4+ Entry JAGS, Alleyns Oakfield or Sydenham High

[LeolouSE]

My daughter has unexpectedly been offered a place at reception (4+) for all 3 schools. We live in West Dulwich so all are relatively close but I would love to hear from any experiences of the schools. Alleyns Oakfield is our closest school (which includes an assured Alleyns place in senior school) but there are not many reviews since Alleyns took over. JAGS looks amazing but it still has a bit of a reputation of being a hot house so hoping some parents can help myth bust that. We loved the grounds and teachers at Sydenham High but it requires a car journey each morning which I think may get testing. I’m very proud of my daughter securing a place but we genuinely don’t know which is the best choice. Thanks in advance for your help!

I would go for the most closest school. It's nice to have local friends for playdates after school and weekend birthdays nearby. You might also meet other local parents and can help share any pick up and drop offs and a little community.

I don’t have girls but friends do and send their children to these schools. Sounds obvious but I would choose the school you want for senior school. Do you want girls or do you want co-Ed? That should make the choice for you really. Oakfield has definitely had its problems and I don’t see how they’ll fix that overnight (I’m an Alleyn’s parent not an Oakfield parent) but if you ultimately want them to go to the Alleyn’s senior school then you need to choose Alleyn’s Oakfield. It sounds obvious but I’m not sure from your post what your priorities are for secondary. FWIW I know parents at both JAGS and Sydenham girls who are very happy with the schools. Don’t know any Alleyn’s Oakfield parents any more, only some parents who got so pissed off with the old Oakfield that they moved their children to my other child’s school last year

Thank you so much! This is really helpful perspective. Transparently we always wanted our daughter to go to Alleyns but given places were so tight at 4+ we prioritized her getting into Oakfield knowing it would be possible for senior school. We’re currently at the other prep up the road and have been forced to change schools unexpectedly at 4+ due to some significant changes at the school which makes this decision even harder. We haven’t heard great things about Oakfield and my worry is we will
compromise her junior education whilst the school works on the challenges. Oakfield was the least impressive at open days but I appreciate it is undergoing some big changes. They have pushed the fees up for Oakfield to align with Alleyns which I understand but my concern is that the teachers etc are not perhaps at the same level of Alleyns.

We’ll attend another open day and make a call but I think for stability we’re leaning towards JAGS.

thank you for responding!

Friends who have younger children at JAGS really like it, and my understanding is that they are trying to address some of the hot-house issues in the senior school. A friend who did some work at The Maudsley in the eating disorder unit said that JAGS was infamous there, but like I Say I do think they are trying to address it. Do you have any access to senior parents at JAGS? I only know parents at the junior bit and they are happy.

Have you spoken to anyone at Alleyn’s senior school about your concerns? Or someone at the junior level who is representing the changes from plain Oakfield to Alleyn’s Oakfield? Obviously they’ll be wanting to persuade you to take the place so you’ll need to hear it all with a pinch of salt but I think it’s worth having the conversation and pressing a bit. I gather they lost their head at very short notice so you’ll want to know what they’re doing about that.

FWIW I went to an all girl’s school and when I Started work there were a lot of us from that environment. We were all good at making our voices heard! Better than some of the women from co-ed backgrounds I think. When you go to an all girls school it just doesn’t occur to you to let the boys take the lead.

Re Alleyn’s Oakfield, I would also want to know what they are doing about facilities like swimming pool, playing fields etc. Though I don’t think this is the biggest deal in the long run. Also music. Alleyn’s Junior School is brilliant with music. Just really push Alleyn’s Oakfield on all the points that make Alleyn’s Junior School fantastic, and will your child at Alleyn’s Oakfield be getting those things.

Good luck!

Hello! Have you seen that Alleyns Oakfield failed their recent inspection? www.oakfield.dulwich.sch.uk/userfiles/edtoakfieldmvc/Alleyns%20Oakfield%202025%20ISI%20Inspection%20Report.pdf They failed on several aspects so that is really concerning and as you said, your child will be living through the changes to the school...there are massive issues and it is a problem.

We are on the same boat ,we have an offer from Alleyn's Oskfield for Y1 and we are wrestling between options. The ISI inspection raised issues with leadership and management,education standarts were met. Gemma Davies stepped down ,she is no longer head as of December, l think that is Alleyn's Governors firing her off. The interim head is a lady with 13 years of experience in senior roles in Alleyn's Junior -so 100% Alleyn's focused - and l am sure they will select the future Head carefully.
I think Alleyn's wants this to be a success ,l mean they have to make it a true sibling school as their name and reputation is at stake. My son will get caught up in the transition period though.

My girls were at Alleyns Junior School when Mrs Wright was deputy and head. She was brilliant, understood both my very different girls and really cared. I would trust Alleyns Oakfield will be fantastic with her leadership. They thrived at the senior school too. I would highly recommend.

Hi

I am in a similar position for my DS, who is expected to be in year 5 in sep 2026. We have been offered at Dulwich and Alleyns Oakfield, on waitlist at Alleyns junior. Dont think there will be any movement between now and Sept to get a place at Alleyns junior anymore. Torn apart between the two schools. Have you managed to make a decision?

We have not yet but leaning towards Alley's Oakfield. We are having a meeting with the interim Head to get information in more detail about the timeline of refurbishment plans (2/3 years I have heard), the alignment of curriculum /co curriculum with Alleyn's Junior and in general how the Oakfield– Alleyn’s integration will work in practice etc. If we decide to go for it we would just have to trust the process and their professionalism I guess.

I wouldn’t put my little girl into JAGS for a free place! I’d go Alleyns oakfield I think, direct route into Alleyns senior school where the proper schooling and facilities matter the most, issues in the primary issues are sure to be ironed out very quickly.

@Excited101 may I learn why not JAGS? My DD also had offer for year 7 this year but we chose City of London Girls!

@SaddieJRK I’ve worked as a nanny in the area for about 16 years and never heard a good word said about it. Hot housey, obsessive swimming but not other sports, crazy amounts of homework, just quite a bitchy environment overall. It’s all just about getting results rather than producing well rounded and happy girls.