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Secondary education

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

Original poster

Secondary RC schools

14 replies

Mcgp · 20/09/2013 10:24

Hello, does anyone know anything about St Michael's RC secondary school in Bermondsey, Sacred Heart RC in Camberwell and St John Bosco in Wimbledon? Have been checking Ofsted reports but would really like to hear from parents.
Thanks in advance for your help.

OP posts:
SonorousBip · 20/09/2013 10:31

Erm, I think St John Bosco is a bit "challenging", although that is anecdotal and may be out of date. It used to be called John Paul II and only fairly recently amalgamated with another school (not sure which but they are on the JPII site). Certainly JPII had dire results. I live near'ish and while there is amazing competiton round here to get children into the very high performing Catholic primaries, no one seems quite so keen to follow on to what is actually the local Catholic secondary. Suddenly Catholic education seems either a little bit less necessary for secondary or the Oratory/Cardinal Vaughan are mysteriously more convenient.

bizzey · 21/09/2013 11:56

JP11 amalgamated with Salesian college to become St John Bosco. At the moment it is based at Tibbets Corner but is due to move to the old Salesian site in Battersea Sept 15 ...they are modernising /rebuilding it or some thing.

But I still thing it due to suffient funding ...so not set in stone .

Wink ( I so agree with what Sonorous said)

Don't know the other 2 ..and geography is not my best....but you seem to be spreading yourself "wide"?

What area are you ?

Original poster
Mcgp · 21/09/2013 12:27

Hi, thank you very much for your replies. We live near Clapham north and would really like my son to go to a school with good discipline (preferably catholic).

We attend mass every Sunday, my son is an altar boy and I prepare children for the holy comunion, the problem is that for personal circunstances we couldn't baptise him within a year after the birth.

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bizzey · 21/09/2013 13:30

Bishop Thomas Grant is a RC mixed ..SW16 (Lamberth) I know nothing about it but have heard it mentioned a few times on MN .

When are you looking for ?

My ds was not Baptised within a year and he has got into a (Very good) RC boys school.

Going through it again at the moment with ds2 ...which is why I have some info at hand with the booklet !!!

St Thomas Moore..SW3...RC mixed.

Do not underestimate how tirering journey time can be for "little" 11/12 year olds. It is easy to get lost in the "good" school thing but my ds has a 2 bus 45/50 min journey ....and that is enough especially if you add in after school stuff.

Original poster
Mcgp · 21/09/2013 15:01

Thanks for your advice bizzey, I actually don't mind if its a boys only school but my son does. (Might be able to persuade him on this).

I really like BTG, think its a very good school with a very enthusiastic headmaster but as it is highly oversubscribed I'm not sure we have a chance there. :(

I agree with you about the journey but just guessing 45 would be so bad?

Thanks again. :)

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Original poster
Mcgp · 21/09/2013 15:02

Sorry bizzey forgot to tell you, he's now in Y6 so we are looking for now basically. :)

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bizzey · 24/09/2013 22:44

Mcgp....Sorry I keep losing "threads I am on "?? might need to sort out my settings !!

How have your viewings been going ? Only a month now to get the forms in which I think include the priest ones as well ?....

I am hoping my ds2 will get into ds1 school ...but who knows !! Grin

CecilyP · 25/09/2013 08:10

Would St Thomas More in Chelsea be accessible for you? It's a nice, fairly small, mixed school. Near Sloane Square tube and 137 bus route.

QuintessentialShadows · 25/09/2013 10:09

Is Wimbledon College too far from you? www.wimbledoncollege.org.uk/

Original poster
Mcgp · 27/09/2013 01:50

Hi, thanks everyone for your replies.

I have been visiting schools and it's been a very stressful time specially for me. In a few weeks the first and hopefully the last phase of this process will be over.

I really liked BTG, St Michaels Bermondsey, Chestnut Grove (non catholic) and Wimbledon college (which isn't too far from us),the only problem with WC is my DS wants to go to a mixed school.

We've been to St Thomas More, DS Didn't really like it. :(

Good Luck bizzey.

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sashh · 27/09/2013 07:55

the problem is that for personal circunstances we couldn't baptise him within a year after the birth.

But are you British native English speakers? If that is the case it doesn't count.

Original poster
Mcgp · 27/09/2013 09:48

Hi sashh, thank you for your msg, I'm sorry but I still don't understand how this two can be related?

Admissions criteria vs. Nationality

Yes, we are British but I've been told not waste my time applying for schools where we don't meet the criteria?

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QuintessentialShadows · 27/09/2013 13:25

"But are you British native English speakers? If that is the case it doesn't count."

I dont see how that should matter. It is canonical law, and I dont think Brits are above it!

Original poster
Mcgp · 30/09/2013 10:42

Agree with you quintessencialshadows.

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