Essential Guide to Education 2022/23

EssEntial information for thosE starting sEcondary school nE xt yEar

By Kevin Quinn

You can’t expect to name a secondary school and assume that your child will automatically be offered a place. It is simply a case of listing the schools you prefer and awaiting the outcome of the allocation process.

It is vital that you get the order of preferences right on your child’s primary to secondary transfer application. You may be tempted to name just one school on the online application as it is the only school you want for your child. However, there are no guarantees that your child will be offered this school. To increase the chances of your child being offered a preferred school, we strongly advise you to list up to six preferences on their application.

There are various types of secondary schools to choose from including academies, voluntary aided, foundation, and free and schools. And it is here where the oversubscription criteria vary. It is important you fully understand the oversubscription criteria and match them to your own circumstances. Some schools are heavily oversubscribed, with hundreds applying for places.

Schools arrange open days/evenings where you can find out more about what they offer - you are strongly advised to check each school’s website for details on how and when they will be holding their open day/evening, as this may be subject to change at short notice.

Make sure you find out how many applications the school usually receives - this information will also be printed in the Starting Secondary school in Southwark 2023/24 brochure and the Starting secondary school in Lambeth 2023/24 booklet, as well as other boroughs.

The more people who apply for a school for their children, the bigger the risk that your child might not be offered a place at that school. Armed with this knowledge, you should be better placed to put your preferences down.

Do use all six preferences - however, you need to be wary about only choosing schools which are heavily oversubscribed. You should name your first preference school on the application, but also list preferences where your child has a realistic chance of being offered a place.

Applying for secondary schools can be emotionally difficult. It is such a vital decision for your child’s future.

Open days are due to take place, but make sure you know what is what

Eachyear the challenge of deciding on which secondary school to apply to for your child remains one of the biggest education decisions for parents and carers...

If your child is in Year 6 and currently attending one of Southwark’s or Lambeth’s primary schools, you will receive further information from your child’s school.

If you are a Southwark resident you must apply online at: www.southwark.gov.uk/schooladmissions or if you are a Lambeth resident you must apply online at www.lambeth.gov.uk/eadmissions

The online application process gets rid of the paperwork and is available to use 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The site allows users to save, continue or make changes to their application, right up until the closing date and your details are safe and secure. You will receive an email with a summary of your submitted application and you can also view the outcome online. The closing date to submit the online application is 31st October 2022 by 11.59pm.

You also need to ensure that you complete a Supplementary Information Form (SIF) for the schools that require these and submit it to the school by their individual deadline. These ask for further information, such as religious observance or regarding school specialisms. Where a school requires your child to sit an admissions banding test, it is vital that they sit the test. If you are applying to a secondary school that uses banding within its criteria, your child will be required to take a test. Please contact the school directly for further details on banding test arrangements.

If you are thinking of applying to schools that test for ability/ aptitude, you must ensure that you register your child for the ability/aptitude admission test before each school’s published deadline and you must also submit your child’s online admissions application by 31st October 2022. Failure to provide a SIF to the school by their deadline and your child sitting a banding test or an ability/aptitude test, where these are needed, may significantly reduce the chances of your child being offered a place at a school on your application.

Children who have an Education, Health and Care Plan follow a different admissions process and parents and carers must contact the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Team

within their local authority for further advice.

Once you have made your preferences and submitted your online application by the closing date, your application will be processed. If you have successfully submitted your online application before the closing date, you will be able to view the results of your application on the eAdmissions website (www.eadmissions.org.uk) during the evening of 1st March 2023. You will also be sent an email in the evening of 1st March 2023 which will contain information on what to do next.

If it was not possible to offer a place at any of your preferred schools, then the School Admissions Team will allocate your child an alternative secondary school. This is likely to be the nearest school to your child’s home which has a vacancy. You also have the right to appeal against the decision not to offer your child a place at a preferred school. The email containing the outcome of your child’s application will include information about how to appeal.

