Kingsdale Foundation School

[Eva8724]

Hello,

Would parents of years 7 or 8 children be able to share their experience of the school so far?

We are planning on going on the school tour but it would be good to hear from parents whose children attend the school.

Thank you.

A school is so much more than Progress 8 - that is one experimental measure and mostly one that will favour a school which concentrates on English and Maths and nothing else (as they count for double) A true school focuses on a wider curriculum and this is what recent Ofsted inspections recognise. My children are both at Kingsdale and one has SEN and yet they have both flourished in other ways apart from this. The staff seem to genuinely care about the children and that is everything to us.

If you want amazing Progress 8 then the Michaela School is probably the one for you - best score in the country on that measure.

Although worth looking at what is (or rather isn't) on offer in terms of Sport, Arts, Music and extracurricular clubs - as well as the incredibly narrow range of GCSE options they offer.

They also have incredibly strict rules.

If you're only teaching an incredibly narrow curriculum to a set of children whose parents are happy to sign up for the "strictest school in England" then I imagine it's easier to hit the scores needed to get the fab P8 score.

We didn't look at that school but saw a few along the same lines and hated them so much at the open days we didn't even stay for HT's speech.

@PetraPancake with progress 8 its all about input and output. The schools with great scores often have kids starting KS3 from a low baseline in deprived areas a focused curriculum with strict discipline gets improved outputs. They are often multi-chain academy sausage factories.

My son goes to a v strict school in SE London with an amazing progress 8 score. Progress 8 is not everything, but it is one of many factors to consider we chose a very strict school for him deliberately (he was also also happy to put it first). It does indeed have a huge number of boys on free school meals..... And achieves amazing results. We like the discipline/no excuses attitude as the approach works for our son, but it isn't a sausage factory.

No one size/approach fits all, but there is a certain middle class disdain for some schools in our area.

@TooManyPlatesInMotion which school is it? sounds great

I don't know if this is the school that @TooManyPlatesInMotion mentions, but we visited Harris East Dulwich when choosing a school.

They were very clear about how strict they were, and more importantly why. I was very impressed personally, and whilst it wasn't a school that was right for our child, I can 100% see why it is right for some. I remember comparing their results to other schools with similar intakes (stats wise anyway) and they did much better. It did appear to have a narrower curriculum, but their view was that some kids that went through their would get opportunities others would not due to getting good results as a result of their ethos.

As ever a good school for one is a bad one for another - you need to work out what kind of environment would be best for your child.

Sorry to revive an old thread, but wanted to ask why are people so keen on Kingsdale despite the fact its Progress 8 scores are so average? I don’t understand why it’s the school of choice round our way. Is it just because of the Ofsted outstanding rating?

There aren't really that many state options that way so people tend to hone in on one school & it becomes the one everyone wants.

@uhio989 St Thomas the Apostle, in se15.

From the outset, the school has been clear with parents and students exactly what is expected from them in relation to behaviour and work. It wouldn't be appropriate for all kids, but many (like my son) need that discipline, structure and to be clear what the consequences are. They are told no excuses from the outset (as were we; the school set out what it expected in partnership with parents). This isn't to say that pastoral support and sen support aren't there for the kids who need them, as they absolutely are, and the teachers are genuinely really caring, but that is coupled with discipline, high expectations re effort, and respect for teachers and fellow pupils.

For a boy like my son, who is lazy and happily cruised through primary, it is what he needs. He is also happy; he knows where he stands and what he has to do.

Learning is only possible for all students if behavioural problems are kept to a minimum - this is the underlying rationale and it means teachers actually get to teach and all students get a chance to learn.

My ds is in y7. We would have opted for Harris Boys ED if we hadn't managed to get a place - for similar reasons. Our younger girls may go to Harris Girls ED.

Hello. Just wondering if anyone can tell me a bit more about the journey to Kingsdale Foundation School, my husband is worried about the journey as our child will need to get the train to Sydenham Hill and walk.
Is it a relatively safe place?
thanks

My DS has been getting the train into and from Sydenham Hill for a few years. He has never had any problems but there are muggings around a lot of the Dulwich schools so can't pretend that does not happen. The route to the station is full of children at the start and end of school so that time shouldn't be a problem, but sometimes I do worry if he is later on a winter night because of an after school club, but there's usually someone from the school walking the same route.

