Blackheath High Vs Colfe's

[GreenwichMNer]

My daughter has been offered Y7 places at both schools, and we're struggling to decide. She is a bright child but can be shy. We live equidistant from both schools and she will be moving from a co-Ed state school. Sometimes I think a smaller school would be more nurturing but then I remember her friendship group is a really good mix of both boys and girls at the moment.

Struggling to decide which school to choose - does anyone have any advice?

Thanks for your input. We have actually applied to state schools but in our area, they are heavily oversubscribed.

@MadamAndTheAnts Her local state school could be failing the child, be that academically, pastorally, or she couldn't get a place, it's London, but fundamentally, its none of your business. The post isn't about deciding between a state and private, its between two private schools FFS!!

Jesus H Christ, do you post on all the other threads about private school, or are you just focusing on this one poster to take part in your class action??
The two school mentioned are full of ordinary families, are non-elitist and do not churn out the overlords of this country like a certain brand of public schools. The GDST schools have been educating girls for decades in a country that still has gender inequality, Colfe’s is a former grammar school that offers means tested places and a full range of scholarships and it’s in a part of SE London that has high deprivation, providing an education normally reserved for wealthier suburbs, so take yourself to the Westminster and St Pauls and Eton threads, for fucks sake.

OP, if your DC is at co-ed, I would choose Colfe’s, the all-girls environment of Blackheath would be an additional barrier to settling in. Both are excellent schools, so I wouldn’t worry too much about making the ‘wrong’ choice.

My daughter is at Blackheath High. The school is welcoming and innovative. Encouraging older girls to mentor younger and getting them to work as a team. Teaching staff friendly and approachable and they encourage a joy in learning. There is a great supportive and nurturing environment in the school and parents are encouraged to be part of the school life through regular updates and events. I highly recommend it.

We are in the similar situation. We considered Blackheath High, Colfes and Eltham College. And we decide on Blackheath High. We visited all school and decided after open days. Blackheath High seemed happy school with interested and friendly teachers and the right balance of academic achievement, pastoral care and fun. And we believe our daughter will be happier and more confident in all girls environment.

My daughter moved to Blackheath High senior from coed state school as well. In primary she used to have two best friends in her classroom but at the moment she has so many friends. She never had any problem with the friendship or settling because there are 4 groups of year 7 and in total almost 80 girls. All girls knows each other and they usually spend time more then one friend. So your daughter will easily make new friends - seriously do not worry about that!

Colfes is also nice school but we always believed single sex school is better for girls in secondary stage. Plus, if you search online there are some previous presses online about sexual abuse on Colfes school.

Blackheath High is really great school to go to. Lots of oppurtunity and fun school life. For mental health is it a perfect place to be in as a young teenage girl.

My daughter has been very unwell and couldn’t attends to school about 4 weeks in January. She’s now attending maths revision classes after Lunch Time twice a week (30mins) to be able to cover the topics she missed. The way the staff have consistently "gone the extra mile" for her and us shows a level of care that is exceptional. As a parent that is the most important thing for us! I would happily recommend the school to anyone considering sending their daughter there.

Hi, My daughter also has an offer this year from Blackheath High for year 7 entry. She is currently attending coed prep school and we also had offer from Colfes and St Dunstans.

It was really hard choice in the beginning but we really liked the Blackheath High schools environment. Its looks inclusive and nurturing school with a well equipped modern new building. Teachers are responsive to questions and they all seem to care and take pride in their responsibility working at Blackheath High. As well as current girls who were attending to school was seemed so happy and confident to me.

Plus, we are in love with Blackheath area and Greenwich park… We think its prefect and safe place to spend time with friends and family after school with lots of transport options.

Hope our daughters will meet and becomes friends in September ☺️

I am Blackheath High parent. She loves her school, she feels like home. It is really nurturing environment where children are able to realise their full potential and go on to be confident well balanced members of society. If you have any question you may PM me. Good luck!

I think for a shy child blackheath high would be a better fit, it’s very nurturing.

We are local and considering same schools for our daughters… its really hard to decide but I only heard good things about Blackheath High so I dont think your daughter will have a problem with moving from coed system.. All states and prep primary schools are coed in the area anyway so we are all in the same situation

I think for secondary definetely Blackheath High - You can always move to coed in Post 16. But girls do better in single sex environment, especially in secondary! I love the architecture of the Blackheath High, its new and so modern. When you get in into reception there is piano, other instruments, textiles and some art works of girls. School organise really good trips and competitons for girls - Fashion days etc… All girls looks they are having fun while learning. Did you visit both schools @GreenwichMNer? What do you think?

Thank you everyone! Especially @tryandcountsheep.

Seems like an overwhelming yes for BHS. I must admit my initial preference is for Colfe's but the comments about BHS being a more nurturing environment are making me think twice.

I just want her to be in an environment where she is able to find her tribe, if that makes sense. She's not a stereotypically girly girl and she does struggle at times with female friendship politics so I worry that an all-girl environment could be stressful for her.

I have seen both schools and we are booked into the offer holder events over the next week or so, so will see how those visits go.

Best of luck OP.

Your daughter has done brilliantly, I'd be overjoyed with either option for mine!

@GreenwichMNer if your daughter is not girl girly type I would go for girls only school, OP!

She will have plenty of girls around her and I do believe she will have no issue with friendship.

In primary it is different but in coed seconday schools, girl girly type girls gets more attractions from boys and they look more popular. In this case, that environment MIGHT make other girls unhappy or unmotivated - This is the reason that reports/articles state that girls do better in single sex schools. Because, they just focus on their studies.

