South London state secondaries that are good for sport

[nickEcave]

My DD is currently year 4 so we will be starting to look at state secondaries in September. DD is absolutely mad for all forms of sport (particularly football but also keen on skating, cricket and athletics) so she is very keen to look at schools that have good sports facilities and I'm not sure where to start.

We are on the border of several boroughs and will be looking at schools in Lambeth, Croydon, Merton, Wandsworth and Soutwark , co-ed and single-sex. Her current primary is not good for sport so she doesn't play competitively but has had some football coaching and ice skating lessons. I am aware that Kingsdale has sports scholarships but I imagine these are quite competitive. Academically she is bright but not very driven so we would not be looking at selectively academic schools such as Graveney.

Actually, Kingsdale's sports scholarship assessment is general ability - meaning that your DD doesn't have to be a certain grade level to be able to take the assessment.

My DD got half sports scholarship, and when she did the assessment it seemed to me to be quite general in nature. Ball handling skills (with a basketball), hand-eye coordination, and beep (stamina) test.

That 's interesting about the Kingsdale scholarships, I assumed they would go to children who were already playing competitive sports at a high level. Do you know if they award an equal number to boys and girls? To be honest Kingsdale would be a bit of a nightmare journey so I think DD would have to be really keen to choose it.

Sorry can you clarify what the "half scholarship" means for admission.? I thought they either got in on a scholarship or by lottery

Getting a half or even a full scholarship does not guarantee getting a place in the school, as only 15% (54 this year) of the total places (360) are for both sports & music scholarships.

Children are added to the scholarship oversubscription waiting list, if they haven't received a place with a scholarship.

There is a separate oversubscription waiting list for scholarships and lottery applications - so my DD was on both. This is how my DD got her place, as children on the scholarship waiting lists are offered available places before those on the lottery waiting list.

I have no idea if they award an equal number of scholarships to boys and girls.

I know from the letter we received confirming my DD's scholarship award, that they offer a lot more scholarships than the number available as they do not know how many children will end up going to other schools.

Thanks that's really helpful.

I may be wrong but I think Charter has some use of the very good sports facilities at JAGS next door?
Apart from the Kingsdale scholarship / lottery opportunity the vast majority of your choices will be constrained by tight catchments. I think I would look for the most local school that suits her and make the best of all the extra curricular opportunities around.

Pick the most academic school you can and do the sport outside. Join an athletics club from year 5 and swimming.

Cheam High (London Borough of Sutton) is very hot on tennis. One of DS's classmates got a specialist tennis place there (think there are about 20).

Riddlesdown? State Comprehensive but has 48 ability places for those outside catchment

I think you really need to visit and also really look into admission criteria. I believe Harris Crystal Palace also has a sports speciality. But 90% of places go to children in a 2 mile radius of the school.

Kingssale say they look for aptitude more than proficiency. Their admissions aren't on distance but lottery. As said the scholarships awarded work in your favour on the Oversubscription waiting list as you are in a higher category. It is considered to be used more as a filter by the school - highly talented sports and music children who aren't academically as good tend to not get scholarships for instance. But that's just hearsay.