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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

ElmGreen, Dunraven, Graveney?

46 replies

TootAndCommon · 11/10/2010 13:12

Hello,
I have to choose a school for my DD. Where we live I think we can choose ElmGreen or Dunraven and get in, and as she is bright (on the top table, very good indications from teachers etc) she might have a chance in the Graveney Exam too. She is scientifically inclined. Should we look at Chestnut Grove? We are not eligible for any schools on faith grounds. Any knowledge of experience? She has not been tutored.

OP posts:

Original poster

TootAndCommon · 11/10/2010 14:34

Anyone know these schools?

OP posts:

Blu · 12/10/2010 10:59

I know people who have children there - and all are very happy indeed! But my knowledge is hearsay.

animula · 12/10/2010 11:18

If you have six choices, you may as well use them all.

Is she applying for any of the grammars? (Nonsuch, Wallington, Tiffin.)

animula · 12/10/2010 11:39

Oh, and if you haven't already, buy some VR and NVR books/tests from WH Smith, or better yet, Waterstones on Malet Street. Buy a range.

It's a good idea to have some degree of familiarisation with the sort of test you sit for G and D.

If you put Dunraven and Graveney into advanced search on here, you will see there has been a long thread, detailing the contents of the tests.

janinlondon · 12/10/2010 12:06

Nonsuch and Wallington have already held their tests I think....I know parents of children at Dunraven (top set) and Graveney and they have all said good things.

Original poster

TootAndCommon · 12/10/2010 14:12

Thank you!
We have not really considered the grammars because of the travelling. I will have a look at the old threads, and get on with some VR and NVR, although she has been doing some of that with her older cousin's books and races through them with no trouble.
If we put Dunraven as first choice, and she gets in but not into the top set, would we be able to opt for a second choice? Is it only OK for the top set? At the open day they said the divide children into 'standard', 'acclerating' and 'accelerated'.

OP posts:

animula · 12/10/2010 18:19

I think that they don't tell you which set your child's in until after you've accepted the place, indeed after your child has been for the open day.

With any luck, someone will be along who knows a bit more about that than me.

Wo · 14/10/2010 20:58

I had a similiar dilema. My son is academic and was in the Gifted and Talented program as his Junior school and loved science. Dunraven was an obvious choice and Elmgreen was just starting. Also, Elmgreen is a humanities specialist school so there was a worry about whether it would fulfill his potential. I went for Elmgreen because it wasn't science specialist. I was worried that to pigeon hole him so young might be a mistake and I wanted him to experience other ideas and way of thinking. The school is now in an amazing new building and is going strength to strength. I'm glad I made the choice I did. He is still interested in science but is now more rounded I feel. Good luck in your choice but I wouldn't change mine.

BarkisIsWilling · 14/10/2010 21:48

They are all well spoken of.

Have you visited any of them? Do any of the teachers' children attend any of these schools. (I assume she goes to school locally at the moment).

Good luck!

Original poster

TootAndCommon · 15/10/2010 16:42

Thank you, everyone.
We have now visited Dunraven and ElmGreen and liked them both a lot. We spoke to teachers in the science department at ElmGreen and they confirmed that science was not under-emphasised because of the Humanities specialty. Where we live could be a sort of 3rd point in the traingle between the two schools, and she does go toa local primary. It's good to hear that people have had good experience. I think we might not bother with Graveney, because if she is getting good academic support in the streamed sets of either EG or D, there doesn't seem to be much benefit in travelling further. I should just celebrate being spoilt for choice! DD likes the EG uniform better....

OP posts:

peeweewee · 17/10/2010 21:19

Elmgreen's not bad - they set according to ability so if your daughter is bright she'll be in a well behaved class and academically pushed pretty well I'd say. The lower sets can be tricky though.

Blu · 18/10/2010 10:44

I'm watching these, but not for entry 2011.
Do you have DC at ElmGreen, Peewewee?
I like the sound of their vertical age-group tutor groups.
Dunraven will be re-built - I'm not sure of the timescale, though. It was rescued from cuts to the schools rebuilding programme.

peeweewee · 18/10/2010 17:00

Hi Blu no I don't but I worked there for a bit last academic year...

echt · 19/10/2010 10:11

On a look round and presentation in 2005 at Dunraven, I can safely say I'd never come across such self-satisfied smug shits as the SLT they unleashed to address parents.

I wasn't on my own as they bigged up value-added, exams, and fuck-all about education. Lots of shocked faces among the parents

I am a teacher and I swear the words education and happy never came up.

I hope they have improved their presentation skills, and the reality of what they offer their students

Mumsyof1 · 20/10/2010 20:39

Dunraven is the school where Katharine Birbalsingh (who spoke at the Tory conference) used to work. I'm not sure if that is where she formed her opinions on state education, but they can't be feeling particularly smug at the moment.

Blu · 21/10/2010 20:59

oooh!
I was watching some Dunraven kids today in the local shop - they do all look happy and are well behaved and polite. Lots' of DS's friends older siblings gothere, and talk about it enthusiastically.
It used to be a difficult school and was turned around, I think?

bigTillyMint · 22/10/2010 18:02

Mumsy, I think her most recent experience at a Southwark school will have given her the more lurid stories

Mumsyof1 · 22/10/2010 23:33

It does seem a bit odd, doesn't it. But she left Dunraven in July 2010. She had only been working at her new school in Camberwell since the beginning of September when she made her speech at the Tory conference.

Mumsyof1 · 22/10/2010 23:33

bigTillyMint · 23/10/2010 07:30

Yes, and what a new school!

mummynumber2 · 23/10/2010 07:49

I don't know a huge amount about elmgreen but I think it has a good reputation. My dsd's go to dunraven and we've been very happy with it. Both of them are in the talented and gifted classes and are doing very well, although I don't think we found out the set they're in until after we accepted the place. I don't think it really matters which set they're in though to be honest. Their aim is to get the best out if everyone and they do the exam so they can get an even spread of abilities. I'm sure you already know this but how well they do in the exam really has no bearing on whether they get in. It's done on proximity to the school so unless you live very close you might want to think really hard about your second choice! Good luck.

Blu · 17/09/2011 13:47

Reviving this thread!

According to the Dunraven information, the catchment las year was between .9 of a mile and .5 of a mile, depending on banding, by shortest lit walking route.

Does anyone know which is usually the most over-subscribed ability band?

Thanks.

(goes back to poring over map)

MrsDmitriTippensKrushnic · 17/09/2011 13:58

Hello Blu, is it that time already? That went quick!

IIRC it's the middle bands that have the smallest catchment areas, but that's based on what the Head said when we applied for DS1. I can't remember him mentioning it when we applied for DS2 last year, but then again he was getting in on the sibling rule so I might just have missed it.

I wonder which school the OPs DC went to in the end.

And it's a VERY late reply to echt but my DSs love it there, and are very happy

Blu · 17/09/2011 14:07

Hello!
yes, that time already - whooosh! I have been noticing that you have been saying that your DSs are v happy and doing well there, so unless something terrible happens to the catchment, we should be school gate mums together. Not that that happens at secondary.

I have been dithering about whether we should put DS in for the Graveney test, but for all sorts of reasons we have a strong inclination to choose our nearest school. No idea what to put as second and third choices.

gazzalw · 17/09/2011 14:26

We are interested in Dunraven but I have heard there's gangs operating or is this just hearsay...
It is quite refreshing to find parents in SW London who do not seem to be totally paranoid about the state secondaries....

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