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.

If moving - Bromley is a good destination because it gives you access to the Kent and Bexley grammars and if you are careful about buying well i the catchment area you could have access to Bullers Wood for Girls.

Thanks for all the suggestions. DP grew up in Bromley and isn’t keen on moving back.
Weirdly enough, we happened to drive through Beckenham today and really liked the look of it.
However, any moves would need to be carefully considered, we can’t just move anywhere, as DD lives part time with her dad, my exDH, so school would need to be close to him, and he’s in Blackheath.

Jumping on this thread as am weighing up state secondary schools in Greenwich, any thoughts on Leigh Academy Blackheath? It's new and hence not enough results but trying to sense check quality of teaching and pastoral support. Their new campus is meant to open in Sep'20 but will assume delays bound to happen, is current temp campus okish?
Others heard good things about are Harris Academy and Ark Free school, though sadly catchment won't cut for either.

I know quite a few local children at LAB and have heard only positive stories. Where the kids have come from primary the current lack of facilities doesn't seem to bother them! Importantly discipline sounds really well managed from day 1. I am sure those parents felt as nervous as you would expect trusting a new school with no results, but everyone I've spoken to would not hesitate to recommend it there.
Good luck!

Thanks @spickles, now fingers crossed we get a place there!

Hi,
Wondered if there’s any additional views on the Blackheath Academy for kids that are more creative and into Drama. Also any thoughts on the pastoral care in balance with academic drive would be much appreciated .
Thank you.

@Darcey12 do you mean the Leigh Academy Blackheath? I’ve heard really good things about it from quite a few people but I’ve not been.
Really struggling with trying to decide on schools. We’ve put our house on the market to try and move and release equity to try to afford private. Struggling to find houses near any of the decent state schools (eg the area around Tallis has shot up in price, and houses are pretty uninspiring for the price).

I live on the edge of Greenwich borough. Plenty of people in my area have had children at the grammar schools, you don't have to live too close to them. One neighbour had two at Chislehurst and Sidcup which is in Bexley, others I know went to Newstead Woods or St Olave's. There's a quite good comprehensive in Chislehurst called Coopers.

tigerbear, if you're thinking of private, Colfe's is pretty good. Do try the grammars though, they are excellent and would save you some dosh.

@Lynda07 thanks for your comments, much appreciated. How do the children who go to the grammars get there? Are there school buses?

That I don't know but those children of my acquaintance who went to one of the schools mentioned travelled on public transport, it didn't take that long and there are plenty of buses. They are all on good bus routes.
Where I live, there is a bus that goes to Sidcup (near to Chis and Sid), and in other direction goes near to Colfe's, there's also a train station and it's two stops (my son went to Colfe's); at the bottom of my road there's a 'bus which goes close to St Olave's.

There is a coach run by Lewis coaches that serves Newstead and St Olaves with 3 routes. S1 runs from Beckenham to the schools via Eden Park and West Wickham; S2 Starts in Greenwich and goes via Plumstead and Welling and Foots Cray,; S3 Starts in Abbey Wood and goes via Erith, Crayford, Dartford and Swanley. I think one other company also runs a coach on a different route.

However many (under normal circumstances) use the trains as they are more flexible and it isn't an unreasonable walk from Orpington station to the schools. In inclement weather the taxi drivers have five children in a cab and they each pay a pound. DD has never done this but seen it happen, especially those with art projects etc to lug about and try and keep dry.

OP the Grammars take kids based on distance (once you've been 'deemed selective') so in some years none of them will come as far as SE3 or SE10. You need to check the Bexley admissions site for details.

Kent require v high scores for 'out of catchment' entrants - so although Dartford is an easy train journey, getting a place is a big ask.

Newstead has a 9 mile catchment so if you hit their target score then you're in - but Orpington is a tricky journey from this part of the world...

Just a clarification, not all the grammars take purely on distance. St Olaves is score, you could live anywhere. Bexley if you are in the top 180 scorers distance does not apply. Kent has some grammars with places based on out of country score. Newstead - the cut off score changes each year depending on how well the cohort do and how popular the school is with high scorers and you won’t find out what that is until March of each year.

Thanks Tigerbear. Yes it is the Leigh Academy Blackheath. Private’s not an option and grammar won’t work, so looking for a good state school with a well rounded approach, strong discipline and good pastoral care. A friend suggested LAB may be a good choice.

@Darcey12 yes, I’ve heard the same. Everyone I mention it to has heard excellent things about Leigh.

Have you received much insight from parents for Thomas Tallis? I’ve heard mixed views?

Yes, I’ve received excellent feedback on it. The Head at my DD’s current school highly recommends it, and it was near the top of our list, but we can’t find any houses we like that are nearby and in budget.
We did go on one of their walk around mornings and liked it.
What views in terms of negatives have you heard?