Secondary and Primary Schools in SE10

[kiwisplendour]

Sorry if it sounds like a bunch of silly questions but I can't get my head around education over here. I also can't get my head around people struggling to pay for school fees - will this change because of crappy schools

I love living in Greenwich and the diversity of it but I am worried about the standard of education. I'm not personally into fee-paying schools, having been educated in NZ myself. I don't mind paying fees for extra tuition, outside activities - music / drama and so on but I am not that keen on private schools.

More importantly where are the good secondary schools in Greenwich?

Would John Roan be a good secondary school?

Also does schooling over here really determine whether they can go to University, by this I mean are some of the local Greenwich schools so poor it would limit the chances of students going to top universities even if they were bright and dedicated?

OK I have 1.5 year old boy, so I am thinking long term but I want to know what people think about schools in East Greenwich:

1)Millenium School
2)Meridian School
3)St Josephs
4)Christchurch School (I think that is what it is called?

Are they ok primary schools? Are they good?

I know it sounds really silly to ask now but what age do children start school? I see kids in really funny uniforms but they look about 3 - is this usual??

Children start school in the academic year that they turn 5. The academic year runs from 1 September to 31 August. So if your child has a September birthday he will start school at 5.0 and if he has a late August birthday he will be just 4. It is not compulsory to start schooling until the term after a child turns 5. However if you do this, your child will miss reception. Here back yearing is only allowed in very exceptional circumstances. If you want flexibility, move to Scotland.

I know people with dc at all the primaries you mentioned apart from Christchurch. AFAIK, the parents are all satisfied. I don't know much about John Roan, but dd1's friend will be going. She is very bright. My dd is more average, so I have not chosen it.

Some nurseries attached to private schools have a uniform, that explains the three year olds. Most nurseries don't, Robert Owen is sought after.

Millennium has no uniform, teachers use first names and attracts middle class parents that couldn't get their dc into Halstow.

Yikes not Millennium, I mean Meridian. Everyone gets these schools muddled well I do.

Greenwich is a poorly served area for state primaries imo (and surprisingly, given the socio-economic demographic). Lewisham much better (if you are church going, there is the excellent All Saints on the Heath). Halstow good in east greenwich, Meridian is a nice inclusive school. not sure about Millenium but the (newish) building is great. James Wolfe, in the centre of Greenwich is also ok but is a large school. Several private schools in the SE3 area.
Secondaries are John Roan which is improving and Thomas Tallis which is huge and okay but has good value added scores.

Thank you both - Ican I have the impression that Halstow is near impossible to get into unless you live right on the door step of the school? ThomasTallis is in Kidbrooke??

Madam - are you saying that to succeed at John Roan you have to be advanced?

What schools can you choose then instead of John Roan? Are you going private?

As to the private secondary schools - I thought that Colfes was private but not that well thought of?

John Roan is an improving school, and if your child is very bright and motivated they will do well there. However, if you have a child that is at risk of going along with bad behaviour or who allows themselves to be distracted, then they may not do as well. That is just my opinion, and I do not have a child there but have looked at the breakdown of their results.

It would be good if someone who actually has a child there posted.