Blackheath & John Roan school?

[KeirStarmerisMarkDarcy]

Wasn't sure if it's ok to post here as it's mainly a school question but all wrapped up in house move!

We are moving to the Greenwich / Blackheath area with a baby. We know the situation with secondary schools not generally deemed to be that great in the area and a lot of families sending DC to grammars in Kent. We are not keen on doing that and kind of hoping that by the time our baby is applying to secondary schools the local secondary John Roan school will be better. I understand it got closed down by the local authority and is now under new leadership.

Does anyone live in the Blackheath area and know the school? Is it improving? Is it as bad as I've heard? Trying to find out the truth from people who know it rather than listening to hearsay.

Have been told it's a waste of time moving to Blackheath unless we are prepared to go private, but hoping that's not the case!

Bumping in case anyone knows about this

Hello.

My children go to John Roan and we are very happy that they are there. It is a true comprehensive school that has high aspirations for all of its students and a 'no child left behind' ethos. The head teacher is impressive - very committed and focused, and very ambitious for the school. The teaching standards are high and improving. The atmosphere at the school is friendly and happy, and students are encouraged to understand their place in the local community and contribute positively to it.

The school has had issues in the past but has improved rapidly in all areas over the past few years. Discipline is high and a lot is expected of the students, but they are rewarded, in a range of ways, for high achievement and good attitude.

We looked into the Kent grammars when our children were younger, but preferred John Roan and are very pleased that we chose the school. The average results are, naturally, not as high as those of selective schools, but friends of children who have done their GCSEs and A Levels at John Roan have been very happy with the pre-exam support that their children have been given by the school and their children have achieved outstanding results there. If you and your child are happy to put a lot into John Roan, I think you will get a lot out. It is a school that feels like it is really going places,

Good luck with your move!

A number of my DCs' friends and my ex-pupils are at/have attended John Roan and speak highly of it. Those who have done GCSEs in recent years have done very well and the school has worked hard to ensure successful transition for this year's Y7 in particular, recognising that many of them will have started at the school without having the opportunity to visit it.

It is a proper comprehensive school so has a comprehensive intake. Yes, lots of people who live in Blackheath choose to educate their children privately and plenty more put them through the Bexley/Kent selective tests in the hope they will get a place at a grammar school. There's a lot to be said for attending a school you can walk to and that is part of the community you live in.

I know many people who went to John Roan years ago, one became a BBC newscaster. It always had a very diverse intake in term of class/ability/ethnic & racial background etc. I also knew kids in Blackheath who went to private schools and have had a mediocre career. It always seems to come down to the family of origin and their involvement with their children. Having had kids in private and state schools I would say having your friends live in your local area is huge. Its very hard on children, especially teens if they can't meet up with friends easily. A good % of upper middle class families in Blackheath and Greenwich have always sent their children to local state schools and they have done fine. Their social skills are better too as they can actually talk to people from all walks of life with ease. I remember going to some excruciating parties with a lot of private school kids in Blackheath. The boys were all called James and both boys and girls seemed immature compared to the state school teens. Cringy.