Chiselhurst School for Girls or Trinity Sevenoaks HELP ME DECIDE PLEASE

[AngieB11]

Hi Lovely Mums,

I am weighing my options between Chiselhurst School for Girls and Trinity. My DD missed the Kent pass by 2 marks and we need to secure a place in a comprehensive school.

I am based in Orpington BR6 and unfortunately aren't in catchment of either. I have looked at Charles Darwin and Knole and prefer the above options more. We aren't catchment of any secondary schools except Harris Academy which I want to avoid at all cost.

I am considering moving but it's hard to make a decision which is better in either of the two. I am listing all the pros and cons below that I am aware of but I would appreciate any feedback from personal experience or through a known friend that could please help me make a decision

Trinity

• Results comparable or better to other comprehensive in the area.
• Good Infrastructure and discipline
• Easier commute - Private coach available if we don't move and get admission.
• She will have company at Trinity, students from her Primary going to Trinity
• Cons - Mixed School and No grammar Stream

Chiselhurst

• Has a Grammar Stream
• Girls only school
• Results comparable better in English
• Good infrastructure, Trips and overall nice vibe on open day
• Cons- Difficult commute from where we live multiple bus changes

Any feedback on the school would be hugely helpful!

Hey op, I don’t know either school, sorry, but it sounds somewhat as though either is a long shot, is that right?

I would say a commute with multiple bus changes (how long would it take overall?) is a massive negative and depending on time would rule it out for me (more than an hour door to door is too long imo).

So maybe list the closer school first. How many slots do you have on the form? Are you likely (based on previous distances) to be offered either of the other two you mention?

You need to fill all your preference slots and if there is a local school you are very keen to avoid, as you say, you need to include a school you are sure to be offered if you list it. Are you able to identify that? If you are offered the school you want to avoid, what is your plan?

Very good questions.

Kent only offers 4 choices and Bromley offers 6 choices. All Bromley options are average and requires decent commute except one but we aren't in any schools catchment so can't say which one is likely to be offered to us.

From last three years catchment is shrinking so we might not be offered any school in the first round. Bromley council told us they will offer us nearest secondary school if they can't offer schools on our list incase others are over subscribed.

Most schools commute will be about over 30 mins. Trinity has a a private coach available. It's a 20 min drive from our house so would assume it won't be more than 40 mins.

Chiselhurst will be an hour from where we live just keeping in mind public buses and changes also just one bus trip is 36 min (19 or 20 stops).

You say you are in catchment for a school that you are not keen on - then you say you are not in any catchment? Are you in a very rural area?

The school you don’t like - is it typically undersubscribed? If so that is the most likely offer tbh if you are not close enough to any of your other choices.

If it is usually oversubscribed it might be worth listing it in last place on your form as it may be preferable to a similarly unpopular school a long way away.

What is so bad about the nearest school?

The LA has to offer you a school place as I am sure you know.

I'm guessing you are trying to avoid specifically Harris Orpington?

Is Charles Darwin still OK?

TheNightingalesStarling - Correct, I am only in catchment of Harris Academy that I want to avoid.
Rest all the schools we aren't in catchment for the last few years catchments have been shrinking that's left us outside the catchment now. Charles Darwin is 4 miles from our place.

Clary - Spot on that's my fear! Harris Academy is undersubscribed it's offered for in year admissions because they always have spaces and locally no one wants to go to Harris.

Bromley Schools our distance
Harris Academy (In catchment)

1. Chiselhurst School for Girls (Our distance 3.82 Miles/ Last year offered distance 2.851)
2. Charles Darwin (our distance 4 miles/Last year offered distance 3.162)

I went to Chislehurst School for Girls when it was Beaverwood. Have you considered Coopers in Chislehurst? My youngest son went there and he did very well. I really liked the school

It sounds very much as tho your initial query as to which of the two schools you mention is better is academic (apols for pun) – based on last year you are unlikely to be offered either?

Personally I would discount the one with multiple bus journeys but I guess that’s up to you. I might list Trinity first and then Charles Darwin and Knole (caveat I do not know these schools! But I assume the journey is reasonable). Is there an under-subscribed school you would prefer to the Harris Academy? If so I would list that fourth as if it is less popular, you are likely to be offered a place – and if it is better in your view than the very local one then that will be a win?

Bear in mind tho that as you have not listed your local school, you will have to pay for transport to the school you are allocated.

If you cannot come up with an under-subbed school that’s commutable you will either have to make your peace with Harris, go private or HE.