Orpington Grammar/Secondary/Private schools

[OrpoMum]

Hello, I am really confused about secondary school options where I live, next to Orpington hospital (not the PRU). I feel DD, my only child, is bright enough for Grammar, she’s late August born so she will have a tutor for the 11+ from Year 4 and we are starting foundation work after Easter with me whilst she’s in Year 3. I am really unsure of which grammar schools she could get into. It looks like we are in the catchment for hardly any, but I could be wrong. We will apply to Newstead Wood but getting in would be a real stretch for DD so I have almost discounted it. She is not top of the class and probably won’t get the top marks in the tests. This is my dilemma – do I move to be closer to Bexley schools or the other way for Kent schools (TN postcode) or will DD still be in for a chance of achieving a grammar place if I stay put and therefore a move is unnecessary? My location in Orpington looks problematic to me as I seem to (but I don’t know for sure) sit just outside Bexley and Kent schools catchments but my friends nearer Orpington/Petts Wood stations seem to have a better chance, for Bexley at least. Or if kids get into Grammar from my area, do they have to be the top scorers and DD has to get a really high score than if we lived closer? Bromley High or another private is my second option but it would stretch me financially (I can afford it but I will have to retire later and we will have to cut back on lifestyle) and DD has to pass the test. Are other private schools’ tests easier than BH? But what if she doesn’t pass any of the tests for any schools? None of the state schools, Knole Academy, Charles Darwin, and the Harris Academy Orpington, look highly performing. We are out of catchment for Darrick Wood. Coopers is banded so could be ok, I’m not sure if this is an option where we live though. I think Harris Academy Bromley take 25% random selection so that may be an option as it’s a good school although it’s very far away and a slim chance. Is my only realistic option Knole or Charles Darwin if she doesn’t pass the tests? Are these schools ok? I am a full time working single parent in a demanding job with little time and no financial support from or contact with the father so I’m finding it hard to know what to do and who to discuss this with. You can probably sense the desperation in my post and I know it’s still a long way off! However, if I need to move I do need to think about it now though, because that’s a huge decision for me in my situation. Grateful for any advice.

I assume you mean Knole in Sevenoaks? Would you be looking then to move to the Sevenoaks area? If she failed the 11+’(and only 25% pass so it’s a possibility), Knole isn’t the only local option. Trinity in Sevenoaks is a faith school and outperforms Knole. 50% of the in-take are non faith places (though it’s very over subscribed and living close to the school would be a good idea). Other local options from Sevenoaks which are decent for DD would be Hillview in Tonbridge and Wrotham school (outer Sevenoaks).

Weald of Kent in Sevenoaks might not necessitate a move, plenty of girls commute down from Orpington - I don’t know if you’d need to be in a certain postcode. It’s not a Super Selective. TGS in Tonbridge also has a small number of Orpington OC girls who’ve achieved a very high score. Obviously, if you lived in Sevenoaks then your grammar choices would be wider. Where we live in Outer Sevenoaks, girls go to the Grammars in Sevenoaks, Maidstone, Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells on in county places.

Hi OP,
I know your dilemma!
The bexley schools vary in how far they come up to each year. Some years they dont come as far as orpington and I believe this year they have.
So unless your child is in top 180, bexley will be a hit and miss depending on the number of applicants that year which you will not know about until after results are out.
TGS takes around 40 girls from Out of catchment but scores needed are usually in the range of 395+ (this year it was 402 for ooc)
Weald of Kent needs a pass in the Kent grammar and usually comes up to Petts Wood so that has always been a safe backup option for girls.
If you are relocating for schools, do look up commute times if you need to get to work.
Moving to Sevenoaks/Tonbridge means you have access to faster trains but it does add up to journey times and costs.
Hope this helps!

Hi SJaneS49, I included Knole as I understand that is one of my choices for Secondary for Orpington, even though it is in Sevenoaks. It seems so odd that we are in the catchment for that school, miles away, but we’re not for Darrick Wood up the road. I don’t want to move to Sevenoaks, but would consider doing so if I knew I had a better chance at one of the Grammars so that’s really good to know.

Thank you ScoobyDoobyDoo (I chuckled typing that!), that confirms my suspicions unfortunately but good to know that Weald might be an option, although I am aware we will have to research it to see if it will suit. It’s such a dilemma.

Very odd @OrpoMum that Knole is a possibility for you in Orpington - probably a reflection of its unpopularity here in Sevenoaks! To be fair, they do have a grammar stream (so if your DD does just miss the mark that might be worth knowing) and the one family I know with sons there do rate it. It’s a huge school though!

The Weald annexe in Sevenoaks by comparison is pretty small but definitely does take children from Orpington. My DDs 2 Primary best friends are both there and are happy. From what I’ve heard, it’s less pressurised than TGS as a non Super.