Harris Academy Greenwich / Eltham Hill school

[tigerbear]

Hi all, trying to plan for DD secondary options, and we’ll be moving house to get nearer decent schools.
DD head teacher had recommended Harris Academy Greenwich, Eltham Hill, Thomas Tallis, Leigh Academy, and for private, Eltham College or Blackheath High.

To go private, we’d need to move to a cheaper area than we are now (we’re currently in Greenwich/Blackheath borders), so we’re looking at moving to Mottingham/Lee/Grove Park to be able to release equity out of our current house to afford private.

But if we didn’t get in, what are the state options like of Harris Academy/Eltham Hill?
DD is very bright and able, quite sensitive, and at a tiny school right now.

The only schools we’ve been to from the above before lockdown were Tallis and Blackheath High, and liked both (but finding that house prices have shot up massively near Tallis, and we can’t find houses we like in budget nearby).

Also, any insights into Haberdashers Knights Academy? I’ve read their Ofsted and concerned that more able students aren’t challenged enough. Thanks in advance!

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Maybe add Colfes to your independent list. Also are you looking at the Bexley grammars or are they too far? If currently year 5 you need to register now...

Hi OP - you have 2 threads about the same thing going on here? You were given people's opinions on local schools last year and are now asking the same thing?

If you're ok moving to Mottingham then Eltham is a good bet. If you're not then what is your catchment comprehensive? There's no way you can be in the catchment for more than one of those comps?

Also if your dd is at All saints then you must be religious so (as someone suggested a year ago) Grecoats is an option.

@chalkyc2 - thanks for your comment. The Bexley grammars at too far, sadly. I also need to take into account that DD lives with exDH part of the time, so needs to be as near as possible to where he lives too (Blackheath)
We did see Colfes too and it felt more like a very good state rather than a great independent, also the staff were very cagey about results (others have mentioned that Colfes isn’t rated highly academically compared to other independents)

@Chnandlerbong - sorry, didn’t realise it wasn’t ok to have similar threads. The reason I’m asking on this one, is because I don’t think we were previously considering moving to Mottingham area, so I wasn’t asking so specifically about Haberdashers, Eltham Hill, Eltham College last year.

I’m not in the catchment for ANY of the schools mentioned so far - we’d be moving to be nearer to any of them, so that’s why I’m trying to get a better idea, as I need to make a decision on where to move to ASAP (current house under offer)

In answer to your comment re Greycoats, I don’t think she’d get in on the basis that I’m not religious (exDH is, hence getting into All Saints). It’s my understanding that both parents have to be religious to get into Greycoats...

If you were thinking of Mottingham are there any properties you can afford within catchment of Bullers Wood in nearby Chislehurst? It is an excellent comprehensive. You then also have Bromley High as an independent option which isn’t too dissimilar from Blackheath High.

I live in the middle of the areas you are thinking of moving to. Whilst it has great primary schools, secondary schools are definitely an issue. Some of them are OK, but they're not really the kind of schools that people move to be in the catchment of (compare the better schools in this area with the better schools in e.g. Bromley Borough and there is a huge difference). There are also always people round here who don't get any of their 6 choices for secondary school or get their last choice.

You also need to consider very carefully where you move to within the areas specified. Many parts of the area can be out of the catchment of any of the better schools. Harris Greenwich (which is OK, but not great in my opinion, but better than some of the other options) only goes out around a mile which is not far at all and excludes most of Lee, Grove Park and Mottingham. Eltham Hill (which is a lovely school that might suit your daughter as it has the feel of quite a small school) goes further, but in most years does not stretch all the way to Grove Park Station. It went further this year, but that's because it added a bulge class. Both Greenwich and Lewisham council websites have interactive maps where you can view distances offered in the previous year.

Many of the kids in this area take the Bexley 11+ and there are a lot of kids that go to the grammars from Lee and Mottingham Stations heading to Beths, Townley and Chis & Sid. It's an easy journey too, for example from Lee Station, it's less than 10 minutes to Sidcup and then a 5 minute walk to Chis & Sid, the other two are a few more minutes on the train, but longer walks at the other end. You would again need to keep an eye on distances offered from previous years as this area is usually on the edge of the distances offered, so make sure you're on the right side of the line if you want to consider the grammars.

