Dulwich Village - State vs Independent primary

[dvp2021]

We recently moved to the area and are considering potential schools for our DS.
We have toured the private schools - Alleyn's and DPL where they talk quite a bit about the breadth of education and facilities. That aside, assuming we can provide the opportunities outside school if needed, is the quality of education (curriculum, teaching methods, motivation) from this schools significantly better than that of the local state schools. if there is a gap, is it something that can be addressed with tutoring ?
I'm mainly asking as I'm not sure my DS will make use of all the sports and music facilities at least until he is 8-10, so struggling to justify the premium for these schools. Even worse if he isn't sporty or into music. Also, looking at tutors online, seems like there are relatively high calibre tutoring options now available online and could potentially be better than the salaried teachers in private schools. Would love to hear other's experience on this as my view could be biased trying to justify saving 20K+ a year.

Have you looked at the state option? That would give you a better basis for comparison.

We haven't been able to visit the state options - DVIS and Judith Kerr yet due to Covid but have spoke to several parents in my DS's nursery who seem really pleased with DVIS. Its possible they don't know what they are missing and might only find out when they get to 7+/11+.
To be fair, both state and private school parents we've spoken to are quite happy with their choice.

Secondary schools: Kingsdale and Charter School North Dulwich are both excellent schools and very.popular (DD got into neither).The catchment arwas are SMALL. I think private is good for the sports and performing arts facilities as you say, but don't dismiss state.

My DD goes out of borough to a state school. Many local state schools are high achieving.

I've sent you a pm

It really depends on your child, your circumstances and what you value.

It's difficult. I think you need to ask yourself what you want out of the schools and what you'd expect.

• what secondary school options would you want?
• are you happy to tutor?
• how much contact do you expect from the school?

I know two parents to who moved their children from the state schools you mentioned as they felt their child disappeared as were 'fine' at reading and basically not a nuisance.

We went private local to you and have been really pleased. Am happy if you want to PM me. I organised a but of tutoring and it was much more prescriptive than school - just be aware from my experience that tutoring is a very different option.

I have DC in DPL, my friends have kids at DVIS, Alleyns and DC Junior, and all of us are happy with our choices! Not very helpful I know, but I think we make these choices largely on instinct and then it all works out and do what’s necessary to get them into the chosen secondaries. As PP pointed out, the best thing to do is look at the type of secondary you want to go into and make the primary choice. It’s hard to make a firm choice at this young age though.

Thanks for your inputs. We ended accepting a spot at DPL for my DS.
Felt 7+ was too soon and all through was a bit risky in terms of maintaining focus. 11+/13+ gives time for DS to explore and find his place.

We decided against state after visiting DVIS last week as they are expecting funding cuts due to not filling up spaces. It’s possible classes would lose TA if cuts go ahead. Didn’t want DS to get caught up in this period of transition.

Good luck @dvp2021! Yes by 11+/13+ you will know which secondaries work best for your DS.

Yes, apparently Southwark have boobed massively in their planning by creating lots of new primary schools and allowing existing ones to expand in the last few years. One school has already been forced to close due to falling rolls and there are an estimated twelve schools' worth of places available...

In a few years' time this planning error will hit secondary schools.

I don't think it's just Southwark - I'm in a neighbouring borough and my DC's primary has spaces in a lot of classes which was unheard of a few years ago - a combination of lower birth rates and people moving out of London during the pandemic or going private.

I've heard on the grapevine that we no longer have a specialist music teacher for KS1 and music provision has been moved in class due to funding cuts.

London has lost 10 percent of its population
As part of COVID and Brexit School rolls are down across the city. This combined with lower birth rate for a number of years is causing a crisis. A number of schools are going to have to merge or close as part of the plans.

Southwark had an acute problem in the north of the borough as with estates being knocked down and being replaced by flats occupied by young childless couples means the new demographics don’t support the same density of schools.

It’s a very significant problem.

Many of the private schools in Dulwich aren’t full either. Normally a place wouldn’t be available at DPL outside of the normal application process. Alleyns and JAGs are still massively oversubscribed but the preps in the area also feeling the shift. I’m not sure they’ll all survive.

Like others have said, completely depends on what you’re thinking for secondary. Much easier if you plan on going private to get in the “system” earlier. I don’t regret private school fees at primary for my DC.

Yes, I had also heard that north Southwark was worse affected than south Southwark but clearly the impact is being felt across the borough.