Sevenoaks Secondary Schools

[rene75]

Hello, I would love any advice you can offer, we are looking for a great school for my boys, 15 and 12. More pressing for my 12-year-old but he will start in Y9, age 13. We are looking to relocate to Sevenoaks area, not sure where yet! any tips of great state (good academics) or independent schools. My son likes Drama, but also loves the STEM subjects and is at a good standard, although needs to be constantly pushed....... any advice most welcome, thank you

Can't comment on state school but highly recommend Tonbridge school. Sevenoaks school is also good. Both academically competitive for entry. There are p,entry of buses to a much wider variety of schools. Kings Rochester seems lovely. The grammars obviously have good reps. Knole academy has a grammar stream but I know nothing about it. If you were looking for your 12 year old to go to Sevenoaks or Tonbridge, The New Beacon would probably be your best bet.

When are you moving - it sounds like next year?

Tonbridge says its applications for Y9 entry in 2022 are now closed:

www.tonbridge-school.co.uk/admissions/year-9-entry

Can you be a bit more specific about dates - and are you moving from within the UK?

West Kent have the 11+ system so I'm not sure how easy it would be getting a place in a grammar school if you haven't taken the test.

Lots of children travel to Tonbridge and sometimes Tunbridge Wells for schooling. Best academic schools in the state system are Judd (Ton) Skinners (TW) TW Boys Grammar (also I believe they have an annexe in Sevenoaks from 2021). Other decent comprehensive schools are Bennet Memorial Church School(TW) but although buses will come from Sevenoaks it is a bit of a trek.

For your youngest child you might want to think Prep school for a year before state school as some go up to year 9. So Sevenoaks Prep, Solefield or Beacon all in Sevenoaks.

Another private option but less academic than Sevenoaks School and Tonbridge School is Radnor House in Sundridge just outside Sevenoaks.

Hi - @rene75. I live in Sevenkoaks and can fill in the State info. I did write a long reply yesterday, my phone glitched and it all disappeared so I’ll probably write this in parts! Feel free to PM me with queries and apologies as it’s going to be a long answer!

Firstly as the PP has pointed out, we’re the epitome of a Grammar county here so finding a good non grammar can be very hit and miss - location is everything really. When you say ‘great’ State with excellent academics you are going to have to bear in mind that as we have a two tier system that a sizeable proportion of the higher achievers (but not all by any means) are hived off at 11 into the grammars.

In Sevenoaks itself you have two mixed ability Secondaries. By far the higher performing is Trinity situated at the edge of town in Greatness. It’s a Faith school and takes only 50% of its in take on non faith places. It’s very popular with a narrow catchment. I know in year places do come up but as it’s popular I don’t think there’s going to be any guarantees. Moving in close catchment might help.

Knole has been mentioned above. It’s a very large mixed ability Secondary. It’s fair to say it’s considered particularly undesirable with many local parents (only one child on my DDs class went there). However it’s performance has improved and I’m pretty sure it’s local reputation isn’t deserved. The two families I know with boys there both rate it. It does indeed have a grammar stream for DC who’ve narrowly failed the 11+. To access this stream I’d imagine your DC would need to sit a test.. if obviously places within the stream in their year groups were available.

The other popular option for parents in Sevenoaks is Wrotham. Wrotham is a village outside of Sevenoaks but technically Sevenoaks! It’s performance is slightly under Trinity’s but I’d imagine chances of getting in would be higher..if local. It’s a small school and takes children from a slew of surrounding villages. I’m not sure if there are many children from Sevenoaks itself (most would be pushed into Knole) but locating yourself in Wrotham, Borough Green, Platt, Kemsing or Ightam would stand you in good stead locality wise. All these villages are technically Sevenoaks, Platt and Ightham being the most expensive and Platt, Ighth and Wrotham being the prettiest. Borough Green is on a mainline into London Victoria (45 minutes) and has the most shops and conveniences and is where I live!

(Apologies for all the spelling and grammar mistakes, I’m multi tasking and typing quickly!).

Within the wider area, Meopham is the best mixed ability State Secondary and is indeed the best non Grammar State in Kent with results not far off the Grammars. It’s closer to Gravesend than Sevenoaks. Location wise, parts of the village are very pretty, parts not. It has its own mainline into London. It’s a small school and very very popular! I’d certainly speak to the school first to find out my chances before moving there but this is our very best non Grammar option!