Do you have just the one DD? If so, and if you're planning on moving house anyway, move close to Prendergast and get her in there?

Also, if your DD is very bright then the Bexley grammars aren't too far; children who score within the top 180 get their first choice of grammar. The 89 bus goes all the way from Lewisham to Welling High St which is a short walk to Bexley Grammar School. Or what about Newstead Woods? You may be within the 9 miles for that school too, or could move so you are if that's the sort of school you're after.

Thanks for all of the advice and suggestions, it’s all much appreciated.
Location wise, we’re now aiming more towards houses around the Grove Park Road area of Mottingham/Mottingham Lane.

I checked the catchment for Harris Academy and Eltham Hill last night, and based on the houses we’re looking at, we would be in catchment for Eltham Hill, but not Harris.

We would be open to grammar school too.

The other complication here is that DD lives some of the time at her dad’s too, who lives in Blackheath, so journey times to school from his need to be considered too.

@PLW2020 your comment about people not getting any or their last choice schools puts the fear into me! This exactly what I’m afraid of. One of the reasons we’re moving from where we are now to a cheaper area, is to release equity out of our house in order to afford private as a fall back option if she doesn’t get a decent state or grammar.

Did you see my suggestion that you consider moving close to Prendergast? You should get more for your money than in SE10 but all the benefits of living in Ladywell i.e. close to two stations, parks, not far from Blackheath and you'd have no need for spending money on school fees because your DD would get into Prendergast. There are plenty of bright girls there and it's one of the smaller secondary schools locally.

@SE13Mummy I did see your suggestion, thank you. I always get a bit confused with Prendergast - what the difference between the 3 different schools in close proximity?
Are you specifically recommending the girls only one?
I’ve taken a look at property for sale around there, and their doesn’t seem to be much available, sadly. Will do further research on their catchment...

There are three Prendergasts now; Prendergast School (girls school on Hilly Fields, the original Prendergast), Prendergast Ladywell (mixed, primary & secondary, replaced Crofton Park secondary) and Prendergast Vale (mixed, primary & secondary, replaced Lewisham Bridge primary).

The girls school is the one I think sounds like the best fit for what you're after. It's girls 11-16 with a mixed sixth form and is the highest achieving of the three. 10% of its intake are selected on the basis of an aptitude for music which means there are a few girls each year who live a bit further afield than the rest but most of the intake is very local (within 1127m of the main door of the building at the top of the hill for 2020 entry, 860m for 2018 which is what the attached image hopefully shows).

There aren't many properties in the area on Rightmove but when I had a quick look on Zoopla there seemed to be more.

I think the Bexley and Bromley Grammars are your best bet. Hundreds of children from the Greenwich and Lewisham Boroughs attend them. There are even private mini buses from the Standard and Blackheath to Newstead Woods for example. Dartford Grammar for girls a shortish journey by train from Blackheath station. All have excellent results and your dd would find like minded friends hopefully. Eltham Hill also has a good reputation.

Blackheath High is a nice school but I wouldn't say it adds lots of value over the Grammars - it's traditionally been a school for girls who don't pass the 11+. Colfe's is another good school and becoming more competitive. Eltham College may offer financial incentives (academic scholarship) as I would imagine they'll be trying to attract girls in for the first few years of turning co-Ed.

@tigerbear what did you end up deciding? My Dc is only a baby but we need to upsize now from our commuter pad, looking to move near good schools and hopefully not move again. Mottingham station commute, house prices and the lovely Tarn and Fairy Hill park would be ideal, but it’s quite far from schools.

@Lightsabre do hundreds really go to the grammar schools? Bexley borough only has 800 places each year between its 4 schools. And I think Bromley is 300? Thought they would all go in borough.

I have no experience of grammar school system and definitely need to do my research. My gut feeling is that moving to an area purely on how my baby might perform in a test in 11 years’ time can’t be right, but moving to Bexley for the good schools is what all my peers are doing.

BakeoffRewatch is your child a boy or a girl?

This year it looks like Chris and Sids (both sexes attend) has gone out to Petts Wood.

