BTG - what's it like?

[viktoria]

DS got offered a place at BTG, our 6th choice, and our "fall back option".
It specialises in maths and computing - DS is not great at maths.
Am not quite sure if I'm happy about a place there or not.

Does anybody have a DC there? How do you find it? Is your DC happy there?
Anything else?

Sorry - meant to say, BTG is Bishop Thomas Grant School in Streatham, London.

BTG is a very good option. Just because it specialises in maths and computing does not mean you won't enjoy it if you are not great at maths. All it really means is that it gets extra funding for that particular area.

We know lots of children who go there and it is very good. Discipline is excellent and results are improving. Interesting as you got in yet only your 6th choice - do you live near the school? It is heavily over subscribed. What was your 1st choice?

Thank you, much appreciated!
Especially after my afternoon experience - at pick up, parents obviously were asking and talking and I said where my DS got a place and that he is very happy about it, which was met with a few "oh dear's".
At our primary BTG is seen as the fall back option - if you put it down, you are more or less guaranteed a place there.
Our first choice was Kingsdale; our closest school is Elm Green and we put that as our 4th choice. (both an easier option, 1 bus or walkable respectively, whereas BTG is 2 buses)

I wonder if it's some weird psychology - at our primary it's as if it's an "easy" school to get into, so it's not a preferred option?

I know a couple of friends with children there (one boy one girl). Both sets of parent Parents and children are very happy with the school, both academically and socially. For many parents it is now the school of choice.

thank you, mushroom, very re-assuring.
anybody else with any comments/experiences?

Well, the children of a fair few teachers from my DC's school attend there.

The headteacher's son is a pupil there too, and it would have been my first choice, only my PFB wanted a single-sex school. Ex-classmates who go there are happy with it.

It was a sink school years back, but Mr Desa, who is an old boy has turned around. When we went for the open evening it was packed full of parents and was one of the best organised we attended, too.

Just wanted to write a short update, now that DS has started at BTG. I know it's early days, but he comes home happy and full of enthusiasm every day.
On the very first day they only did 9.30 to 12.30 and I picked up DS at 12.30. Older pupils only had to start at 12.30 that day and waited with the Year 7 parents. The pupils were VERY well behaved, I was impressed.

Even though I won't "properly" make up my mind until at least sometime next year, I wish I hadn't worried so much when DS first got BTG allocated back in March. At the moment I feel like we couldn't have wished for a better school.

Pleased to hear that.

What were your other choices?

Our other choices were: Kingsdale, Elm Green, Oratory, Pimlico Academy and Chestnut Grove.

:)

Thanks