@Sackofspuds

Can't comment on state school but highly recommend Tonbridge school. Sevenoaks school is also good. Both academically competitive for entry. There are p,entry of buses to a much wider variety of schools. Kings Rochester seems lovely. The grammars obviously have good reps. Knole academy has a grammar stream but I know nothing about it. If you were looking for your 12 year old to go to Sevenoaks or Tonbridge, The New Beacon would probably be your best bet.

Thank you will check them all out, so appreciated.

@HonorHiding

When are you moving - it sounds like next year?

Tonbridge says its applications for Y9 entry in 2022 are now closed:

www.tonbridge-school.co.uk/admissions/year-9-entry

Can you be a bit more specific about dates - and are you moving from within the UK?

@HonorHiding yes am moving this year, and looking for a 2022 September y9 start. Im currently abroad and due to come into the UK in October and my son will be ready to join the Next Acamedic year 2022.

Thank you its really so helpful.

@Dobbyismyabsolutefav

West Kent have the 11+ system so I'm not sure how easy it would be getting a place in a grammar school if you haven't taken the test.

Lots of children travel to Tonbridge and sometimes Tunbridge Wells for schooling. Best academic schools in the state system are Judd (Ton) Skinners (TW) TW Boys Grammar (also I believe they have an annexe in Sevenoaks from 2021). Other decent comprehensive schools are Bennet Memorial Church School(TW) but although buses will come from Sevenoaks it is a bit of a trek.

For your youngest child you might want to think Prep school for a year before state school as some go up to year 9. So Sevenoaks Prep, Solefield or Beacon all in Sevenoaks.

Another private option but less academic than Sevenoaks School and Tonbridge School is Radnor House in Sundridge just outside Sevenoaks.

thank you this is really very helpful, thank you!

@SJaneS49

(Apologies for all the spelling and grammar mistakes, I’m multi tasking and typing quickly!).

Within the wider area, Meopham is the best mixed ability State Secondary and is indeed the best non Grammar State in Kent with results not far off the Grammars. It’s closer to Gravesend than Sevenoaks. Location wise, parts of the village are very pretty, parts not. It has its own mainline into London. It’s a small school and very very popular! I’d certainly speak to the school first to find out my chances before moving there but this is our very best non Grammar option!

so so helpful will DM you for more, thanks so much for your time, much appreciated.

Radnor House Sevenoaks is still open for registration for Year 9 entry in 2022:

www.radnor-sevenoaks.org/page/?title=Year+7+and+Year+9+Admissions&pid=1223

Here’s the admissions link for Sevenoaks School: www.sevenoaksschool.org/admissions/introduction/

Probably worth calling both soon to see how the land lies. Sevenoaks will be harder to get into.

NB Radnor House only goes up to 16 so may not work for your elder son.

Happy for a DM @rene75!

Writing this all whilst taking work calls so to move on to Grammars!

We have one boys Grammar in Sevenoaks - Tunbridge Wells Grammar for Boys annes. It opened this month and is a small annex to the main school in TW. I've no idea how popular it is or what it's in take has been but I imagine it will have a fair proportion of boys not just from Sevonoaks but the Orpington area and therefore places might be fewer and far between. I'd ring them! Grammars do take in year entries (if they have places and bear in mind they are very popular) but kids have to take a set test. No guarantees then! However TWGB isn't a super selective and is a slightly less 'desirable' option with Grammar parents who tend to want Skinners or Judd which are super selectives.

From Sevenoaks itself, other than TWGB, Judd is the other Grammar option now Skinners have narrowed their catchment (as I understand it!). Judd is based in Tonbridge (easy train ride from Sevenoaks). Judd is a super selective - very very popular (although some parents I know felt it was a bit robotic and like visiting a factory). In the scenario they had places, the boys would definitely have to sit and test and I imagine score very highly!

These aren't your only options. Platt/Ightham/Borough Green/Wrotham and the lovely West Malling are also in the catchment area for the Maidstone grammars as well as the Sevenoaks/Tonbridge/TW ones. Maidstone is 13 minutes on the train from Borough Green, about 8 from West Malling). These are less over subscribed than the Tonbridge and TW ones and you'd be more likely to find places, Again you'd have to sit tests. Maidstone Grammar School for Boys is a super selective and would suit an all rounder. Oakwood is non super selective and is very popular with parents I know for a great academic environment that is simultaneously not a hot house!

And quickly onto the Faith Schools! I've covered.

Bennetts has been covered by a PP. Hugely performing, over subscribed and you'd need to evidence regular Church attendance, Situated in TW, there are school buses that go there. St Simon Stock in Maidstone is a Catholic Secondary - high performing, you'd need to evidence Catholic Church attendance etc etc.

