Seeking recommendations for secondary schools within Wandsworth and Kensington and Chelsea borough.

[SuhashiniAzim]

Hi,
I'm a mum of a year 5 boy and seeking your recommendations for secondary schools with sixth forms within Wandsworth and neighbouring borough Kensington and Chelsea as I live just in borderline of Chelsea and Battersea. It's my first time looking for a secondary school, so I'm confused which one to keep on my choice list. I would prefer a school which prioritizes students good behaviour and mannerism alongside academic betterment. And of course won't consider any school which have bullying issues.

All schools have bullying issues - if they tell you they don't they are fibbing. It's how they deal with it that is the important thing.

You also need to work out which schools you are likely to qualify for based on their admissions criteria and then go and visit the viable options.

Is that very important to visit the school? I'm doing some research on the admission process of schools, but wanted to get a clear picture about the environment from the parents whose child is already in the schools in these boroughs or previously been.

Thank you for your suggestions.

What are your realistic options? My next door neighbours for example could get into Chelsea Academy as they’re at a feeder primary whilst we wouldn’t have that option.

Vital. The school visit is easily the most important factor in weighing up whatever realistic choices you have.

With primaries, I visited 6 and ended up with a Needs Improvement school in second place above 2 Outstanding ones I didn't even put on the form.

Secondaries, the visits completely turned my lists around. There was one Outstanding and highly sought after school that DD and I disliked so much that we left the open day early, and another that got firmly crossed off the list.

What other people think is only really 'interesting to note'. Their child is not YOUR child and schools should be picked to suit the child in front of you. No point in sending an obviously not-academic child who is only interested in sports to a school who are mainly invested in their uber-academic Oxbridge candidates and have a poor sports offer.

Tbh I dont know what's a feeder primary or even my child is at one for any nearby schools . So have to work out on that. Thank you.

Don't discount schools without sixth forms - there is a lot of movement post GCSE (end Y11) in London schools, children move to get a more skills based educational experience, or for academic standalone sixth form colleges, or to other 7-13 schools because their school doesn't have a sixth form or because they are single sex and want co-ed, or just because they fancy a fresh start.

I would start local and move outwards.

Check admissions policies - schools all publish them online - and whether you would get in based on previous years (no guarantees but rolls are falling)

Visit schools you are interested in - you can visit as many as you like Open Evenings/Days will be from September onwards, LAs will publish dates (may already be published). It gives you a feel of the school - and the Headteacher - you can usually talk to the current pupils on a tour.

You can name 6 schools in London on your CAF (online application in October) and the usual advice is to name at least one that you are confident you will meet admission criteria for - otherwise you run the risk of not getting any of your choices and being offered the school that has places - which you would not necessarily have chosen / may not be local etc.

Lots of knowledgable posters on here if you care to name specific schools you are interested in

I haven't thought that way. Surely I'm gonna book open days. The thing is, my child likes sports, even if he isn't a nerd he does well academically if he concentrates. He likes sports doesn't make him much sporty to go for a school specialized in sports. And as for academically its vice versa . Thats what making it difficult which way to go. Thank you for your insights. I appreciate.

Some schools will have specialisms.

DD's secondary specialises in Music, Sport, Art and Maths. They have aptitude places available for Music and Sport. I have a SEN child who is only interested in music so it was a great fit for her.

We looked at another really good school, but they had aptitude places for Languages. No matter how much I like the school, DD wasn't going to be a great fit for them.

If your child is particularly good at something, and you are happy for them to travel, aptitude places can open up a whole load more schools that aren't ones you'd get a place at via distance.

You need to come up with your list of essentials and then a 'nice to have' list and then see how the schools compare once you have worked out the admissions requirements for each one.

Look into this because if you are in the catchment area you can my child is there and didn’t go to a feeder school