Greenwich/Blackheath Secondary schools advice please

[tigerbear]

Hi all,
I’m based on the edge of Greenwich/Blackheath and really struggling to find decent state schools that look decent. Only ones I’ve found so far are Thomas Tallis and Addey & Stanhope, neither of which I particularly like the sound of (mainly because their GCSE results are below average, and that students entering the school in Y7 who are very able aren’t pushed or challenged enough).

Can anyone recommend any?
And re grammar schools - do you def have to be based in Kent to stand any kind of a chance of getting in?

Am considering all options atm, inc private.
If anyone has any recommendations, I’d be grateful. DD is going into Y4 in Sept, but I’m already receiving advice from a relative who worked as a Head Teacher and Ofsted inspector that we shouldn’t leave it any later to start research.

For context, DD is currently at a very small Outstanding primary CofE school, and is considered very bright.

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Bexley borough have grammar schools as well as Kent. If you have a look at the council website it tells you the distance last offered for Bexley Grammar and Townley. Might be worth considering.

Thanks @scrunchSE18 I’ll take a look. My relative seems adamant that I should just give all the grammars a call and ask about it, but I’m not sure if that’s the way forward.

www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk

Harris Greenwich and Ark Free School look very good in the borough of Greenwich - any chance of getting into those?

I'm down in Sutton and we have 5 grammars. Two of them are girls' schools. Some of the spaces are reserved for girls living near the schools but others available to anyone. That means it is possible but more difficult to get it from far away. We also have some fab comps (better than any Greenwich schools) so families often move to try for a grammar but also make sure they're close enough to a good comp as a backup.

You'd need to double check the Kent Grammars but I think they tend to have catchments (maybe some don't, though?).

I think Newstead Wood in Bromley is also super selective (so anyone can apply).

One thing I would say, though, is that you do need to have a backup when applying for grammars. They're massively competitive and often even very very clever kids don't get in. Your backup could be a comp you like or an indie.

@JojoSM2 thanks for the info.
I’ve been on Rightmove for the last half hour or so, checking out places in Bexley, Sidcup etc.
Will take a look at that website you linked to.

If you decide to check out anything Sutton way, I'll be happy to help as I know the borough (areas and housing stock) and schools and their admission policies and distances too well ;)

Thanks so much @JoJoSM2, that’s so kind of you

Ah, just realised that Sutton is quite a trek from us. We need to be as close to Blackheath as possible, as my exDH is based there.

Blackheath High? GDST. Great schools for bright girls. Fees deliberately lower than other private schools. Would be worth looking into to see if your DD could get a scholarship or even bursary, depending on your means. Attend an open day or book a private tour

A GDST school on the doorstep is always handy

OP, just make sure you start doing some extra work with DD. The state school 11+ happen in Sept of Y6 and in winter for the indies. In addition to being very bright, DD will need to be well prepared to have a chance.

@jhb2013 not sure if I’m missing something, but the fees at Blackheath High don’t seem any different to the other school we like (Colfes). It’s only about £400 per year between them.

Anyway, have booked an Open Day to see Blackheath High, and will look into tutoring too. I’m well aware that many children have been tutored from reception for the grammars/to get scholarships to the private schools, so hope I haven’t left it too late!

@tigerbear just trying to help you out, as requested...

Not sure why your relative would suggest phoning the school. Most information is on the school website or council website. You may need to move to get nearer Townley Grammar etc but then you'd have to sacrifice living in lovely Greenwich Blackheath for crappy Bexleyheath. If you can pay go private. Scholarship only a small stipend towards cost.

Y4 is no way too late!

Eltham College is just turning co -ed and will be looking to increase its girls cohort quite quickly so that might be another indie option?

If she's at the Cof E school then would Greycoats in Victoria be an option? There are some church places - our neighbour (from I suspect the same CofE school as you) went there.

Newstead has a 9 mile catchment so Blackheath comfortably in catchment. The Bexley grammars fluctuate - Chis & Sid has come out as far as SE3 in the first round recently but not Townley. Kent grammars have a higher score needed for out of county (OOC) candidates but not insurmountable -Dartford Grammar is an easy train journey?

