Bromley, Croydon or Sydenham High Schools

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Hi All, we’re looking at these 3 options for Secondary and would love any recent opinions/experiences. We’re a similar distance from all three so that isn’t really a factor for us. As our daughter hasn’t attended any of their primary schools we want somewhere welcoming to new joiners in year 7. Thanks

A good friend has daughters go to Sydenham and she loves it. Eldest joined Y7 and is now thriving at GCSE and youngest has come up through the Prep and also doing well. Lots of new girls in Y7 so really no worry about joining the school from the outside. Really nurturing school which also will push a very academically able child. She’s super happy with it and how both her very different children are thriving.

I know a family at Croydon but they are in the prep. They really like the school too and will be keeping their daughter through to senior than moving.

Downsides are Sydenham is a smaller campus than both Bromley and Croydon - I think both of those have much larger outdoor areas and sports facilities. Sydenham also get lower academic results than both with Croydon a much higher academic standard than both Bromley and Sydenham.

My dd1 was at Sydenham from year 9. She had a great experience there, and came away with extremely high GCSE results and lovely friends. They seem to be more inclusive with their intake, which affects their results, but bright children do very well. My dd1 entered the school in middle sets, but after 3 years was in top sets, so they really added value.

My DD is at Croydon High in Year 10 having joined from state primary in Year 7. She's really enjoying it. There's a mix of abilities as kids come through from the juniors. However, they do push them to achieve their best but in a way which doesn't seem too pressured. We had to choose in lockdown and had not been to CHS in person but had been to Bromley. My DD did sit the exams at the schools though so had that experience. She came out of the Croydon one and said she loved it and loved the teachers and was desperate to go there as compared with Bromley and another two. I'd take advantage of tours, open days etc and see which one fits your DD.

That said if your DD is into sport then Croydon High is definitely worth thinking about out of the three you have mentioned. They do very well in multiple sports nationally. It's not just about sports as there are lots of girls who are not sporty and like the other schools they have lots of other extra curricular activities but if it is sport your DD likes I would say it's ahead of both Sydenham and Bromley.