rubbish local secondary school choices - London - did you end up moving?

[080878tukh]

DC is currently in yr 2 in a local London primary and all our local secondary options are quite rubbish. Contemplating whether it's worth moving - but with things as they are - not really the right time interest rate/house prices wise. I guess our dilemma is not unusual for London - we are only in the catchment of one single sex school that is really not very good. Not sure that DC would pass an entrance exam for the local private schools - that have become incredibly competitive of late. For those who decided to stay or move - do you think it was worth it either way?

Forest Hill school’s Progress 8 score is above average….

Just checked P8 for FHB and it's only about 0.03 for most able kids. In comparison Charter is 0.72 for most able kids. It's just such a massive difference.

Does your child fall into that group?

So DS is only 5in yr2 but is somewhere between mid-high achiever. He is not a genius with a perfect memory i.e. the school environment matters to him. So he would definitely benefit from being in an environment where the assumption is that you study, do your homework, assuming getting high grades is the norm. For my GCSE we were all streamed and yes it was easier to get top grades when you are in a top set and you just assume that everyone studies. Even my bad local comp for A'level had dedicated after school prep for getting into Oxbridge. You could only take an A'level if you got an A grade and most of the kids in the class we pretty focused.

So much about achievement in school is linked to the school environment - do you feel left out if you didnt do your homework. How much disruption is there in a classroom etc. I will definitely have a look around FHB

5..in year 2? Should be 6/7....

Sedgehill's progress 8 for high achievers is 1.06 and 0.56 for middle. Yes they have a much smaller number of the high achievers in their last lot of numbers. But the middle is more comparable to Charter.

Sorry I hit the wrong button on 0hone and only noticed after posting. He is in yr2 and just turned 7

Ah ok. I'm in same position as you OP. DS in yr 2...doing well...and I've been thinking about secondary. Closest school is dire...progress scores below national and local authority average...GCSE English/Maths grade 5+ only 23%...teacher friend has worked there and nothing good to say...it's undersubscribed every year which of course is no surprise. I doubt it will turn around anytime soon as it's been this bad for 10+yrs.
Next closest is 0.6 miles away but riduclously oversubscribed (of course) and looking at data you need to be 0.3 miles away to stand a chance. So we are wondering whether a house move to better area with better schools will be required but I really don't want to move...lived here 5yrs, like our house and it's convenient for work, and we would have to significantly downsize.

Have decided to hold tight until yr 4 then reassess....by then will have better idea about 11+ and Grammar prospects (there's one top grammar which isn't far) or private...or whether local options have improved/further options become less competitive. There's also a couple of semi selectives with aptitude tests...I think yr 4 will be when we have to really have a strong plan in place....

ridiculously ** !!

I'm looking at Langley boys as people keep raving about it... but gcse results doesn't seem good?

I think Langley boys is better than most other boy schools in the area but no their results dont seem that amazing

Langley boys has a lovely new building with great sport facilities. It's on a very nice area with a small catchment and everyone who is there seems to love it. However it is getting a new head soon and now has a sibling policy with the girls school (who have a larger catchment) so this may change things in the school and admission wise.

Word on the street is Sedgehill got a Good in their latest Ofsted visit. Report hasn't hit the website yet though.