Alleyn's at Reception but the odds of getting in are pretty slim (only 9 girl and 9 boy places). His name is already down fo DPL and HH, we were too slow off the mark for DUCKS but I haven't been impressed by some of the reports that I have heard/read about them.

Re: commute - judging by what has been said, I don't think driving will be an option. If we are successful in getting the house we are interested in then from home to Herne Hill Station will be 10min with a 15 min walk/scoot from the station to JAPS/Alleyn's, which is doable (and would help me get fitter...every cloud and all that). Then train straight to work from North Dulwich to London Bridge.

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splendiferous · 20/01/2015 18:06

I'm sorry I'm not familiar with the admissions processes for the independents in Bromley either as my DC at state school. I would have thought however that it's worth at least calling them to see if they still have places. That is of course unless you are fixed on the dulwich schools in which case I guess you won't mind doing the commute. I also wouldn't rule out an in yr transfer to state school unless you are fixed on private - it worked out fine for us in the end. Good luck with the house!

Original poster

ridinghighinapril · 05/02/2015 17:38

Thanks for all the suggestions and advice. We have just been offered and accepted a place at JAPS and if the move goes through we will do the walk/train/walk from Kent House.

Not fixated on private schools per se but ended up down that route as catchment areas, house prices and job situation were such that private in Dulwich was the only thing we could go for! Now that we have been offered JAPS we feel we at least have to give it a try.

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