Kingsdale waiting list

[sara75]

Hello everyone, my daughter is 59th on waiting list for our first choice, Kingsdale, on the Banding list and 83rd on the scholarship waiting list. How likely do you think she is in getting a place? They apparently had 3000 applications this year and their intake is advertised on the website as 240...

soarklymum our child would catch the train but there are some coaches to the school so that might be something you could check out.

Also the primary school our child goes to often skips sports as they have this whole class punishment thing, where the same children misbehave but they punish the entire class.. don't really know why they can stop PE on the basis of others poor behaviour..

Also I can't really see why it would help behaviour to stop children exercising.. anyhow it is not great for the kids like mine who want to do sports.

So we are pretty enamoured with Kingsdale.

@kingpinner thanks, we live in Clapham and my local which it was totally against due to the word of the previous parents I viewed and really liked it's ofstead done last year has improved a grade and the school have a zero disruption of class policy which I like, the school is silent, son can walk there & likely to have school friend from primary but I'm having the guilt thing of do I listen to my son or go with my gut.. it's so stressful

Name-changed for this, but I'm the parent of a Y7 DC at Kingsdale.

We live a pretty long distance from the school, but local options weren't great and DC has SEN and is very musical, so we had specific reasons for being prepared to travel for the right school.

DC got a full music scholarship and was high enough in the rankings to be pretty much guaranteed a place.

So far, I honestly don't have any complaints. The communications from the school are very good, level of discipline seems about right - no stupid rules, and the levels of homework tapered in so there was no nasty shock in week 1. DC had a lot of problems in the last 2 years of primary school - the class had a significant percentage of pupils with SEN, especially pupils with behavioural issues and there was so much disruption in class that I'm not sure they ever learnt anything (especially given DC's specific SEN that benefits from things like sitting near the front and very low levels of distraction). DC is much, much happier being in a class where the teachers can actually teach rather than spending their time trying to keep order.

Uniform can all be bought from Asda or similar, bar the house tie and iron-on blazer badges which you buy from the school, so it's relatively cheap to kit them out.

We've had two stints already of whole-class self-isolation this term due to Covid, and the school was ready to go with full lesson provision on Teams from the very first day, and there have been zero IT issues. The school also has a team who will make sure that no-one is left behind because they don't have access to tech or internet at home.

Music provision is superb - DC gets free 1-2-1 tuition, and the music lesson timetable swaps around each term so that they don't always get to avoid double-maths.

DC is not the most enthusiastic where school is concerned (very bright but not really academically interested plus the SEN issues) but we haven't had a single day of 'I don't want to go to school' which is a bit of a miracle, and subjects that were regarded as 'soooo boring' are now 'alright I suppose', so that is a step in the right direction.

We've already had one report card home with scores for every subject, a zoom session for parents, and I've had a lovely email from one subject teacher over half-term to let me know that DC is doing great in class, but appears to have misunderstood a key grammar concept and 'could I work through the following exercises over half-term to make sure that they are back on track for November'. I was pretty impressed that they are onto things like that so fast.

Due to Covid, a lot of the things that should have happened haven't - the transfer summer school ended up as a single day and sandwiches rather than a barbecue (but still more than a lot of other schools did); they haven't set for all the different subjects due to having to keep them in their bubbles - on the upside, it means that when they do set them, it will be based on actual knowledge of the individual child rather than their banding and SATS scores (that they don't have).

The extra-curricular programme is also not what it will be - choirs etc aren't allowed due to social distancing regs, and the outside providers of things like horse-riding (which is free along with archery, fencing etc) have various issues due to Covid safety. But, I very much feel that the school is doing the best they can under the circumstances.

There is also not much help on the SEN front due to the bubble systems, but DC has some very specific things in place that could make them stand out from the other students, and the school has handled that really well and that has massively helped DC's confidence.

On the gazillion GCSE's front, the school have said that if you want to do 18 or similar, then they will facilitate that, but if like my DC you have SEN then you can drop to 7 or 8 and use blocks for help with extra maths or English. It's very much geared to what suits an individual child.

We looked at a lot of schools (state and indie) given that we were prepared to travel a considerable distance, and Kingsdale was the standout choice for what we felt would suit our DC. They didn't know anyone else at the school, but already have a nice group of friends.

Hope this is helpful to those trying to choose.

soarkymum it is a difficult choice, I suppose you need to weigh up travel and the pros and cons of each school.

Good luck sarklymum too.

MrsBlogginJones what a helpful post.
Thank you so much for your insight. That is really reassuring to read.

I suppose in some ways being in bubbles may meant the start go school is more intimate and that can help with children getting their head around such a large school.

How does your child find the journey to and from school ?

I really hope we get a place.

And Sparklymum Apologies for the truly terrible spelling.

MirsblogginJones the lockdown really showed me that the primary school my child attend is not coping. Next to no work set.
No parent teachers meeting last year.

Some major playground type fights on the return. Some real aggression from parents.

Have to say though because of covid it woke me up and we have made sure our child has gone through maths curriculum and he is doing so well. So for us, it made me realise we needed to assess things and find the right materials.

He is naturally pretty bright but every child benefits from great teaching.

