Top 5 Local Schools in East Dulwich/Dulwich

[tyor]

As the subject implies, I'm sure you would have guessed by now that I'm one of those newbie parents experiencing the pre-prep/prep school search for the first time.

I recently finished the private school search and open days, now going through the assessments with my son but also need to start the state school search in good time for the Jan'12 application deadline.

I appreciate that people will come up with a list as it pertains specifically to their perception of what is good for their child. However, I'm throwing this in the forum to get people's opinion and to generate discussion.

I've found the forum to be a rich source of first hand info and would appreciate your honest opinion.

Many thanks.

[Growlybear]

I would put Dulwich Hamlet as by far the best local state junior school in Dulwich, with Dulwich Village as the best infant school if you qualify on the faith criterion. Although it's just over the border in Forest Hill, I would rate Fairlawn as a close second, followed by Eliot Bank.

[BeccaL]

Hi tyor

You might be better to put this into the Family Room as lots of school discussions there. However, re state schools the main determining factor will be distance from school, regardless of what your preference might be, so might help to indicate which state schools you're closest to... you'll then get opinions from people whose kids are at those schools.

[tyor]

Thanks Guys.

Will also post on Family Room...

[chantelle]

your geography will dictate it, really.

[Coach Beth]

Agree with BeccaL - most state schools have been over-subscribed the last few years with extra buldge classes having gone into four local schools last year to meet the extra demand. Which means there won't be buldge classes next year at many local schools (except I guess probably DKH?) making the situation even more acute. So really, you won't have that much choice next year and will need to consider what schools you are closest to and check them out. You can also search this forum with the names of schools you are considering as there have been lots of discussions about primary schools in East Dulwich in the past. Or you can post asking for feedback about particular schools. It's difficult to respond to your question otherwise really. (although I obvisously feel my son's school in in the top 5!)

[tyor]

With regards to Geography, we are happy with any school in the Dulwich area and not extending beyond Honor Oak Forest Hill & Catford.

[BeccaL]

If you're happy with any school in the Dulwich area and are within the catchment then it might be easier to state which schools you're closest to so you can get specific feedback, e.g. we're on Overhill Road and would only get into Goodrich or Horniman on closest school, so any opinions on other schools are pretty academic!

[nunheadmum]

But where are you? It's likely that you'll only have a chance in your closest school. There are more kids than state school places in this area. Any good state school will be filled from the immediate area so you really don't have a choice of 'good' schools. Hopefully you're close to a 'good' school and stand a chance of getting in.

It's worth noting though that more schools in the area are performing well - the one benefit of the surplus of kids is that all the schools as getting a better intake of kids who are well supported by their parents, which helps them peform better. So don't only look at past data - visit the schools and make your own assessment of what is happening NOW in the school.

[Pickle]

Agree with the others. The only way you get any real choice is to opt for an independent school rather than a state one. Good luck.

[Sanne Panne]

Yes you either move within about 200 meters of your chosen state primary (if it's a popular one and if your idea of good is similar to that of the rest of us on here it will be a popular school) or you go private. Seems to be like this across East Dulwich, Dulwich and Herne Hill...

[Coach Beth]

Personally, I don't actually think the situation with state school is that bad in that I don't buy into the belief that there are just one or two schools in the area that are worth getting into! I think we are fortunate to have a number of decent primary schools. HOWEVER, I think most schools in ED are VERY oversubscribed however. And some schools are more popular than others - that is true! If you want to go to Heber - forget it unless you live close. But that doesn't necessarily mean you won't be sending your child to a good school if it isn't the school that isn't the most popular!! Good schools that I rate include Bessemer Grange School and Goose Green Primary (Sats results at 82% combined is one of the highest in ED btw) Don't just go on popular opinion - visit the schools you are within walking distance to and use your own judgement. Is the Headteacher dynamic and pushing change or do they seem like they are coasting? What does the curriculam map of the school look like? Is there a music teacher or art teacher based at the school on a full or part-time basis? (if music or art is important to you for instance) What were last years SATS results of the year 6 classes? What reading scheme does the school use? How is pupils progress monitored and tracked? Good luck!

