Best London state secondary school in your opinion?

[Simplegal]

I’m overwhelmed with school choices for a Year 10 entry for my DD into an Co-Ed state secondary school. We have a last minute, frantic move to London from abroad and looking for entry for my DD. Somewhere within 30-60 mins travel to Canary Wharf? Open to faith schools as she has been in a traditional catholic school previously. We haven’t even started the accommodation hunt just focusing on schools first! Please comment if you love your school! Thank you!

Thank you will
look at this school!

Sixth form is waaay easier. Tho you may need an address, there are scads of options if her grades are good. You need to apply from Sept/Oct for popular ones tho - if you were looking now for this Sept your choices would be limited.

So sixth form entry will reliant upon grades?

Ursuline in Wimbledon is a good shot, along with La Retraite in Clapham and The Holy Cross in New Malden. If paying is an option Marymount in Kingston/Coombe is wonderful.

Sounds equally as challenging.

No it won't!

Some schools such Burntwood have fantastic outcomes for non English speakers joining in year 10

Thank you!

It's completely different.

Do you understand anything about the English school system? All children must stay in school and take GCSEs. It's compulsory.

Very, very few children change schools at the start of year 10 because they choose which GCSEs they want to take in year 9. The school timetable is planned around those choices.

At the end of year 11, post-GCSEs, there is a huge amount of movement. Not all schools offer A levels, and most offer a limited number. A lot of kids choose to do the Ibac or an apprenticeship or btecs instead.

But as a pp said, if your daughter doesn't have GCSEs, it's going to be very difficult for them to ascertain if she is academically able to do the courses

I don’t think you can hedge your bets in this way. You’ll need to live very near Camden School for Girls (CSG)or near Parliament Hill school for girls (PH) rather than in the middle.

I think you’d probably get an of assortment of GCSE option choices at CSG as it’s a much smaller school and opens have been chosen and plenty of girls already in school didn’t get their preferences.

preference at CSG goes to girls who’ve sat the banding test.

la Sainte Union maybe a better bet if you and your daughter can pass all the admissions criteria. I don’t know what these are I’m afraid.

All of these schools are fine, but I wouldn’t say they’re the best in London. Maybe CSG would count?

St. Michael's Catholic Grammar in North London if you want to try sixth form. Academic performance it is the best Catholic state secondary school in UK but it is girls only school.

Yes though I imagine there will be some flexibility for kids coming from outside the UK system.
very broadly you will likely need proof that she has strong ability in the subjects she wants to study at a-level (typically 3) though there are some you can study from beginner level eg psychology, sociology

What about commuting out of London to one of the schools in the surrounding counties? 25 mins on the train to Woking, for example, which has an excellent comprehensive school (WHS) and catholic school (SJB). Both mixed, boys and girls.

I’m aware that GCSE’s are compulsory. Thank you for your comments.

Thank you

Thank you for your advice!

Thank you. I will look into this.

St Andrews in Leatherhead? Big mixed Catholic comp with outstanding outcomes. Possibly a bit longer than 60 minutes to Canary Wharf though

Thank you will add it to the list!

It’s more that there are four decent options in close proximity which is quite rare in London and increases the chance of a space at one. Rather than putting all your eggs in one basket. Also I think if you live north-east of CSG (but no more than 300-400 metres away) you are likely to be within reach for both CSG and Parli (which I think goes up to about 900-1000 metres). Though I’m not sure if distance matters as much for in year moves. Plus LSU was undersubscribed for last few years so a space more likely there. Also haverstock undersubscribed, though I know is not generally seen as a popular choice. I’m not suggesting that these are the “best” (though CSG very sought after and Parli seems very well thought of) but the chances of a year 10 space in the “best” school in London is pretty unlikely.

Haverstock is a good shout and looks like it has places as well as useful info for the OP:

We have places available in all year groups.

Please note, School places cannot be reserved more than 2 weeks in advance. If you and your child(ren) are moving to Camden, do not submit an in-year application before this. we are not able to process any application until all necessary documentation has been received.
Once an application form has been processed, the outcome will be communicated to the parent/carer within 20 working days of receipt of the application, in accordance with national guidance.
Should an offer be made, the offer must be accepted or rejected within two weeks from the date of offer.

Trinity in Redbridge is OK but Wanstead High has better results (and more spaces). Wanstead is also more upmarket than Woodford and closer commute to CW.

Catchment is about 0.7m for 21/22 and lots of beautiful large edwardian/ 50s 4beds for £1.1-1.2m within catchment and lovely professional friendly locals.

Op, do you have any family currently in London whose address you can use for applications?

That would be fraud unless you lived there too.

Not for this year. I know someone starting who hasnt been baptised. They live in the area and it was very easy. They are excited about started as loved it on their first visit.

True, sorry.