Anyone know South Croydon?

[IorekByrnison]

We are thinking of moving there in maybe 18 months time. It looks quite nice and oddly underpriced - unless there's something I'm missing.

Anyone have any experience of living there or advice on schools etc?

Wilson's is a complete bunfight, frankly! Are you looking at WCGS and Sutton too?

I can't believe that ds1 is starting his new school next week - time flies.

Happy visiting - do visit Riddlesdown, though - I was pretty impressed by it.

I've been advised to put DS1 through for Wilsons, but I'm unsure. I'd like DS1 and 2 to go to the same school, and whilst DS1 would have no problem with the entrance exam, DS2 would struggle and they don't give any leeway for siblings. Could just give it a go and see what happens I suppose....

I'm lucky in that DS1 seems bright enough to get in and DS2 appears to be even brighter. I don't have a huge problem with them being at different schools since clearly BabyDragon can't go there unless they turn co-ed before she is old enough! Having said that, I suspect that if DS1 ended up at a private school, DS2 would follow without hesitation. (Luckily, despite being a w*nker, their father does have more money than sense.)

I have idly considered other Sutton schools. I am woefully ignorant though. I've got to find out all the open days and what the chances of an out of borough application are. Riddlesdown is fine but I think both DSs would absolutely fly in a grammar/private environment.

As a child I used to commute for an hour each way on 54 bus from South East London to Croydon because the school was such a good school. I went to Coloma Convent, it used to be a grammar school a long time ago, I know it had a really good reputation at the time and I found the school to be really good too. Has it gone downhill since all those years ago, as i notice no one has mentioned it. I know its RC but there were a number of non-RC's even back then, nowadays don't they have to allow a certain amount of non-RC's in?

I don't know much about Coloma apart from remembering it being in the local papers a few years back for denying a girl a place because she needed to use a wheelchair and they didn't want to install a lift or something. can't remeber if this was pre or post DDA though. I think it's meant to be good, educationally, I just don't know anyone who has DDs there.

Coloma is solidly RC (except in the sixth form) - it does get excellent results but you haven't a snowball's chance in hell of getting in if you aren't Catholic.

The Sutton grammars don't care whether you are in-borough or out - they just want the children with the highest marks!

I went to Riddlesdown on a normal school day and observed lessons (mostly top sets) and was hugely impressed by the standards. But it is too big, really.

I must confess everyone thought ds1 was a cert for grammar school but he narrowly missed out (despite getting almost perfect marks on his SATS practice papers and doing really well on his 11+ practice papers). You need to do so much preparation now to get in.

Any comments on Alfred Road in Norwood Junction?