If it has not been possible to offer a place at any schools named as a higher preference on your child’s application, your child’s name will automatically be added to the waiting lists of these schools. You may also ask for your child’s name to be added to the waiting list of any out of borough schools listed on your application. Please contact the local authority the school is located in for further information.

If your child has been offered a secondary school place, you have until 15th March 2023 to respond to this offer. For those that live in Southwark, if the School Admissions Team do not hear from you by this date, your offer will automatically be accepted and your child’s details forwarded to the allocated school. If you live in Lambeth, the School Admissions Team require all offers to be responded to, ie accepting these by 15th March 2023.

Only if you reject the offer and also provide details of any alternative arrangement you have made for your child’s education, will your child’s place be withdrawn and offered to the next child on the school’s waiting list.

Daniella Yeboah from Ark Walworth Academy celebrating her top GCSE results this year

Student at The Charter School North Dulwich delighted with her GCSE results

Alleyn’s School

Alleyn’s offers co-educational excellence in a caring community for children aged 11-18.

We offer a range of scholarships and means-tested bursaries. For more details, and to learn about life at Alleyn’s and our next Open Event dates, please visit our website.

www.alleyns.org.uk

020 8557 1500 | Townley Road, Dulwich, London SE22 8SU

16th September 2022

22nd September 2022

11th October 2022

Join us at our Open Events

Book your place dulwich.org.uk/admissions

Pupils are encouraged to be and do everything

Entry into Years 3-6 (ages 7-10)

Mrs Polly Twisk, Junior School Admissions

020 8299 8432 junioradmissions@dulwich.org.uk

Entry into Year 7 and Year 9 (ages 11 and 13)

Mrs Sarah Betts and Mrs Alison Williams 020 8299 9263 the.registrar@dulwich.org.uk

Bursaries of up to 100% and Academic Scholarships of up to one third of full fees are available. Find out more and how to apply by scanning the QR code.

200 pupils at Dulwich have free or subsidised places

Dunraven is a high-performing, all-through school, educating children from the age of 4 to 18.

We foster an ethos of respect, tolerance and pride in personal appearance. Students are encouraged to be courteous, optimistic and resilient. As our students progress through the school, we are committed to ensuring that they develop the confidence, skills and self-starting attitude that will help them succeed in the modern world.

These are exciting times for Dunraven School, which continues to embody our all-through school objective of ‘Excellence for All’. We offer the very best in teaching, a broad and exciting curriculum which embraces the academic and creative and a strong sense of community, where staff and students work together with the understanding and support of families. Our state-of-the-art facilities add to an exceptional learning experience.

Applications for 2023 Entry

To find out more about Dunraven School, for details of our Open Sessions this Autumn or to see our virtual tours, please visit www.dunraven.org.uk or email admissions@dunraven.det.org.uk

Applications are now open and the closing deadlines are:

Year 7 Admissions: 31 October 2022

Sixth Form Admissions: 2 December 2022

Reception Admissions: 15 January 2023

Our prospectus and full details of our admissions arrangements and criteria are available by visiting www.dunraven.org.uk

HARRIS ACADEMY BERMONDSEY

Basmala is off to Merton College, Oxford

We are extremely proud that one of our 6th Form students will be taking up her offer of a place at Merton College, Oxford to study History.

Basmala, who studied English Literature, History, Religious Studies and Drama at A Level, has secured her place at Merton College having exceeded her offer grade by achieving a phenomenal 2 A* and 2 A grades.

“It’s the biggest source of anxiety and excitement at the same time,” said Basmala. “Whenever I felt like I was struggling through things, I just remembered that I got an offer from Oxford to work towards and it gave me drive.”

Receiving the offer boosted her academic confidence too, she said. “Talking to the academics at Oxford gave me this renewed vigour to tackle my subject better, which has been a massive source of strength and given me a sense of direction academically and also personally,” she added.

Basmala is following in good footsteps. In 2019, another Harris Academy Bermondsey sixth former, Chantoi, received an offer from Balliol College, Oxford, to study Ancient and Modern History, while in 2020, Jona, Elizabeth and Korede all received offered from Oxbridge universities.

