Petts Wood schools

[Lovetodream]

We’re looking to move next year and doing some research on schools for DC. DS will be in Year 2, has anyone had experience of a in year transfer and got a school of their choice? Crofton and Poverest names keep coming up, is there a chance of making it through their waiting list at all?

Crofton is amazing. How far away do you live?

Or plan to live? The catchment for Reception was 0.64 miles this year. Definitely live within that radius.

@Tobebythesea we’re currently trying to get a feel of the area and would definitely hope to move somewhere within 0.5 miles of Crofton or the other good primaries. I have another DC who will start Reception in 20233 which is a long way away.

With in year admissions, when a space becomes available, am I right in thinking the waiting list goes via distance as the crow flies? If so, obviously the nearer a school, the better.

I know someone who waited 2 years to get into Crofton BUT lived 0.8 miles away.

Good luck in what you decide. Most primary schools here are very good so I won’t worry too much.

Wouldn’t

Hi sorry to jump on .. What are secondary schools like ?

I was coming onto say, be aware of the catchments for the secondaries too. Unless you are in the Darrick Wood catchment, Petts Wood can be tricky for secondary schools. I think the only others are Coopers (Goodish) or Harris Orpington (dire imho) (excluding private or the selective schools).

We are moving for secondary school. That’s what we also did for Primary.

Or hoping for Grammar.

I know people who’ve got into Crofton as in-year after a term or so waiting but they were very close (.2 of a mile). They got Southborough while waiting. If you are a distance away you will find that every time someone nearer moves to the area you will go down the list.

I posted the below in reply to another query about secondary schools from Petts Wood:

Petts Wood for secondary certainly isn't straightforward but then it also has lots of options partly due to great transport links which makes journeys short plus also on the cusp of various grammar regions. I know children who go to Darrick Wood, Chis & Sid, Townley, Newstead, St Olaves, Weald of Kent grammar, Coopers, Chislehurst School for girls, Ravenswood, The Brit School. Also private schools: Eltham College, Bromley High, JAGS, Babingtons, Farringtons, Whitgift, Colfes, Alleyns, Dulwich College.

For grammar you have three bites at the exams, for local grammars you have Newstead or Olaves. For Bexley you are usually in distance for most of the grammars and always Chislehurst & Sidcup grammar. For Kent for girls you just need a pass for Weald of Kent which has been in distance for recent years and for Kent grammars based on score you have Dartford Boys and Dartford Girls, both of which have a private coach stopping at PW. Then again for girls you have Tonbridge grammar.

For comprehensives as someone else has mentioned there is Darrick Wood (co-ed) which is generally only in catchment in recent years at the Crofton end of Petts Wood. Bullers girls (and more recently the new boys school) has been in catchment on and off and seems very random. For boys Ravens Wood is popular and well respected. For girls for comprehensives it is a slight challenge if you don't make the grammars or Darrick. Coopers (co-ed) and Chislehurst School for Girls haven't been top picks for a good while.

DD is at Newstead and has found that some of her friends who got into the school chose to move to Petts Wood after their younger siblings qualified for the school are now very happy and have access to lots of amenities. Before that it was lovely that we could be the hub for DD's friends and get to know them as apart from Orpington itself it was one of the few points that girls on the Beckenham and on the London Bridge lines

Hi there, I have jumped into this conversation to gain views about Coopers School. My daughter is in Year 5 at Crofton and we live in Petts Wood. After speaking to admissions earlier it seems that Coopers is our best bet. Darrick Wood, would be lovely as many of her friends are going there and have moved houses to ensure they have a place. Moving is not an option for us and we are also having a go at the Newstead Wood tests. I know Newstead is super competitive and Coopers might well have to be an option. What do people think of Coopers and does anyone have experience of the grammar steam that I’ve heard about?

Hi PWmum, I know people who've gone to Coopers and its worked out for them, but others who really haven't fitted in. The grammar stream is really just a name for top sets that I've heard of and reflects that its admissions are based on pulling a wide range of abilities. I think they may do one more subject than some of the other years but otherwise the school isn't very ambitious (understatement) with the number of GCSEs that DCs sit which may suit some, but will be restrictive for others and especially those who haven't made up their minds what to study.

DD who is at Newstead for example is sitting 10 GCSEs (some of her friends are doing 11!), but at Coopers that standard is 7 or 8 with even the most able seeming to sit 8. Take a look at the Government Compare Schools data entry and it will be clearer to see there. I have friends with DCs at Darrick who moved to be closer and have been very disappointed with the offering during lockdown, hopefully now they are back it is back to being its usual popular self.

Newstead is a great school so good luck with that, the pass mark was lower this year, I don't know why but possibly the logistics of people sitting the test may have had an influence or people deciding to really push for a private school as they were in the press as doing so much better in lockdown, Newstead was excellent in its provision I will add. Do also consider the Kent test as Weald of Kent has come out as far as PW in all recent years and only a pass is required for Weald. Same for Bexley test and Chis n Sid.

Pettswoodparadise, thank you so much for your wisdom. I am always so amazed at your knowledgeable postings! Really helpful and has made me think even more about exploring the GCSE options. Thank you so much for taking the time to reply.

I really like Newstead - the facilities and general ethos as I have read on the website. With the GCSE options you describe, this sounds like another plus. We will keep working on the tests and I think we have nothing to lose if we also try for the Kent too. My daughter is bright and in top sets currently at school but these tests do feel daunting and I feel it depends also how they perform on the day. Petts Wood is such a lovely place to live, it’s sad we all arrive at this difficult place when it comes to secondary schools!

It’s good to hear that your daughter is happy at Newstead and doing well.

Do you know anything about scholarships and bursaries at Bromley High?

Thanks again Pettswoodparadise x

some scholarships at BHS are nominal, like 5 or 10% for Sports or Music, I have heard of higher ones but rarely, talk to the bursar. They also have bursaries but those will be means tested. If you have equity in your home this is likely to be taken into account. Do look at Eltham college too, they have a great reputation but it is co-Ed (changed a few years ago from all boys) and they have a bursary and scholarship programme too.

Hi- sorry to jump on this thread but I wondered what primary you ended up picking and your view on it? We need to start thinking of primary schools for my son and live in Petts Wood. We are quite near Crofton and Perry Hall but are wondering about private too. Any views or thoughts would be much appreciated, we need to draw up a list and get looking round!

@Conclax1 and @Lovetodream sorry to jump on the thread. Wondering which schools you ended up with or planning to? We are finalising a house in Petts wood which should be in Crofton catchment and potentially Perry Hall but considering privates too. Thanks!