My son is a great kid - he really wants to learn and he realises that some of the kids who cause trouble have their own trouble.

He did also look up private schools on his own accord (bless) and told me about them and then said he knew we couldn't afford it but said it is amazing what some schools offer.

I truly hope we get a place. I know he wouldn't waste it. The motivation is there.

I just hope for him that it all falls into place.

I think the bubbles have helped - it's a huge school and the intake was 390 I think this year. Y7 do have their own playground which they seem to like, but the bubbles and restrictions have definitely made it a less daunting transition if a less exciting one.

DC doesn't find the commute too bad - we're an hour on the train from London, and then a second train out to Sydenham Hill. There are lots of them getting the train - DC normally calls me to say they are on their way home, and now it's a case of getting a message because they are with their friends and don't want to call!

School are very good about signal failures and delays and I just email in if they are going to be late and it doesn't count against them.

The hour on the train also means they get their homework done before they get home which is good. Harder if your journey has lots of small changes, or doesn't allow you to read a book etc.

Because of the lottery system, children come from all over the place so there's no feeling that you are the odd one out because you don't live locally.

Hi sparklymum not sure I can add much to what I posted couple of years back, I'm not a professional so my information is less up to date now my DC is in Y9. Not at a Lambeth school though I'm sure he would have been fine at either of the two we listed back then; but that's because he's the kind of able, sociable, uncomplicated kid who'd do well anywhere (lucky me . .)

He's also not white so perfectly happy at a virtually 100% BAME school, in fact I would never have put him in an all-white school (anyway not possible round here!) . . . I do get the impression that many London-based Mumsnetters are more anxious about too-many-black-kids than anything else, really, though reluctant to fess up . . So they will 'inexplicably' prefer an obviously less effective but erm, whiter school over a high performing inner city . . .
Anyway my DC is in touch almost daily online with old primary school friends now at Platanos, Pimlico, and yep Kingsdale, all happy and doing well as far as I can gather, though my contact with their parents is superficial to say the least.
Lambeth Academy is a bit further away for us but sounds to me like a nice school in the Platanos mould . . . I'm guessing these less fashionable schools will try harder esp with promising kids given they have more to prove . . I'm willing to bet that super-sought-after schools with big white-middle-class intakes are prone to complacency, assuming tutoring widely available, which lets staff off the hook . . . Assumptions schools like Lambeth Academy or Platanos Academy would never make.
If your kid is conscientious and supported, and likely to be a credit to the school, a school like that will do their very best for them I am sure . . . And your child will enjoy being one of the school 'stars' or leaders in a way they may not have been at Graveney or Kingsdale.
And maybe learn something about succeeding from a place of disadvantage in the process!
There are many lovely kids - and teachers - at 'unfashionable' schools, trust me on that.
Best of luck.

@marytuda thanks for post, Very helpful
my son is white but living in south London mainly Clapham / Brixton my whole life it's quite hard pressed to find any school now that isn't mixed ethnicity if anything I'd say Lambeth academy is predominantly BAME and i find it's really sad if that's an agenda for parents when choosing schools.

I've never been one for statistics of league tables etc, most of the time it's the parents that fuel the bad reputation of the school with their opinion s and stories of having a friends uncles neighbours son went there etc ... lol

I just want my son to be happy and have the best opportunities like any other parent does I guess and although Lambeth academy may not offer all the things Kingsdale does I think surely they follow the same curriculum and children make the most with the tools they have right, I'm pretty sure my school was fairly basic and we all did ok if I kid wants to learn they will I just feel bad if I ignore child's request to put Kingsdale first .. but hey he's 10 what does he know? He can be max for a few months & thank me later when he's home by 3:45 each day instead of 4:45.

Such a helpful thread. My son missed out on a sports scholarship.

Has anyone else heard how they got on?

The letter did mention that if he got a space via a different method he would be able to be on their gifted and talent programme. I don't know, and they may just send such a letter to everyone who does not obtain a scholarship as a sweetener.

I am not telling my son. He has some other exams but Kingsdale is what he wants.
I want to see if he is lucky enough to get a place.

He is very talented at sport but is not at national level but has won club type competitions. He was very tired when he did one of the assessments too but he did his best.

So have people managed to get a place in year 8?

Does anyone know who many people apply for each place?

@lovemincepies my son missed out too however watching the assessment take place from my car there wasn't a lot of assessing going on I believe it's a bit of pot luck to be fair my son also plays weekly for 2 football teams.
I gave up on Kingsdale in end it's too stressful I also haven't told son he didn't get a scholarship as he'll think he's not good enough.
Good luck with your school choices.

sparklymum my son did one assessment tired because he has done 2 hours of sport beforehand and had a poor nights sleep.

I am sorry your son didn't get one too.

I agree the timing for the sessions were quite short.

I don't think I can give up on Kingsdale yet as I do not have good local options, that is why I am hoping my son will somehow get a place. I have not told my son either, he felt one assessment did well. We did not watch.
I also don't want to dent any confidence he has.

So I am not going to focus on kingsdale but deep down my son will ask eventually and I will just say you don't know if you get a place until March.