Some girls at DD's grammar in Orpington (Newstead) come from Greenwich, there is a direct coach service but most get the train. There is a nine mile catchment and the admissions info on their website gives a link to the tool they use to measure the distance. DD is thriving at the school but it isn't for everyone so do pay a visit to the open day and don't be put off by the crowds.

Colfes /Eltham scholarships go ad high as 50%.

Colfes tend to offer scholarships on a sliding scale to the top quartile - starting at 10% off fees. There are also drama, music, art and sport scholarships.

Remember the journey time matters, traffic is heavy so even a three mile journey takes forever. Look beyond exam results and ofsted, look for a school culture that suits your child, it can be very hard to get an out of area place so unless you move you may need to only look at your closest schools. Bizarre as it sounds, the best individual attention dd ever got was from a school in special measures

If you can consider private schools, what about JAGs and Alleyne’s as the Dulwich schools run a bus service.

If your child is musical, there is Askes, who will take an out of catchment musical child. It would be a short bus ride away.

JAGs and Alleyns are in a different price bracket though and offer lower scholarships. Plus the bus is quite pricey. Fabulous schools though.

they're not that different - we are looking at JAGS and both Blackheath and Sydenham GDST and there's not much different in price. £500 a term. Which, of course, is a lot but not as much as I would have thought! Alleyns is more expensive again.

St Mary Magdalene C of E School on the Peninsula is worth a look. New secondary so I appreciate no results to go by atm but the federation who run it have an excellent track record at primary (they were just one outstanding primary, now they have two schools over 3 sites), the SLT are excellent (I worked for them for 5 years so I'm not just saying that!) and the building is brand new (built in consultation with all staff).

Loads of private options accessible by school coach from Blackheath/Standard. Super selective Grammar - Newstead also accessible via Bromley mini coaches. Bexley and Kent Grammar schools - register for the 11+ - almost everyone tutored for any of the Grammar schools and competition is fierce but if she's able then she's in with a chance. Transport easy to the Bexley and Kent schools via train. State schools not great - Thomas Tallis ok.

Hi
I would like to offer a local view with my own kids in the local state system.
I really would try and talk to some neighbours about their local school experience.

My friends with kids at the new Leigh academy are vey impressed. St Ursulas is fantastic, achieving grammar/private school level results (but you do need to be catholic) and I know many children who have done extremely well at John Roan and Thallis now pursuing degrees at Cambridge, York, Warwick etc. A smart child in a supportive loving home will do well locally. At the end of the day it also comes down to their personal effort, and with teenagers that is a thing of itself.
I also know of kids who have travelled to Kent each day for the grammars from SE10/SE3 and lost 2 hours of their day and had no local friends. The grammars are not the bees knees, they get expected good results from smart kids (who I would argue would get good results in most settings). My friends children at local schools have all also got great GCSE and A level results - it really isn't as bad as the numbers make out! The schools measure progress based on where they are at 11, so if at 11 they are expected to get 8 level 8s at 16, i'm pretty sure most of our local schools would keep them on that track. Its certainly been the case for my own high achieving child. Of course there are children who are not as able, or do not work as hard, but that shouldn't mean your child doesn't reach their own potential.
I would say journey time is a factor at 11 (maybe not at 16) so making a day as simple as possible would be my preference.
Re private options, If you have a sporty child I would say somewhere like Eltham or Colfes is a good private option as undoubtedly you pay for some good facilities there. I do not think you get much for your moneys worth in that regard at BHSG.

I agree that journey times should be taken into account but I also know parents with children in poorly performing schools who are spending many hours with tutors each week to try and make up for the bad teaching.

There will always be outliers in all schools but why take the chance, John Roan is mentioned upthread, its Progress 8 score is given as 'well below average' -1.02, for prior high attainers it is even worse at -1.18. Newstead Wood School has 'Well above average' at 0.93. Whilst data cannot be taken into isolation, it is a helpful indicator.