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Secondary education

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Original poster

Judd, Dartford, Beths or Chis & Sid?!?

70 replies

SecondaryConfussion · 18/10/2023 17:31

DS got his Bexley and Kent results - he got top 180 in Bexley and 418 in Kent. That makes him eligible for a guaranteed place in Bexley and also OOC places for Judd and Dartford.
Now we need to decide which one to choose! I know it's an amazing problem to have, and we're very happy for him, but I do need some help deciding.

We live between Orpington and Petts Wood, so all schools will be a bit of a journey. Beths and Dartford have coaches, but I'm not sure how this works when the children have after-school clubs? He was very impressed by both Judd and Dartford, and Judd seems to be a convenient journey by train. Also, Dartford is the only one which is IB - would that rule it out for you, or put it on top of the list? I'm really not sure if being IB makes a difference.

He would like a sporty school and all schools seems to tick that box. But then he's football mad and most of these schools seem to be rugby focused, so may not matter!

I really don't know how to make this choice - help!!

TIA :)

OP posts:
DollyDaisyDo · 18/10/2023 18:07

They are all very different schools - have you visited them all and got a 'feel' for them?

They are all good schools, some are more academic than others, some suit a more all-rounder child. It is only by visiting that you can decide which one suits your child best.

Purpletoes · 18/10/2023 18:21

The coaches to Dartford and Beths don't work with after school clubs so the boys need to make their own way back. Beths has some sports clubs over lunch as well as after school.

Beths easiest option is train bexley to hither green and change trains. I am not sure about Dartford.

Like previous poster they are all very different schools so you need to think about which would suit your ds.

Bexley grammar also doe the IB although there is no direct travel there from orpington area.

Good luck with your choices

Purpletoes · 18/10/2023 18:22

Also Beths has a football team which is very active from the start of term in tandem with rugby.

Original poster
SecondaryConfussion · 18/10/2023 18:24

Thanks both! Yes we've visited all schools and got the best vibes from thes 4, and hence the confusion :)
Dartford may be rules out because if travel, as without the coach, there doesn't seem to be an easy route.

Good point on Bexley Grammar @Purpletoes
We're meant to see it soon, but now we may skip it as we have enough options already and I really can't drag myself to another school!

OP posts:
Notwithabargepole · 18/10/2023 18:28

I’d not touch Judd with a bargepole. DS went there and I know many still there. They struggle to recruit teachers and some that are there are appalling. There are a few excellent ones but it’s gone massively downhill in the last 5 years.

SlipSlidinAway · 18/10/2023 18:32

Don't know Judd but Dartford and Bexley Grammar both have better reputations than Beths.

Original poster
SecondaryConfussion · 18/10/2023 18:53

@Notwithabargepole oh no! I didn't know that! Thanks for the input.

OP posts:
Turmerictolly · 18/10/2023 19:09

Bexley Grammar and Dartford have the best reputation of those four but both have IB for 6th form which is hard work. Beths to me had a bit of a 'tougher' feel than the others. Chis and Sid has a nice feel and is sporty and is probably the best journey from where you are - 51 bus to Sidcup.

If he's top 180 did you enter for the St Olaves rest? He'd practically be able to walk there and it is one of the top 10 state schools in the country. Pastoral care is now very good and there are lits of opportunities and sports. They have just started to do football I think.

Turmerictolly · 18/10/2023 19:10

Test not rest.

Original poster
SecondaryConfussion · 18/10/2023 19:43

We did, but he didn't get through stage 1 - missed by 2 marks. Given his Kent and Bexley scores, I really don't know what happened in the Olaves test... Probably just a bad day. Otherwise that would have been our first choice for sure.

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Kaftankween · 18/10/2023 19:50

My husband was/is football mad. Went to chis and sid where they didn’t play football. He’s still moaning about it years later!

HonoriaLucastaDelagardie · 18/10/2023 19:51

Chis and Sid has a nice feel and is sporty and is probably the best journey from where you are - 51 bus to Sidcup.

A 51 bus would also take you to within 10 min walk of Bexley GS. But I don't know how long it would take at peak times.

As for Dartford, the train that goes from Hither Green to Bexley goes on to Dartford, but the school is some way from the station.

Gymginjim · 19/10/2023 09:54

No idea about the other schools, but we are very happy our son chose Judd a few years ago. Nowhere is perfect but he’s had a great education there, found new interests/ passions and has lovely (and hilarious) friends.

