Secondary schools in London

[Ohmimi]

We currently live in what seems to be a secondary school black spot (sw9) with not good options based on admissions criteria. DS is in Y3 so looking at moving but as we could move anywhere in London it’s too hard to identify good places to look so need ideas that meet following criteria

1. good secondary school that is not grammar, private, single sex or religious. He loves sport so bonus points for that
2. within 40 min (door to door) commute to Canary Wharf / city ideally on tube or really reg trains

lets pretend that money is not a barrier for getting ideas (but will be in reality) 🤪

Langley school for Boys Beckenham is very good for sports. Many parents get the train to Lewisham and change to dlr for Canary Waugh. Not sure of the time.

Attic - "for boys" presumably means single sex?

OP, I'd also speak to parents with older DC where you are now and understand what people do typically.

people we know have mainly either moved out (but Kent / Surrey so further away) or gone private / grammar route

Those who stay put select schools just over the border, but some pick schools in SW2. OP there's a thread here you might find helpful: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/secondary/5345377-lambeth-school-help-which-school-secondary?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share
I heard that Pimlico Academy is good. It might be worth exploring what positive changes have been made since the protests of 2021.

Kingsdale does a sports scholarship and is a huge successful school for an outgoing sporty child. Also lottery system so you have the chance to get in from anywhere.

OP, it might be a good idea to update the title and clarify that you're looking for a state school compatible with a 40-minute commute to the City or Canary Wharf.

A few thoughts:

south of the river will be cheaper (unless you go quite far)

Balham: northern line tube, one railway stop from Clapham Junction, Henry Cavendish is a good primary and Chestnut a good secondary

East Dulwich and North Dulwich: Look into the The Charter school and the Charter East Dulwich. Trains to London bridge. Beware that public transport in SE London tends to be not as good as in SW London

Graveney school, near Tooting Broadway (northern line). it is partially selective: some kids get in based on the results in a test, the others by distance. Opinions vary on whether it is worth going there even if you get in by distance only. Kids are divided into groups by ability. One of the largest schools in London - for some it's a plus, for others it's not.

Hurlingham academy: between Parsons green and Wandsworth bridge. No sixth form. Some like it, some say it's too strict (but not crazy like Mossbourne, Ashcroft, Micaela, etc). Houses will be more expensive than south of the river and the commute may be worse

Hayes. Mixed. Outstanding ofsted. Have a really strong rugby team. Won a national cup this year. New head (from Harris) coming in so might mix things. Hayes to Lewisham is 30 mins and then DLR. Just down the road from Langley.

How interesting, what is the new headteacher name?

https://arkgreenwichfreeschool.org/
DSC went here. Very strict but good results, DSC did really well there. Depending on your budget there should be reasonable re-location options and neighbourhoods for you to consider. Right neck of the woods for Docklands too. X

Further east is Upminster. Two excellent secondary schools, excellent transport links and easy commute to Canary Wharf.

https://www.cooperscoborn.org.uk

hallmeadschool.co.u

Kingsdale Foundation School in Dulwich.

Not grammar, not private, co-ed, no religion outside studying RE till Y9. Sports scholarships available otherwise lottery entry.

Sport is a BIG thing here and across lots of different sports. The U15 B Team just won the ESFA cup for 3rd year in a row. Lots of academy footballers. Rugby, hockey, athletics etc all big. They offer archery, horse riding and a gazillion other sports options after school. Even very non-sporty DD has ended up really enjoying PE and does after-school sports voluntarily.

Nearest stations are Sydenham Hill (3 minute walk) or Gipsy Hill (10 minute walk). You could do Jubilee Line to London Bridge (3 stops), and train to Gipsy Hill (30 mins direct). There may be faster routes.

Kids come from all over London and well beyond so always loads of them on the trains and walks to stations. DD does a 90 minute each way commute.

Charter schools - not a hope unless you can afford to live in catchment (tiny and £££)

Graveney - also very tiny catchment so he would need to pass the Wandsworth Test which goes against your not grammar wish.

Unless I misunderstood, the whole point of the post is that the OP is open to moving close to a specific secondary school.
So living near one seems very much to be on the table.

LBTS is an easy walk from SW9 and outstanding, minutes from Oval or Vauxhall for onward commute?

Ah my error for reading the OP wrong. Assumed she was wanting to move to Canary Wharf.

I have had two children had their mental health destroyed by Charter East Dulwich. I wouldn't touch that place with a bargepole while the current headmistress is in place.

I concur about the Charter schools. I live about 2 miles as the crow flies from Charter North Dulwich and DD didn’t get in. Their catchment is tiny. The East Dulwich one was meant for our area but they took in a lot of South Camberwell kids so we lost out. We’re going back six years mind.

Kingsdale didn’t take us either. We went over the border to Lewisham borough for DDs education. It really is a total lottery around here.

Sorry to hear that. Could you elaborate?
I know people whose children thrived at Charter North Dulwich, but this was a while ago so realistically not very relevant . I have never looked into Charter East Dulwich.
Is it one of those super draconian schools like Micaela, Ashcroft, Mossbourne, Holland Park etc?

Charter East Dulwich is not at all like Micaela, Ashcroft, Mossbourne, Holland Park.

I also hear it’s supposed to be less strict than North Charter.

My kids go there and are doing really well, we’ve never had any issues.

Blackheath? I think there is a secondary school rated outstanding there. (We live a bit further out, though, so I'm not personally familiar with it.)

It's arbitrary. Incredibly disorganised, and draconian when it wants to be, and turning a blind eye when it doesn't. It's a shame because it started really well, but the change of headteacher was a disaster.

Charter North Dulwich last offer distance is around 800m most years I think. People who we know in SW9/SW2 have gone to Graveney, Chestnut Grove in Balham (either through language or art scholarship), Kingsdale, Greycoat (girls only though). It is definitely a bit of a black spot unfortunately. There are loads more options if you go towards Tulse Hill/West Norwood/Streatham (Dunraven, Norwood). These areas are well connected and relatively affordable too. Charter East has a big-ish catchment now and we know people who have got in from Loughborough Junction.