Secondary Schools in Forest Hill

[BeatieBea]

We are planning to move to Woolstone Road in SE23 and I am trying to get an idea of secondary schools in the area. Admittedly, our son is only just 6 months old, but I just can't help wondering and worrying that we are moving somewhere where he will have little choice and that the choice is not a good one (I never thought I would do this!). I am very confused...and I know it seems just ridiculous - so much can change in 10 years!!!

Does anyone know, however, which schools we would likely to fall under etc?

Some idea about how it all works would be really useful.

Thanks

I presume you have already done your thinking about Primary?

If no-one local comes along look on the Department for Education Schools website. You cna search for schools in your area, and then you will need to look at each school's website and admissions criteria to see if you would be likely to get in form that address. Some may be selective, some faith, some single sex, some Academies with thier own admissions criteria, such as a lottery. And all might change within 10 years. As might your personal cricumstances.

I would concnetrate on a house you like and Primary provision.

Also, try the MN Local chat board.

Hello, you might want to try on the SE23 forum which is the Forest Hill / Honor Oak local forum. We are in SE23 and our DC are pre school, although find out primary school this week (eeekkk). If any help primaries in the area are really good but I haven't really given much thought to secondaries.

I really, really, REALLY would not worry about this at the moment. You are, for instance, in the catchment area of one (boys') secondary which was in special measures and doing very badly indeed 10 years ago, and is now a completely splendid place where pretty well all DD1's male peers are going in September. DD1's own (girls') future school is zooming up the league tables from an unpromising position 10 years ago too. There is at least one mixed comp in the area which isn't great at the moment but may well be utterly splendid in a decade too (it is now part of a federation). You have absolutely no way of telling - other schools which were highly sought-after 10 years ago are now slowly losing their cachet.

I speak as the mother of two children who attend a primary very local to your new place, and who has just negotiated secondary transfer...

Ditto everything Mother says. I know the schools being spoken of and totally agree that in 10 years it could all be very different.

I'd echo everything motherinferior says except that I don't think you're right about Forest Hill - it's never been in special measures to my knowledge, and eight years ago when we were dealing with secondary transfer stuff it was very popular indeed. We had no chance of getting in from a couple of miles away, much to our chagrin.

I'm very glad to be wrong and apologise!