Holland Park v Burlington Danes

[hillbilly]

I would like to hear anyone's experience of each of these schools. They will be the options (along with the Aldridge Academy which is not built yet) for DD. She is academically average and extremely artistic.

I have experience of ARK schools, the sponsor which owns Burlington Danes. They are very good, one of the best academy chains I have come across and I have worked with a lot of chains recently as I am in the Education field.

The ARK schools are run very strictly, smart uniform and high standards. They have real ambition that every child will achieve their best and be ambitious. Behavior is really kept on top of and teachers drive the pupils on. I very strongly believe that different children need different types of schools so the best way is to go and look around and see if it feels like a good place for your DD. I don't know the specifics of the school really.

I have heard Burlington Danes post student's results in order on a board, ranking them. IMO it works and helps raise effort for the majority of students, but it also could demotivate some students and definitely wouldn't work for the super-sensitive or over anxious child.
My DD is a perfectionist and being ranked would lead her to become obsessive or very upset. For the area Burlington Danes is in though, with a lot of deprivation, the motivation seems to work as they get fantastic results.

Check the max distance offered at BDA - I think it was under a mile for current Y8s. Then work out if you can live in that 'catchment' (not guaranteed, getting smaller every year) and also in K&C as HPS has priority for children educated at borough primaries. Somewhere in N Kensington may work? That would give you a more realistic 'choice'.

Alternatively, it is currently possible to get into HPS on an art scholarship, around 10% of the intake I think, you don't have to live in borough to have a try at it - but it is ridiculously competitive. On the bus home from it last year my DS and friends calculated it was a 1/9 chance (wish it was a maths scholarship..)

we liked them both and there are similarities - academically pushy, big schools, HPS is fair banded which I prefer. Didn't get either!

Sinclair I already live within a mile of both and my DCs are at primary in K&C so they are both viable options. I consider myself very lucky but it was not long ago that neither school was doing well. How things change :-)

Thanks beenfluffy. We are not churchgoers and closer to HP than Lancaster West. Slightly further to BDA. Does the council publish each year's admissions based on distance like they do for primary schools?