[sillywoman]

Yes, I agree with the other posters - Tyor I think you may be missing the point. It's not about which school you'd be happy with - you don't get to chose like that. For state primaries it's about which school you're lucky enough to get into, dictated pretty much solely by where you live. As BeccaL said at the beginning - If you post on here which two primaries are nearest to your house people can & will, no doubt, give their opinion of them. It's highly likely that you won't get into any state school further away than that, so unless you're planning to move within the catchment area of your 'top' school, compiling a 'top 5' list is a pointless exercise.

[tyor]

Forgive my naivety here. Can someone clarify how this works then. My understanding is this: We're required to apply to 5 schools for admission. What if I decide to apply to schools not in my catchment area. For example, the nearest school to us is St Johns & Clements (on a side note - What are your views on this school?). What if we leave St Johns & Clements out of our list and instead apply to schools further away (bearing in mind that we are ok with any of the schools on the list). Will the council be forced to place our little one in one of the 5 listed schools or will they over-rule our list and place him in any school with space based on proximity, i.e in my catchment area? What happens then?

Thanks for all the responses thus far....

[mrs.lotte]

The catchment area varies from year to year but are all pretty small, if you put schools down which you live too far away from then the local authority will place you at the nearest school with places which is unlikely to be in East Dulwich but more likely to be North of the borough e.g Old Kent Road. Puting down schools that you won't get into is just a pointless waste of your choices really. If you haven't already I urge you to go and see all your nearest schools; from where you are probably St.John's, Bellenden, Lyndhurst, Goose Green, Bessemer Grange, Dog Kennel Hill and Rye Oak. All of these schools will have parents who are happy and parents who are less so, it's very much a personal and often instinctive thing. I suspect that you will find them all pretty similar. Good luck and try not to worry, there are lots of good options locally provided you are canny with your list.

[Coach Beth]

Yes, if you choose schools that are too far away and then there are no places there (i.e. because all the places have been taken by people who live closer), the council is under absolutely no obligation to give your child a place (and they can't give you a place anyway since all the places will have been taken!) at any of the schools on your list. What they will do is simply allocate your child at a school which does have places - and as mrs.lotte says, this could be anywhere.

[ratty]

We are going through this process at the moment. Luckily we live equidistance between Bessemer Grange, Goose Green and DKH. Even if we hated each and everyone of these schools, (which we don't) we would still have no chance of our son going to any but these. Luck of the draw. If you want to choose, you have to pay for private education. End of. The council will try to allocate you to something on your list, but siblngs get priority, then distance is the key factor!

[Renata Hamvas]

tyor, I would agree with what people say above, most of Southwark's schools are oversubscribed, so realistically you need to apply to schools close to where you live. Some schools didn't offer places to children who lived 300m away. The exception is if you are a church goer and are applying to a C of E or Catholic School under their religious entrance criteria; here you can apply to schools further away and be in with a chance. If you have the starting Primary School booklet (this info is also on the Southwark website),look at the furthest place offered distances for the primaries you are interested in. Even though this can vary from year to year, it is a guidance on what to expect. Be aware however, if a school bulges (takes an extra class) in the bulge year children from further away will get in, and due to higher sibling numbers the last place offered distance will be smaller than usual for the next 2-3 years.

Renata

[veryseriousgirl]

I've got a couple of years before this is a direct issue for me, but how does this work if your nearest primary is 400m away (which is the case for me with Heber)? Do I not stand a chance of getting in to any East Dulwich state schools?

[Mellors]

I was 500m away from Heber last year (which was also my nearest). As they have now removed the priority for those for whom it is there nearest community school you are just in the same pot as everyone else. I was 29th or so on the waiting list! In the end I got offered a place at a school further away which had a bulge class this year.

In short: who knows, it will depend on where/if there are bulges in the year you apply I suspect, and the knock on effect of siblings taking more and more spaces from the pupils in previous years bulges.

I completely agree with whomever said that choice is illusory unless you can afford to go private. You just get what you are given, and there is no guarantee that will even be a school on your list, and certainly not your closest unless you are literally on the doorstep.