2027 entry - Thoughts on Southwark or surrounding secondary schools travelling from Southwark/Lambeth borders

[TuttiFrutti1]

Am looking at secondary schools for my DD and am considering these schools and would welcome thoughts:

Oasis in Lambeth North - positive atmosphere and attitude but rubbish facilities
St Michael's Catholic College in Bermondsey - great academically but VERY VERY religious and we are outside catchment.
St Saviours Girls - Positive parental feedback, good results, small school so not lots of facilities.
Harris Bermondsey Girls - Good results, good facilities.

Greycoats looks good but we are not religious so low chance of getting in.
Kingsdale is MASSIVE and is a lottery system, not heard great things about it's pastoral care (direct from a professional who has had to work with the school).

Would also welcome views on ones we didn't really like:
Had an awful tour at Charter Bermondsey, felt they had really low academic expectations - they are pushing Charles Dickens parents to consider the school as it's part of the same trust.

I think behaviour at Haberdashers is poor - based on DD visit with her school, a separate open day tour I took and after school behaviour in and around Habs that also appears to also involve some of the older Charles Dickens kids.

Didn't like Marylebone Girls School either - head teacher was obsessive about newspaper articles about the school amd calling all the girls 'sweetie' which made me think whether she actually knows her pupils. Didn't feel diverse either. Also know some current students/parents who don't wax lyrical about school either.

Notre Dame - Probably one of the closer schools to us, but not diverse, falling pupil numbers (disproportionate to other secondaries), low academic attainment and expectations.

Ark Globe - Not diverse, good academic results and behaviour better than Habs

I don’t know any of the schools personally. I went to open days for Kingsdale and Haberdashers. Was not impressed with either.

No experience but within your area there’s also Sacred Heart which I’ve heard other parents recommend.

Thank you for sharing your reflections. I had not considered Sacred Heart but will take a look.

Anyone have any views on City of London School on Lynton Road?

I went to St Saviours when it was a Grammar and have kept in touch, as an Old Girl! Facilities are great but are never a replacement for teaching and ethos, so I'd recommend. Read their newsletters on their website, which will show the depth of extra curricular activity

My DD went to City of London Academy Southwark (CoLA) for sixth form on a basketball scholarship having attended a state secondary school in another borough until 16. She loved her time at CoLA, making great friends on her A level subjects and through the basketball team and came out with 2 A stars and an A in her A levels and a place at her first choice Uni. We felt the school did an amazing job of supporting her academics alongside the basketball commitments.

Thanks for the reflections on CoLA - I may need to add this to my visit list.

Yes, I hadn't realised until recently that it is an ex-Grammar with a long history.

My DD was at Kingsdale and had an amazing 5 years there - very happy memories.

She's ADHD and executive function is 'challenged' - we found the staff incredibly warm, supportive and understanding.

I can fully appreciate it could be marmite.

I know kids who are happy at Grey Coats.

We looked at Haberdashers Hatchem, loads of DD's friends when to Haberdashers Bermondsey (mixed thoughts there).

I’m looking at similar schools for my DS. Does anyone have a sense of whether St Michael’s ever ends up far enough down its over-subscription criteria to admit any non-religious applicants, and how large that catchment has been if so?

OP, where near the Lambeth / Southwark border do you live?

Would you consider one of the partially selective state secondaries in Wandsworth / Merton? They admit some students based on a test, and the rest based on the usual criteria (mostly distance)

• Graveney, in Tooting. Very coveted. You need to be in the top 4-5% of the Wandsworth test
• Saint Cecilia, Southfields music test. Probably the least academic in the group
• Ashcroft (Putney / Southside) technology test. Great academic results but batshit crazy strict - detention if you cycle to school.
• Chestnut Grove (Balham) art test and language test
• Harris Wimbledon. South Wimbledon / Colliers Wood. Music test. Good results but rough area. Strict but not batshit crazy

Note that Graveney, Ashcroft and Chestnut Grove require the Wandsworth Test - a kind of 11+ with verbal and non-verbal reasoning sections.