Shirley High School, Croydon

[carolb54]

My DS was offered a place at this school but it was not on my list in the first place. While we were school hunting I did not even visited this school hence I do not know much about it. Seeing that I was offered a place at this school I am now assuming that because not alot of people applied here that was the reason why I was just dumped here because all other schools were over subscribed.

Any information about this school would be useful and helpful.

Thanks

Do you live close?

It is a funny year in Croydon - there are more places than children which is very uncommon. Did you list 6 schools? Were they all in Croydon?

I visited it and immediately struck it off my list. I couldn't believe a school with over 1000 children in doesn't have a library... I asked the English teacher how that worked and she told me that they sometimes walk the children down to the public library in Shirley (about a quarter of a mile away). That one fact alone was enough to put me off - I think it's symbolic of a lack of support for independent learning. I also found the school depressing - the classrooms and layout of the building (though they've got some nice outdoor space).

My niece and nephew have been there since year 7. My niece left there last July but my nephew is still there in year 11. They are both high achievers who got in from out of area by obtaining one of the academic places. My niece got 9 GCSE's at grade B - but honestly that was a massive underachievement as she's a super bright child. My nephew should do better but his mum (my SIL) puts that down to hard graft on his part rather than great teaching. SIL thinks there are a number of quite weak teachers there.

Sorry to be negative. I know other people with children there who are perfectly satisfied.