For example, in all girls environment nobody cares if you do make up or not or if you have boyfriend etc…Ofcourse every child and school is different but I do have patients that bullied just because of she doesnt want to have boyfriend or she doenst like to wear make up etc…

I just heard that Balckheath High is GDST school and I know there are so many GDST schools in London - One of my friend moved her daughter one to another GDST school so easly when she started 6th form.
As I dont know Blackheath High and never heard about Colfes - I can not say that is better than other one but I just wanted to share my opinon because I studied psysocology MA and I dont want you to feel that your daughter can not do well in all girls environment.

I advice you to go and see the schools and look at student, especially girls - your daughter will be one of them next year. I wish her the best 🌟

Best of luck 🌸

Blackheath High is great school, very kind and inclusive with lots of focus on student wellbeing. My daughters are there since juniors and they love it! My niece also moved from Colfes Junior to Blackheath High 2 years ago and she is also doing great academically and socially. Blackheath High ISI 2022 report is Excellent in all areas but I remember Colfes was Good (not sure about senior).
My younger daughter loves sport and she was super academic so we considered other schools like JAGS and City of London Girls for her when she was 10 but in the end we decide that her mental health is more important than anything, otherwise she had to travel about 1 hour twice in a day. I am so happy that we prefered our local girls only school for her. Now she can do whatever clubs she wants to do - I think she does 8 or 9 clubs in a week. Also she is in netbal, hockey team also in swimming club! So, easy commute is so important.
Blackheath has their own small school bus which is so helpful - you can book it termly, yearly or daily-(which we use it in dark and/or rainy days - its cost only £2 daily!)
You know your daughter the best, OP and I believe you will choose right place for her. Good luck x

We are also choosing between these schools, along with Eltham and JAGS. We live nearest to BH so seems to make the most sense, but want to give the others due consideration. Good to hear such positive views of BH. Any thoughts on the others? (Sorry to hijack!)

@SE3parent I cannot comment on Eltham-its recently became coed so we never considered. But JAGS is more academic than EC and BH- my DD2 also had offer from JAGS for year 7 entry but we didn't go for it because of the long journey also I wanted her to be a big fish in the small
pond - I didnt want her to feel mediocre… Because basically more academic school means more doable/academic students and in young age I also believe for their mental health they need to have fun, enjoy while they are learning.
My older daughter is in year 12 now and she had her all grades was 9s and 2 of them was 8s - maybe if she were in more academic school she was going to get all 9s, I dont know! But we didnt worry about that because she is still studying the ALevels that she wanted!
She did lots of clubs after school, she met with friends and I feel so relax and safe when they are in local. I also attend all events in BH like Christmas concert, dance & fashion shows, parents evening, coffee shop, parents drink nights and I usually go and watch their matches. My DD2 went to Italy trip this half term and I had to bring her to school at 2 am in the morning:):) So closer is easier..
I must add I know lots of students who travels 1 hour to get to school - if you believe your daughter can manage that happily you can go for JAGS! - its a so academic school! But my daughter is so active during the day so I didnt feel that she will be able to get school bus around 7:05 in the morning from Blackheath. Now they leave home at 8:10 and they are at school before 8:25. Easier, safer and also cheaper for us:)
Good luck and well done to your DD! She did amazing and I believe she will do great in all of these options x

@dSELondonmum thank you for much, this is really helpful. Big fish in small pond is a good place to be, I agree (it was my experience at school and I thrived in that environment). I like the idea of my daughter being able to meet friends in the Standard safely and carry on all her extra activities (she does a couple of clubs at Mycenae so would definitely be a bonus!) I see the BH girls on the school run and they look like a happy and kind bunch

@SE3parent yes also they can always move after GCSEs! My DD1 had an offer from South Hampstead High GDST Sixth Form which was in top 20 in legaue tables in 2022 GCSE/ALevel but she prefered to stay in BH.
She would like to study Dentistry in Kings College London and she shocked when she noticed that they only ask for grade 6 GCSEs in Maths and English :) (it is even same requirements for the Medicine programme). So basically there is no need to make life harder x

I mean they don’t care about other GCSE subjects or grades*

@dSELondonmum good luck to your daughter! I think we've more or less decided on BH now, unless something convinces is otherwise at the other welcome events. I'm excited about this next step

If you have a younger son go for Colfes, if not choose Blackheath High. I live so close to the Blackheath High and I like the behaviours of all girls. Majority of them travel / walk together to the school means they live local which is good for friendship.
One of my friends son spends one hour on the bus to go to secondary school in city and their school fee is about £22 a year + school bus fee. I always tell her that its non-sense to do that. Even if you can afford it easily you could save that money for your child future expenses.
In the end she is now complaning that her son doesnt use the facilities of the school and he never wants to attend any after school club because he feels so tired if he does.
I don’t know about these schools fees but I would also consider that, in long term its a lot of money.

Blackheath High is a truly good school. My daughter joined in year 7. She eventually made great friends. The classes are small (19-20 people max), the children and parents are very friendly. The school has always provided a caring and nurturing environment for our daughters. My daughter is continuously challenged academically and her grades are getting better every year. The school offers support lessons to GCSE students who are not on track and this has helpful. Overall, it’s a well balanced school.

interesting posts on here...

Colfes is a bigger school with better facilities. Lovely campus with fields and leisure centre a its heart. Strong sports and music departments. Decent size sixth form with huge array of A level options on offer.

Its academic value add is exceptional.

I'd choose Colfes every time.

DD also has offers from BH and Colfe's - she currently at Colfe's Junior and I have DS in Y9 there. We're very happy with the school and DD will continue with Colfe's. For us, it comes down to the sports facilities, both DC are very sporty and the lack of pool and having to walk to the BH sports ground (which is very small in comparison to Colfe's) was the deciding factor. BH also don't routinely have Saturday sports fixtures which DS really enjoys. I think if you have a sporty child, Colfe's is better geared up for that.