Hantsmum123 · 25/10/2023 14:54

Hi everyone. I am piggy-backing this thread as reading Im now a bit confused about the Judd. I know schools are much more than grades and rankings but its seems the Judd seemed to hover in the 14th to 18th best schools in the country until last year when it dropped to 71st. I have read some negativity regards management but just wondered whether as insiders you are aware of anything to be concerned about in the teaching standards, or if this was just a blip? It seems odd for a school which is supposedly superselective. Also would you rate Bexley and DBS above this?

Thanks so much

groveparker0 · 25/10/2023 15:10

Hello

I have two boys at Beths. It is a lovely school. My older son is in y12 now. He is v sporty - football obsessed. Beths is a big football school, much more so than rugby. They have boys at the school who play for academies and England schoolboys. Also v strong on cricket and basketball.

My other son is musical (they have a great music and drama department- they value creative subjects) and also has SEN and anxiety. He has had wonderful pastoral care and support.

I live near the OP. They get the train to school which is pretty straightforward and means they're v confident getting trains and buses all over the place.

My sons only sat the Bexley test so I Had can't comment on the others but I know Chis & Sid do compulsory rugby on Saturday mornings which was a big issue for me.

Notwithabargepole · 25/10/2023 15:28

Hantsmum123 · 25/10/2023 14:54

Hi everyone. I am piggy-backing this thread as reading Im now a bit confused about the Judd. I know schools are much more than grades and rankings but its seems the Judd seemed to hover in the 14th to 18th best schools in the country until last year when it dropped to 71st. I have read some negativity regards management but just wondered whether as insiders you are aware of anything to be concerned about in the teaching standards, or if this was just a blip? It seems odd for a school which is supposedly superselective. Also would you rate Bexley and DBS above this?

Thanks so much

“Teaching standards” is a bit of a vague yardstick. Some of the teachers are great, and some are shocking IME. The head rarely ventures out of his office. It used to be a school that cared for all its students but that’s not the vibe these days. PM for more info.

Mollymoo223 · 25/10/2023 15:36

DS went to Chis and Sid. Did his a levels 3 years ago. I didn’t rate it. Some of the teachers were really poor. He did sciences and I think it’s notoriously difficult to find good science teachers. DS refer to Chis and Sid now as a failing grammar school. There was also lots of drugs around, but not in his year.

Gymginjim · 25/10/2023 16:02

The exam results weren’t as good last year so it fell in the league tables. Lockdown provision was variable so maybe that’s why.

Gymginjim · 25/10/2023 16:03

Last message was meant to be in reply to Hantsmum123 re Judd

JustMeJustMe · 25/10/2023 20:07

Have posted on a couple of other threads too - I have a son in Y7 at Beths. Live close to the original poster. We absolutely love Beths, I don't recognise the 'tougher' feel comment above. So far we've found it's a lovely gentle school, very supportive and inclusive. The coach service is great, although if you have an after school activity the timing doesn't work. Lots of boys get the train though (the journey is pretty much identical as for C&S, just two stops difference), so there are other options. Coach is paid termly, so you aren't locked in for a whole year if you decide to switch to public transport.

Tryingtodecideschool · 26/10/2023 05:46

Notwithabargepole · 25/10/2023 15:28

“Teaching standards” is a bit of a vague yardstick. Some of the teachers are great, and some are shocking IME. The head rarely ventures out of his office. It used to be a school that cared for all its students but that’s not the vibe these days. PM for more info.

Show quote history

I have similar concerns as @Hantsmum123 . Applying this year wondering Judd vs Skinners.

@Notwithabargepole i hope you don’t mind but I’ve pm’d you. Thanks.

MySugarBabyLove · 26/10/2023 05:57

DS went to Chis&sid. Was very happy there and did well as did eXH’s DSD.

There are drugs at all schools sadly. DS was never involved and there didn’t seem to be a problem in his year.

Saturday morning rugby was only compulsory for the first term of y7 when he was there.

St Olaves is generally luck of the draw. They have nearly 2000 applicants for 300 places so it’s never a sure thing.

When ds was in primary there was a child who was seen to be absolutely certain to go there who didn’t get in, and another who sat the test thinking it was just another one and did.

Tommydoes · 26/10/2023 05:58

My Son is.now in Y12 at DGS. I could not have hoped for a better school for him. The teachers are so invested in each and every pupil. It is a community and what you put in is what you get

newmum1976 · 26/10/2023 08:49

Dartford is worth a shot, but there are over 135 boys OOC with a higher score than him, so it might not be a given.

Original poster
SecondaryConfussion · 26/10/2023 09:10

@newmum1976 how do you know there are 135 boys with a higher OOC score than your son?
My DS scored 420, which is viewed as a sure shot for Judd or Dartford, but I also know that there are many high scorers this year - just don't know how many.

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