I know someone who got into Beths Grammar who lives just over 8 KM away from Beths Grammar (Beths takes boys) so I think Beths can go quite far.

Bexley Grammar is tighter.

Townley has gone out depending upon the years to those out of area. Last year apparently people in Orpington got in the May allocations.

You are right that you can't predict the system but if I were you I would consider moving to Bexley.

I got our child into a Bexley Grammar, and we really had no idea how competitive it was, so because we didn't expect it was fine. But we did have no real fall back and I would not do that again.

But I see you have a DD and the Dad lives in Blackheath. So does that mean you get a choice? Dad could possibly have the fall back position of Bexley Grammars, or Leigh or Greenwich Academy.

You move either to Bexley to be in zone for Townley and Bexley Grammar or you have a look at Bexley and Bromley (if you want to try for Newstead wood).

But it very much depends upon the distance, and the test that year, and how many sat it, and where they lived, so it can change year to year.

Re private - am surprised what you say about Colfes, they advertised their results, they have a generous scholarship policy (our child was awarded one but we took a grammar place) and the Head seems excellent. People we know love it for their daughter.

It is hard to get into Dartford Girls from Blackheath but I know people who have done it, and also got into Bexley and also got into Newstead woods where they just fit into the radius for that school. But who knows what it would be like in 10 or 11 years.

Sorry OP I think I mixed the drinks and got your posts and the OP's posts mixed up.

Hope you can make sense of what I have said anyway and apologies !!!!!

Hi @itrainsandpours, this is a thread from last summer that I’ve revived, so @tigerbear has probably already decided. My daughter is just a baby, but I hope to have more who could be boys. I couldn’t afford private for more than one so I’m thinking there’s no point buying a family home in an affordable part of Greenwich, we should settle in a good school area now.

I saw a nice house by Albany Park station which is by Chislehurst and Sidcup. I know Burnt Oak Junior School is outstanding, but the houses near there are so pricey!

Yes sorry as I mentioned I mixed the drinks. I think @tigerbear is still around so hopefully you will get a response.

I think it sounds like a good plan, check if near Chis and Sid and other Bexley options. I would not worry about primary but secondary. My children have gone to a really poor primary school but seem to have still done great for secondary, it is likely you will also have to tutor or do some extra work anyhow. Bexley has some great schools so if you can plan for that now, then why not? Just check what the state options for secondary would be too!

Thank you @itrainsandpours. My heart is still in Greenwich though, I really love this borough with Oxleas Woods, Severndroog Castle, the royal park, food outlets and museums so I was hoping OP might come back and say the Greenwich schools she mentioned are great!

It is crazy how random Greenwich Secondary schools are. Hopefully it may change, a coupe more years Leigh may be good. Greenwich Harris Academy is meant to be very good but how knows what will happen with academies in ten years time. Yes it is a hard one.

Secondary is challenging in Greenwich.

We live in Greenwich. My DD is going to St Dunstans College in Catford (private). I hear rumours that Harris Academy is very strict - maybe you like that maybe you dont. Eltham Hill is supposed to be great but only if you want all girls. Prendegast Hilly fields the same. Both have teeny catchement areas. If you are looking to go private all girls Bromley High has lots of buses to Greenwich and Blackheath.

@Confuzzled2020 thank you for sharing your views. What I’m thinking is buy in a good grammar school area now and then we’re “in” and can choose to leave later. I can’t believe how the prices have been going up in Bexley borough, houses gone from 300 to 500 within a couple of years. I think this trend will keep happening as I’ve read a few articles about people who were private schooled themselves now not being able to afford it for their kids so good school areas will be even further pushed, and that the squeeze will come from the other way as well, underfunding of comprehensives will make people want to move to those areas.

We went to Greenwich park yesterday to enjoy the sunshine and I must admit I didn’t enjoy it that much! Lots of tourists and students, groups playing loud music and quiet pockets stinking of weed where people hiding and smoking. If I didn’t have my baby with me, it probably wouldn’t have registered at all. Maybe I’m ready for suburbia!

Yes - we avoid the park on weekends at the moment! I like areas of Bromley - dont know Bexley so much. Good luck whereever you decide.