Graveney, Chestnut Grove or local private schools eg Emanuel

[todayortomorrow]

We're based in Balham and thinking about our secondary school options. Reading yesterday's terrifying thread about the state of the UK's schools has made me think about our options. Are any current secondary parents who have faced the choice between our great local state schools and our great local private schools happy to share their thoughts & experience through the process. We're not looking at single sex schools. Thanks!

@Sirine1708 he’s not at a Wandsworth school. We are out of borough but on the border and prefer Wandsworth schools. A friend of DS’s primary is at CG and is happy there. We know also people at St Cecelia’s also who are happy. Both have limited outside area it’s true but as above poster says it’s how school handles things when things go wrong. DS has slight SEN issues which is why we’d avoid Graveney. CG and St C look to be smaller schools which would suit DS better, hopefully. It’s a big step to transfer in year but hope it’s the right decision.

@NewNoo23 personally I'm looking at Ashcroft with interest (DS Y4 in Fulham), but there are some buts :))

We know a DD who moved from Ashcroft to graveney at year 9. She thrived there. Found Ashcroft too rigid and strict and was always anxious. But we’re all different!

@NewNoo23 this dumb policy of Ashcroft "miss 1 day of school - stay extra 5 hrs at school" even if the child was genuinely sick is what makes me cautious, especially because they don't receive tutoring during that extra hours so it's more like detention for taking care of your health.

Hi, I know this is a really old and long thread, but on the topic or Graveney and CGA, just wanted to check if anyone is aware which is better ibetween the offerings of Art Specialist seat at CGA and Graveney's art department? DS has been selected under the Art Specialist route but is also keen on Graveney. Wandsworth test scores are good but not in the top 80.

Just hoping to understand the art offerings at both places to see whether we should give Graveney a preference before CGA although having a confirmed place through the Art Specialist seat.

Also, we wont lose the Art Specialist place if we place it after Graveney, would we?

For CGA you will get an extra Art lesson a week for the specialism. I'm not sure how it compares with Graveney's offering. What I can say is that my DS hated art at primary school but has really enjoyed it CGA

You can put Graveney first and then CGA 2nd and if you don't get into Graveney would get the CGA place.

@MumInDilemma each school (or the school's LA on its behalf) ranks your application against its oversubscription criteria in blissful ignorance of which other schools you have applied to or where those schools may rank your application.

Your LA then looks at which of your preferences can / can't offer - the process goes round and round until everyone has an offer from the highest of their preferences that they can be (or the alternative of the nearest available place if none of their preferencescan be met).

So say your 1st preference and second preference schools each have 240 places to offer and your your DC is ranked 500th by the school that you ranked first and 102nd by your second preference; if >260 people above your DC on the list for your first preference school have different schools which are higher preferences for them, which can offer them places, your DC gets your first preference school. If not, because your DC's ranking for your second preference is higher than 240th, they will be offered that school.

And so on down your list of preferences, if necessary.