State secondaries in and around South London

[missl1]

Where are the best state secondary schools in and around the South London area - mixed rather than single sex? I know you can look at the .Gov perf tables but also wanting to add some Mumsnet knowledge to that info. Ideally not in Grammar school areas but that doesn't matter too much if it's a great school.

Charter school is one of the best schools where I live in south London. They recently opened a sister school in east dulwich too. I have heard good things about Kingsdale however they have a banding type assessment and it’s a lottery style I think for that one. Hope others can help with other schools....

How far South?

Charter, Dunraven, Graveney.

Check catchments carefully.

Kingsdale is a lottery with no reference to distance at all, you stand an equal chance applying from anywhere. But makes a good option on your list if you have other good local possibilities.

Looking at South West as well as South (central)! We are currently near (but not near enough) to Charter, Dunraven and Graveney. Potentially looking at moving a bit further out ... South or South West outskirts.

Kingsdale APPALLING.
Unless you want your child taught in PE changing rooms and in tents.
Avoid.

cauliflowersqueeze I did laugh out loud. Never sent any of my DC to Kingsdale or Charter but have heard nothing but positives about both..... so interesting to hear your view

I've never known a school attract such extreme negatives and extreme positives as Kingsdale!

Further out in SW London, I'd recommend Orleans Park or Grey Court. Both coed in the affluent areas along the Thames.

I'm down in Sutton and while it's a grammar area, the comps are fab. Cheam High is excellent and Cheam Village a super lovely place to live for a villagey feel without breaking the bank.
Another sought after school is Greenshaw but it located close to some nice areas (like the Garden Suburb) but also the sprawling St Helier Estate (very safe, not rough, the kids in school are lovely but the area looks a bit grim).
Then there's Greenshaw - a National Teaching School with a performing arts scholarship programme. You can apply from anywhere but they do take all abilities.
If your DC are into STEM subjects, there's the new Harris Sutton in South Sutton. State of the art Science facilities, next door to the Royal Marsden and the Cancer Research Hub with links. Affluent area perfect if you're after a pad with a tennis court and swimming pool within walking distance.

Riddlesdown Collegiate in Croydon is sought after too. Or Hinchley Wood just outside London is fab but it operates a feeder school system and most of the feeder primaries are pretty crap.

Other than that it's excellent single sex schools in New Malden or Epsom (but that's just outside London).

The National Teaching School is Glenthorne.