Harris Girls East Dulwich- catchment and opinions

[Starch1e]

We don't live in Southwark but are wondering about Harris Girls East Dulwich (I know it's really in Peckham Rye!).

What are opinions of this school?

Does it have a big catchment area? Our borough publishes distance for all schools but I can't find this on Southwark Council or school website.

Thanks in advance for any insights 😀

DD is currently at HGAED and is definitely happy (and we are too). It has a slightly smaller intake than many local schools (about 160 I think). They are very strong on maths, sciences, art and PE but we have been disappointed with music. SEN provision is supposed to be good.

It has become increasingly popular locally but there are girls come further away (not sure if this is the case for the current year 7s). If you're concerned about catchment distances then give them a call, they were very helpful about what was realistic when we applied.

The admission policy changed a few years ago, the intake used to include about a third based on distance but that was scrapped as the school became more popular with local parents. Agree call school re distances, if there are bulge years, I don’t think Southwark council share any of this useful info.

Thanks for your insights.

That's useful to know about music @StarlightMessxpress DD is very keen on choir and an instrument at the moment.

We managed to get to an open evening and apparently distance for current Yr7 varies from 200m to 5000m! And 50 different primary schools. That gave us hope but useful to know if it's increasing in popularity.

@churrios I agree very frustrating Southwark don't publish distances. Although I'm suspicious of the neat circles drawn round schools on our borough's website it is a useful guide.

I might be in the same borough as you. The circles represent the furthest point of a place offered so within that circle everyone should have got a space. I was inaccurate before it was around a third not based on distance but I think that’s scrapped. Harris Bromley still has some places not based on distance. As your daughter is musical there are also music scholar places she might be eligible for.