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Bromley primaries

38 replies

Andcake · 09/03/2015 17:55

Hello- does anyone know about primary entry in central bromley so nearish bromley north or South.
We are looking at properties on the area and have heard worrying things...
Especially around bromley North - can't even see which catchment area places we are gong to see could fit Hmm as they are all religious or tiny

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Pooka · 11/03/2015 09:51

My daughter is at bullers wood. My sons will most likely go to Ravensbourne. They would both prefer mixed (and it would suit them), it's walkable, and I really liked it at the open day.

I went there when was seen as the poor relation school - heaps of upheaval as it merged and so on. Still went to RG university and still think I got a good education there, despite the problems it was going through when I was there. Now it's much more popular, and has a more varied intake. I think my sons will be happy there. The Ravenswood catchment has recently become larger, after a rather tricky time there involving poor ofsted and some exams shenanigans. But I have friends with children there who seem happy and to be doing well.

I have registered an interest in the BWSB but still not sure - would prefer mixed, am slightly concerned that they won't get planning permission, not convinced that will be good for the girls school to lose some of their grounds, and my eldest ds would be in the second intake, so could all still be rather chaotic, with only one year group of older children as older peers.

I think that if I was starting in bromley with a blank slate, live anywhere status, I'd aim for hayes. Lots of quite large good primaries and a very good mixed secondary (hayes - only about a mile catchment). That said, I do think that we're pretty fortunate in bromley to still have in general rather good secondary schools, and not to have significant top-slicing to grammars.

WellTidy · 11/03/2015 10:06

Does anyone know when Bullers Wood boys secondary is likely to be ready? Or how much of a likelihood it is that it will open at all? DS would be going to secondary in September 2019.

Andcake · 11/03/2015 12:47

the Bullers wood school for boys is inviting parents to fill in a survey to help with their application
[http://www.bullerswood.bromley.sch.uk/?page_id=7308]
if anyone is interested

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Pooka · 11/03/2015 13:24

The aim is for current year 5s to start in year 7. So for the school to be up and running in September 2016.

So your ds's would join a nearly full school, in terms of year groups with the oldest children being in year 10 (sixth form would be shared with the girls' school). I think!

WellTidy · 11/03/2015 13:28

Thanks Pooka. That's really good to know. So it is definitely opening then?

Pooka · 11/03/2015 14:00

Well - had an email the other day saying they'd got through to next stage. But.... They still need to get planning permission! If they apply in next 3 months, then feasible they could get permission by Christmas, and then build from jan. I think it's looking tight for the current first intake, but if it happens, then should be all up and running in time for your ds (and mine if he goes in second intake).

I'm interested to see what happens if they don't get further down the road by the time of the general election - labour have said they'd stop giving go ahead to new free schools, which I broadly agree with - but I don't know how bromley lea will be able to plug gap in places when all secondaries are academies, as are most primaries, and they've kind of had their back broken as a result. Or rather they've broken their own back by so enthusiastically backing academisation.

I expect they'll be picking up pace to get things as pinned down as possible pre May election.

FrozenAteMyDaughter · 11/03/2015 15:41

Oh Pooka - are Bullers Wood really planning to be mixed for sixth form? I was really hoping that there would continue to be a good all girls' state school near us for DD to (hopefully) go to when the time came. I realise that for some girls mixed education is fine but not for all, and it would be nice to have the option the whole way through secondary. That is a blow.

If BWBS gets the go ahead, we may now have to consider other options.

Or move I guess. Damn.

Pooka · 11/03/2015 16:00

Bullers wood is already mixed at sixth form. Becoming increasingly so, but already a good proportion of boys.

Pooka · 11/03/2015 16:04

Yes - checked, is already mixed. As is Newstead and pretty much every sixth form locally as far as I can see, I.e. St Olaves takes girls. I think ravenswood do too.

Pooka · 11/03/2015 16:08

Just to add, I went to Ravensbourne when it was all girls, but joined the mixed, merged sixth form after GCSEs. It seemed to work well. As good a time as any to make transition from single sex, before university, having made a level choices in a single sex environment, and having made it through GCSEs.

But I think I would have benefitted from a mixed education from year 7 really. Whereas dd is I think more suited at the moment to single sex education. Although I don't have any qualms about mixing in sixth form.

FrozenAteMyDaughter · 11/03/2015 16:38

Gosh, I had no idea all those schools had mixed sixth forms! Oh well, we will just have to suck it up I guess if that is the way things are going. Hopefully DD will be different from me (it is all a long way off so hard to know) - I would have sunk without trace in a mixed school, at any age.

Pooka · 11/03/2015 16:55

If it's any consolation, so far did seems totally different to me! I loathed the single sex education between 11 and 16. Was infinitely happier in a mixed environment at primary and sixth form. It was something I really worried about when putting choices together for secondary, but went with her first choice.

dd so far (only year 7) has several times said how glad she is to be at a single sex secondary. :)

I'd be interested to know how many boys are currently in the bullers wood sixth form - I'd say girls are still in the majority. I suspect that the numbers will automatically increase if the BWSB does go ahead. I was surprised that NW is mixed now, but suppose I shouldt have been because I knew that St Olaves has a mixed 6th form.

Andcake · 11/03/2015 20:04

In my day a long time ago most sixth form classes at bullers with boys from ravens wood (?) coming over for certain subjects and vice versa. I actually went to a different 6th form.

I have ds but if had dd would want her to go to a girls school. Partly I think girls are known to perform better in an all girl environment and after years in business I think this could be true where some women can let men take the lead or not speak up.
But I think it's good for each sex to get used to being around each other so sister single sex schools could be a great thing!

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