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

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

Secondary education

St Dunstan College- Catford and The Charter School North Dulwich

45 replies

Luna9 · 16/09/2016 13:09

Hi,

I am considering these 2 secondary schools for my DD.

I went to see St Dunstans and it gave me the impression it is a happy school. DD is sporty and creative, likes arts, hard worker and is doing well at school but likes having fun too. I would appreciate any comments from parents with children attending this school.

Our closest state school is The Charter school in North Dulwich but I am concerned they don't have much in terms of extra curricular and sport activities; not sure about arts. Can anybody with children there give me an honest opinion.

Thank you

OP posts:

Report

GetMeOut · 21/09/2016 16:50

Kingsdale could be another option in West Dulwich as lottery based admission.

Blu · 21/09/2016 19:09

The East Dulwich Forum is full of talk about Charter. Go to 'family room' there.

Luna9 · 21/09/2016 20:39

Thank you; will try the EDF

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CrepeDeChineWag · 24/09/2016 13:00

Just back from open morning at St. Dunstans. I think the 'they never turn anyone away' declaration is outdated , certainly for entrance ay Y7. They only take in 100 in Y7 and are always oversubscribed. There are entrance exams.

Luna9 · 24/09/2016 16:51

We went too.

Head Master seems authentic and engaging; friendly staff, happy and relaxed children. They have lots of choice of co- curricular activities which happen during the lunch break; The School dinner menus look great; we tried some of the lovely bread.

The school building is probably not as bright and modern as I would like, but this is a small thing compared to the many positive ones.

Went to Alleyns last year; facilities are great but I just didn't feel it was the right fit for DD.

Going to the Charter open day this week; most of her friends will go there and it would be great for her to have local friends and walk to school, but they really don't have much in terms of co-curricular activities. It is also double the size of St Dunstans.

Decisions, decisions, decisions.

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CrepeDeChineWag · 24/09/2016 18:26

Echo what Luna says. Seemed a very cosy school. Fab school dinners on offer which is a welcome change from the usual shite that gets pedaled at senior schools.

CrepeDeChineWag · 24/09/2016 18:29

As an aside luna have you been to Kingsdale and if so what did you think?

Luna9 · 24/09/2016 19:27

Haven't been to Kingsdale yet; to be honest I sort of discarded it awhile ago; mainly because I used to go that way and sometimes used to see a few boy teenagers in their uniform during school hours hanging around smoking (not normal cigarettes).

I know it also have some very well behave children and they offer scholarships for maths, music and sports for top students in those areas and it is probably a good school but I was put off a bit for what I said above; in addition to the incident they had there. I suppose every big comprehensive has behavioural issues with some children.

Perhaps I should go and see it. I did look at the website the other day and looks good.

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Luna9 · 24/09/2016 22:14

Shame you can't edit or correct spellings in mumsnet after you have posted your message 😬

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Blu · 25/09/2016 11:32

Smoking weed / drugs in general is not restricted to particular schools or sectors , not by a long chalk . Some of the most energetically pursued schools on MN have high numbers of drug-dabblers , a private school often used as an example of innovative practice is experiencing problems, the parties attended by S London Independent School pupils are not short of stimulants .

We need to equip our kids with education and good decision making skills whatever the school, so I would look at the wider aspects of any school.

Luna9 · 26/09/2016 14:05

Thank you Blu; I agree with you; as you said there are some top independent school with similar problems. I just thought those children should not be where they were within school hours; but not sure how such a big school can't control that.

Anyway, I am going to see Kingsdsle and form an objective opinion; they may sourprise me.

Does anybody know where do the children from St Dunstans travel from; is it mainly Lewisham, Sourhwark, or do they travel from many parts of London like in Alleyns.

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CrepeDeChineWag · 26/09/2016 16:41

I think it's more local based than Alleyns though don't quote me. A St. Dunstans boy got on the bus in E Dulwich when I was on my way up there and on the way back a different boy and girl got off at my stop.

I absolutely LOVED Kingsdale which completely surprised me but it's a totally different 'vibe' to St. Dunstans. I won't say anymore as don't want to put ideas in your head luna. I'm also off to see Charter (old) this week.

CrepeDeChineWag · 26/09/2016 16:49

Also, after visiting Kingsdale I went to the Tesco local in W Dulwich and there was a masdive group of 6th formers buying their lunch. All very lovely, well behaved and polite. I had a bit of a mild melt down as my self service til appeared to be having an off day. The boy who was behind me in the Q and about to use the til next to me very kindly offered that I use his

Luna9 · 26/09/2016 18:00

Thank you Crepe; I will go and see Kingsdale; can't really make conclusions without seeing it

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Blu · 26/09/2016 20:09

The St D's students I know if live in Herne Hill and Streatham.

Luna9 · 26/09/2016 22:55

Thank you Blu; I have the feeling it is more local which I think is good

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CrepeDeChineWag · 29/09/2016 17:46

Did you visit Charter yesterday? I did. Surprisingly I'm giving it one of these

Luna9 · 29/09/2016 20:04

Hi Crepe,

Yes, we went to the Charter yesterday, I thought the kids look happy, confident and outgoing; facilities are not too bad for a state school apart from the cantine which I thought was very small for 1200 children; classrooms have good resources and teachers are friendly, some of the teachers look very young. Academically I think it is a good school but there is not a lot in terms of co-curricular activities; not sure about sports and how easy it is to get into the teams with so many children; but perhaps this is what most state schools are like; maybe it is not so important in secondary school.

Some of the work I saw was very good including the art.

I feel they are a big laid back with the uniform. Wouldn't mind something a bit more smart perhaps no ties; but this just me and I know there more importan things.

It would be ideal to see the schools on a normal school day. I
Will book for St Dustans but don't think you can do it in the Charter.

I read that Kingsdale had an intake of 360 children this year; that's massive; 300 next year.

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CrepeDeChineWag · 29/09/2016 23:12

Unfortunately I think I set my expectations too high. It is THE state school to that everyone round here wants to get into but I really couldn't see what all the fuss was about. It's just a normal state school, nothing wrong with it and if that's what we end up with (though unlikely) it will be fine. I did like the head's speech and the girl who took us around was nice. I felt it was cramped so perhaps this is why all the kids were sent home at lunchtime? Shame as I would have liked to have seen some lessons going on. I am just glad that I don't have to make any decisions until next year as DD is Y5.

janinlondon · 30/09/2016 10:20

Charter certainly do have some stunning GCSE results - 100% A*/A in Chemistry and in Physics is practically unheard of I think!

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