Richmond Park Academy, Christ, Grey Court, Ashcroft ...

[marius123]

Yes, i am going through the difficult process of choosing a secondary school for my dd starting y6 in sept. Currently living in Putney with a second dd starting y3 in our much liked local primary.
We don't seem to be in the catchment area for any decent state secondary schools. Ashcroft could be a chance but not for sure. So we are left with Putney Ark and Richmond Park Academy.
So the obvious question is - shall we move closer to a school? And difficult to make such a decision and move further away from our primary.
And if we do, closer to which one?
Anybody here who could offer their opinion/experience on any of these schools: RPA, Ashcroft, Christ, Putney Ark, Grey Court ...
Thanks a million! 

As a sibling of an Ashcroft student and ex student, I think they do teach their students well but can be pretty harsh with their punishments at times.

What kind of things is your dd interested in?

She is a well rounded girl. Good at pretty much everything but without a clear/particular strong ability on one thing only. She is at the top of her class in her state primary and above average in the key subjects of English, Maths and Science. I think she would love DT - anything to do with graphic design and film editing (she already does a lot on her iPad on that). She likes English and humanities. She would be good at science I think and RS. She enjoys and has taken drama lessons for the last 3 years.
She is a well behaved child. Is Ashcroft strict with everyone or with the misbehaving? Is it a place where a child can still be a child or does it feel more like college with a military style? Do children have fun, enjoy learning, make friends and love going to school?

Ashcroft are strict with mainly the misbehaving but she would need to have perfect uniform. What i mean by that is top button on at all times or she would get a lunch time detention. The same with if she doesnt have a bit of statiobary ie (blue and black only unless for drawing) pen or a pencil. honestly if your daughter is really well behaved and gets lots of praise emails that praise her behaviour in lessons and no discipline email that talks about misbehaviour about her behaviour, she'll be fine. If anything, she'll be favoured and rewarded with house points and competitions.

The school's teaching is really good especially when on top set since they challenge their students especially in English. In DT, she'd be rotated between food tech, fashion design/interior design, engineering that uses a bit of graphic design. I think now the school offers graphic design too but I am not sure.

Another thing that is unusual is that the students are prepared to start their GCSE learning in year 9 rather than year 10.

This is because they want their students to not become complacent in year 8 and 9. So they have them think about their choices in year 8 and teach them for three years. Some may even be encouraged to IGCSE or a fast track GCSE in a subject but that depends on if the subject department thinks it's best.

My brother has some really great friends at that school and they talk and play all the time as boys do.I too had a good time with the school, I've been to clubs and took part in fashion shows and I also took part in the drama production there is every other year. It is very big and spectacular, the performing arts department is amazing.

So overall, I think if she does get into the first 3 sets of maths, English, science and French and other set based subject then I think she'll be given plenty opportunities to go up and succeed. Well, any subject will do that but set based subjects will challenge her more.

Sorry for the long post though!

Super helpful! Thanks!!!