I have had a few friends ask me and ask me about the results but I don't want to tell them when my son doesn't know in case it gets back to him.

At least the Kingsdale process didn't drag on.

Did you get the line about the gifted and talents programme in the outcome letter?

We heard via email a couple of days ago that DD got a full music scholarship and got the physical copy of the confirmation letter in the post today. That still doesn't mean she's guaranteed a place though apparently, because they over offer.

Sorry, your DSs didn't get scholarships - hopefully they'll get in on the lottery.

@lovemincepies we put it as 5th choice in end as we live out of borough & i wasn't 100% happy about the travel, the letter of not being successful just gave me the nudge I needed to give up but 3 of his school friends who also tried for sports didn't get it either but 2 girls got music ... it's so random.
At the end of the day your child will do well where ever they go if they are willing to learn and the teachers are good, don't rule out the smaller schools I ended up choosing one I spent the last 3 years saying never ever because I listened to the playground gossip mostly coming from parents who'd never been there but when I went there I was very impressed. Good luck xx

yellowtulips well done for your daughter - my son is about to sit grade 3 so I didn't think he would be able to go for the music scholarship. Sport really is his thing.

sparklymum unfortunately the schools are really struggling. I so do wish it was just gossip. There is an academy that seems ok but it is new and unknown.

There is still a grammar test to try for but l we just have not done enough to sit it.

I suppose we will just have to hope for a place.

@yellowtulipsinavase

We heard via email a couple of days ago that DD got a full music scholarship and got the physical copy of the confirmation letter in the post today. That still doesn't mean she's guaranteed a place though apparently, because they over offer.

Sorry, your DSs didn't get scholarships - hopefully they'll get in on the lottery.

Well done to your daughter!

It might say on the letter something that indicates where she is ranked - ours said something along the lines of her being in the top 10% and that would normally mean that she would be offered a place in the initial round (but no guarantee etc), which we took to mean that she would be actually be guaranteed a place even if they didn't say as much.

As far as I can tell, pretty much everyone who was offered a full scholarship got one by the summer, as did a lot of those who were offered a half-scholarship.

Very impressed so far with the music offer under Covid conditions. The music department obviously went to a lot of trouble to match my daughter to the teacher who matches the direction my daughter wants to go in. Lessons currently all on Zoom, but working well.

Thanks @MrsBloggsJones - great to hear that the music provision is so good.

Our offer letter said "With reference to your daughter’s performance; in previous years, if an applicant with a similar score did not receive an offer from a higher preference school, they would have normally exceeded the benchmark to be ranked in the top 15% on our scholarship oversubscription list for those admitted and would have been
offered a place at the School."

I can't tell from that whether they mean she has scored highly enough that she should be in the 15% who get places on allocation day, or she's in the top 15% of the waiting list? It goes on with the usual caveats about not being a guaranteed place, but that the overwhelming majority get a place by September 1st.

Another positive about Kingsdale .. their YouTube videos during lockdown showing the children and their music.

It is just amazing. Such an amazing output.

Really diverse contributions.

They obviously somehow kept music and art going through lockdown.

I loved the virtual choir too.

@yellowtulipsinavase

Thanks *@MrsBloggsJones* - great to hear that the music provision is so good.

Our offer letter said "With reference to your daughter’s performance; in previous years, if an applicant with a similar score did not receive an offer from a higher preference school, they would have normally exceeded the benchmark to be ranked in the top 15% on our scholarship oversubscription list for those admitted and would have been
offered a place at the School."

I can't tell from that whether they mean she has scored highly enough that she should be in the 15% who get places on allocation day, or she's in the top 15% of the waiting list? It goes on with the usual caveats about not being a guaranteed place, but that the overwhelming majority get a place by September 1st.

They're not going to win any prizes from the Plain English Campaign, but that is very similar to what was in our letter.

I would take it as meaning that, as long as you have Kingsdale higher on your CAF than any other school that you would be offered a place at, you are pretty much guaranteed to get in at the initial offer stage as her score ranks her in the top 15% of music places.

It was pretty confusing at a lot of schools - I had to ring one to find out whether DD was 6th on the list for the 'guaranteed a place as ranked in top 25' or 6th on the waiting list underneath the top 25, and therefore at least 7 scholarship holders would need to decline a place for her to be offered one. Makes a big difference as to whether you risk it on the CAF or not, and it wasn't at all obvious which group was which!

@sara75

I know this is an old thread but did your DC get an offer?

We are number 115 on the band 3 waiting list, I wonder what the movement is like these days as this thread is five years old now. We are not holding our breath for an offer, though it would be welcomed happily as we got our third choice school (Kingsdale was our first choice)

Hello! I understand what you’re going through; we were in a similar situation last year and the year before. While we were ranked lower than your position, we didn't secure a space either. It’s easy to get caught up in speculation since the process doesn’t always follow a predictable pattern like other schools. From our experience, I recommend focusing on the offers you currently have. We didn’t receive an offer from Kingsdale and, although we were initially disappointed, things turned out positively in the end.

My child was in the 50s on the Band 3 waitlist last year and it didn’t move upwards at all I’m afraid.