I don't worry on a daily basis though, and I have never heard of any of his group of friends having any problems, and they all go to different after school clubs on different days.

My DD gets the train in and out - never heard of problems and there are generally loads of kids on them. She stays late about 3 nights a week and no problems then either.

It's about a 4 minute walk to school with plenty of nearby houses. The back gates are open in the morning and evening so they don't need to do the long walk round to the front.

Thanks for your updates. Our DD will be travelling from Bromley. Hoping she will find a travel buddy quite promptly.
May I just ask if you are overall happy with the Kingsdale Experience. We have a more local secondary but Kingsdale seems to offer quite a lot more.

DD going into Y10 and we are very happy with the school.

She's a bit of a square peg and they have been brilliant in terms of playing to her strengths as well as coaxing her down the paths she needs to go but doesn't much want to!

I'm pretty hands off most of the time, but whenever I've needed to get in touch with the staff, I get really quick responses. They seem to have a sense of humour as well which helps.

DD has an extremely long commute (we live rurally and none of the 'local' schools were either particularly local or good for DD's interests) and we have never regretted choosing to send her.

A friend's son who goes there had his phone stolen on the train into Sydenham Hill, but this happens everywhere with every school. Someone said to me expect at least once during their senior school years whether you go to the poshest or roughest school its just part and parcel unfortunately.

From their 2024/25 admissions policy document:

No priority will be given simply because of an applicant’s address i.e. no
special preference is given to Southwark residents. Please be advised that
distance from the School plays no part in our admissions process, as a
separate criterion.

So their admissions policy is not changing. Nothing in there about local or disadvantaged pupils. An intake of 420 pupils which is enormous.

anyone have insight into the differences between Kingsdale and Forest Hill Boys? I'm trying to decide between the two for my son.

Forest hill is only boys whereas Kingsdale is co-Ed. There’s also a massive size difference. Kingsdale takes over 400 pupils in year 7, FHS take 180. I know parents with children at both, both are happy!

To the extent that you place emphasis or reliance on them, their Ofsted Reports are poles apart, Kingsdale Outstanding and Forest Hill Requires Improvement over the past few years. Kingsdale has really good extra curricular provision - something for everyone - all sorts of sports to warhammer, debate, science, history and drama clubs, and everything in between. Kingsdale is amazing on the music front for a state school - so many opportunities if your son is interested. Doesn't have to have loads of official music grades to get involved if he is interested.

Most people won't have direct experience of both. Most things listed above.

I liked both, I actually preferred FHB but son and wife preferred Kingsdale as son wanted co-ed. Language options were better at Kingsdale which was important for us but won't be for everyone.

I think work out what your son wants, or would need, and look at commutes etc.

and of course see what your son thinks after visit...but as a general rule I wouldn't let him base it around where his friends are going as they do seem to chane friendship groups a lot at the start of Y7.

Hello, just wanted to share my experience with this school as I believe it is important that people hear different sides-
Whilst Kingsdale does have good extracurriculars and subject choice, it is not a good environment for kids who have ANY special needs or just aren't good with going with the flow. It is very poorly organised and chaotic and there is little communication between the school and families. Because of its size, it's also very easy for kids with special needs to slip through the cracks. Compared to other schools, staff do not know students as well on a personal level, making it harder for them to keep track of how students are doing academically and in terms of their wellbeing. There is also a high teacher turnover rate, and a lot of teachers are new to the profession and leave within a year or two.
I'm not saying it's an awful school through and through, and it does produce very good results, but if your kid has any sort of special needs please do not send them here. I would recommend considering nearby schools like Dunraven and Elmgreen.

The website detailed a proposal to change the admissions and was asking for input at the time I wrote. These things take time and clearly doubtful it could be implemented (if indeed it was approved to be changed....) quickly

@LawrenceLawrence i've just found this chat from last year and wondered how it worked out for you and your son? Did he get offered a place?

I'm about to do our application and DD also has been offered a half sports scholarship. DD is keen for Harris Bromley Girls as her first choice and Kingsdale second. Torn as to which way to place them on list... any advice would be appreciated x

It's also extremely unlikely that his friends who think they are going to Kingsdale will get in. I think only 3 or 4 from a 2 form entry school at our primary got in last year (and it's our closest co ed so loads applied). Lots of upset kids on offer day.

(Sorry just realised that's from last year! Same applies though).