Can you please recommend best grammar of comprehensive schools in London or near by

[Luna9]

Hi

We have decided to move before we have to apply for secondary school; we would like an excellent grammar or comprehensive with good reputation and facilities; DD loves art and is creative and sportive. Coed or single sex is fine.

We would like somewhere with easy commute to London Bridge and Blackflairs as that's where we work.

We appreciate any advice.

Thank you

hellokitty786 DD did the drama assessment last year without any drama training at all (not so much as one paid for class!). She passed (got 37/50) but I then discovered on another thread that essentially the DC needed to get 50/50 to get places (obviously all those who did had been doing drama/dance for quite some time).

FWIW DD IS a natural actress (and that's not us being blinkered) but obviously didn't stand a chance against those who've done loads of formal drama classes possibly for years.

I felt it was a waste of time/effort and couldn't really see why the school passed 200/250 children across drama/music and dance if there was no real likelihood that most would get places (unless also in catchment). DD had an expectation that she would stand a good chance of getting in - as did we, until we were told that 100% scores were necessary to do so. To this day, even though she's nicely settled at her new secondary school, she still says "I wish I'd got into Glenthorne.'

So for the extra stress, very early start the day of the assessment AND the unfairly raised expectations I wouldn't really bother!

And some DC will be doing the assessments across all three disciplines, and I suspect it will be those 'all singing, dancing and acting' ones who secure the very limited number of places.

Sorry to be negative but best to be realistic methinks.

Charter, a comp in in East Dulwich, a nice family area to live.
Dunraven, a comp in Streatham, cheaper house prices than E Dulwich, good trains on Thameslink and to London Bridge.

Both schools take the arts seriously, especially, perhaps, Dunraven.

Both have small catchments.

"Superselectives" are hardcore to get into even for academic DC.

In your situation I would move very close to a popular / good exam results comprehensive.

"Superselectives" only work for some children, not all. DC1 is still at one but achieved nowhere near the GCSE results he should have done. I think they're fine if you've got very motivated children, but not if they're lazy and need pushing (probably applies to boys more than girls). TBQH, I think he would have done much better at a comp where they were on his case all the time.

Can already see a marked difference twixt DC1's school and DC2's (just started in Year 7 at a comprehensive). DC1 got hardly any homework (ever). DC2 being pushed from the first week. It's how the comps get the results out of their pupils.

So be careful what you wish for!

If you are looking at schools like Tiffin / Waldegrave/ Orleans then Greycourt is also an outstanding comprehensive and is in Ham. I only hear good things about it!

Superselectives (and grammars, and all selective schools) get their results based on their intake.

It is a mistake to see them as the definition of a good or top school. As PP said, they suit some particular kids, but you don't know in Yr 4 that that means your child!

And getting in is part ability, part preparation and part luck on the day. They take the top scores, a single mark counts, the questions on the day, time management in a pressurised exam, and who you are up against on the day. I wouldn't move house on that kind of gamble.

I've been hearing Waldegrave has lost some of its shine recently - brightest girls feeling bored in lessons, endless "colouring in" homework (in Y10 ffs!), sappy NQTs who just say "I dunno" to parents' questions.

Orleans Park lost its shine a while ago. They haven't even been inspected since 2010 when the current Head was only a deputy, and they've been losing teachers recently, including from the SLT. They've had to increase class sizes quite a lot to make up for being short of funds.

Results are still good at both schools - but that's mostly to do with the intake. I'd still happily send my DD to either of them, but I wouldn't move half way across London to do that.

Grammar schools in places where Grammar Schools are common are no better than good comprehensives in places where they're not.

In other areas where there are super-selective Grammar schools, they are just full of tutored kids who often travel for miles every day. I know of some lonely Super-Selective Grammar school kids who never go out with friends because they all live so far away. In the meantime there are equally bright kids, but probably happier, kids at local secondaries who will do just as well in their exams but without so much stress.

I see DD happy and learning and enjoying a school with dedicated teachers. It just so happens it is a grammar. For every tale of a sad grammar school child there are ones of the comps too, a friend who didn’t believe in grammar but has a very bright girl and chose not to put her in for tests is tearing her hair out over the children who are taunting her DD for liking school.

The grammars listed above are great. Throwing Graveney into the mix for South London. It's a great school, but you have to live on it's doorstep or get a selective place on the Wandsworth test. Also look at Chestnut Grove which has a wonderful art department.