These three schools do perform higher than the regional non Grammar State norm by some way but unless you can evidence Church attendance etc you stand absolutely no chance! If you can, speak to them about availability!

That was supposed to read at the top 'I've covered Trinity'.

I'm going away now to take a lie down after writing all this!

@SJaneS49

And quickly onto the Faith Schools! I've covered.

Bennetts has been covered by a PP. Hugely performing, over subscribed and you'd need to evidence regular Church attendance, Situated in TW, there are school buses that go there. St Simon Stock in Maidstone is a Catholic Secondary - high performing, you'd need to evidence Catholic Church attendance etc etc.

These three schools do perform higher than the regional non Grammar State norm by some way but unless you can evidence Church attendance etc you stand absolutely no chance! If you can, speak to them about availability!

thank you, so so grateful.

I honestly would not move into Kent / a grammar school area if your kids are unable to go through the 11+ grammar route and you can't go to independent schools. My husband and all his friends went through the grammar schools, they had two friends who didn't make it into grammars and when you hear them speak about how they feel like not getting into grammar ruined their lives, it's gut wrenching. I know this isn't the case for everyone, but they see the difference in how their lives went compared to their friends 15-20 years on and it really hurts them. Students who are lower performers perform better when they're in mixed ability classes where high performing students can help challenge the rest of the classroom--when grammars siphon away all the high performers, how do you imagine that affects the classroom?

@EllieNBeeb, I’m going to disagree with you. Nicely!

For a start, complete myth that all the high performers go to our Grammars. I know many families with children at Kent Grammars. I don’t know a single one who’s child got in without tutoring - either paid for or carried out at home by a graduate level parent. Quite a lot start in Year 4. Conversely, I don’t know one single child put in for the Kent Test without any form of coaching who passed. Usually some parent will pop up and claim there kid did on Mumsnet but this is my lived experience.

My husband has strong views on Grammars so DD did not take the Kent test. She’s in a good Kent all girls State that streams. She’s in the top sets with the other girls that achieved Greater Depth at SATS. Our local Secondary streams too. Both schools routinely turn out children with strong results who head off to good Universities.

Personally, of my friends who went to Grammars, those who were ‘middling’ or below don’t remember it as a good experience. I can see this with my DDs best friend from Primary now who is at non Super Selective but is struggling in a couple of areas and suffering from a lot of anxiety. She was coached from Year 4.

Apologies OP as I’m sure you don’t particularly want this thread to turn into ‘the pro’s and cons’ of Grammars!

Ladies all views most welcome, thanks very much all the views are appreciated.

@SJaneS49

And quickly onto the Faith Schools! I've covered.

Bennetts has been covered by a PP. Hugely performing, over subscribed and you'd need to evidence regular Church attendance, Situated in TW, there are school buses that go there. St Simon Stock in Maidstone is a Catholic Secondary - high performing, you'd need to evidence Catholic Church attendance etc etc.

These three schools do perform higher than the regional non Grammar State norm by some way but unless you can evidence Church attendance etc you stand absolutely no chance! If you can, speak to them about availability!

Thank you so much for sharing. Moving to Ashford soon and we plan for our Son to attend Bennetts or St Stock, We are christians and we can evidence regular church attendance.

[quote SJaneS49]@EllieNBeeb, I’m going to disagree with you. Nicely!

For a start, complete myth that all the high performers go to our Grammars. I know many families with children at Kent Grammars. I don’t know a single one who’s child got in without tutoring - either paid for or carried out at home by a graduate level parent. Quite a lot start in Year 4. Conversely, I don’t know one single child put in for the Kent Test without any form of coaching who passed. Usually some parent will pop up and claim there kid did on Mumsnet but this is my lived experience.

My husband has strong views on Grammars so DD did not take the Kent test. She’s in a good Kent all girls State that streams. She’s in the top sets with the other girls that achieved Greater Depth at SATS. Our local Secondary streams too. Both schools routinely turn out children with strong results who head off to good Universities.

Personally, of my friends who went to Grammars, those who were ‘middling’ or below don’t remember it as a good experience. I can see this with my DDs best friend from Primary now who is at non Super Selective but is struggling in a couple of areas and suffering from a lot of anxiety. She was coached from Year 4.

Apologies OP as I’m sure you don’t particularly want this thread to turn into ‘the pro’s and cons’ of Grammars![/quote]
Thank you

@MumDagKent just reading this thread - where did you DD go? I am thinking to move into Sevenoaks and considering all primary and secondary non grammar option just in case