In 2021, students at Harris Academy Bermondsey secured university places to study subjects such as veterinary nursing, law and pharmacology. In all, a hugely impressive 25% of university offers were from prestigious Russell Group universities and 2022 sees this picture improve further with 32% of university offers coming from Russell Group Universities. Students will be taking up places at universities such as UCL, LSE, King’s, Queen Mary and Durham.

East Dulwich Character Courage

Harris Girls’ Academy

Harris Girls’ Academy East Dulwich is officially one of the best academies in England and Wales for student progress.

We are in the top 4% of schools nationally and one of the best in London, according to the latest Department for Education figures.

Come and see our academy for yourself at one of our open days and evenings:

Tuesday 20th September 2022 arrive 8.45 – 9.45am

Wednesday 21st September 2022 arrive 8.45 – 9.45am

Tuesday 27th September 2022 arrive 8.45 – 9.45am

Wednesday 28th September 2022 arrive 8.45 – 9.45am

Thursday 29th September 2022 arrive 5 – 6.30pm

We look forward to welcoming you.

www.harrisdulwichgirls.org.uk

Tuesday 27th September

Wednesday 28th September

Tuesday 11th October

Wednesday 12th October

Best Ever GCSE Results at Harris Academy Peckham

Students and staff at Harris Academy Peckham are celebrating after achieving fantastic GCSE results.

Overall, 70% achieved a Grade 4 or higher in English and Maths. More than half of students (53%) achieved the prestigious and demanding Ebacc.

Students excelled in a wide range subjects:

• 3 students gained a ‘super’ Grade 9 in English Literature, which is the equivalent of an A**

• 14 students gained Grade 7 or 8 in English Language which are the equivalent of an A and A*

• 77% of students achieved a Grade 4 or above in Mathematics

• 17 students gained either Grade 7, 8 or 9 in Combined Science, which are the equivalent of an A, A* and A**

• Over half of Spanish students were awarded a Grade 7 or higher, which is the equivalent of getting at least an A. Two fifths were awarded a ‘super’ Grade 9!

Students who excelled themselves include:

Mouhmadou (3 Grade 9s, 1 Grade 8, 1 Grade 7), Mohamed (1 Grade 9, 3 Grade 8s, 1 Grade 7), Lauren (1 Grade 9, 3 Grade 8s, 1 Grade 7), Kristian (5 Grade 9s, 1 Grade 8, 1 Grade 6)

“I want to congratulate our amazing students on their fantastic results today,“ said Claudette Bergin, Principal of Harris Academy Peckham. They should all be extremely proud of what they have achieved. As well as strong results across a breadth of subjects, it is particularly pleasing to see so many students excel and achieve the top grades of 8s and 9s.

“I want to thank our talented staff and our dedicated parents for their support. I believe that our students can thrive from these results which will enable them to LEAP to the next stage of their lives.”

A Passion for Life and Learning since

1741

James Allen’s Girls’ School

Autumn Open Events

Find out more about JAGS including our free and subsidised places.

BOOK ONLINE

jags.org.uk

Playforte is a company committed to building confidence in children through theatre and music.

The team is made up of professional actormusicians and experienced tutors currently working in the theatre industry.

The syllabus is designed to support national curriculum guidance for KS1 and KS2 music classes, while offering further musical enrichment

Our original classes include ‘Musical Storytellers’, ‘Ukulele Group’, ‘Dance With Us’, ‘Play with Playforte’, as well as drama-based workshops.

Individual and small group instrumental classes are also available with experienced tutors.

Browse our pricing and classes at playfortetheatre.com Contact us at playforte.school@gmail.com

Thursday 29th September 2022

Wednesday 12th October 2022

Sign up to visit: joinbrit.eventbrite.co.uk

Our School Notre Dame

Open day events

28th september: 5.00 - 7.00pm

30th september:

9.15 - 10.30am

6th October: 9.15 - 10.30am

12th October: 5.00 - 7.00pm

Our Ethos

A hidden gem south of the river, we are a small, all girls’ Catholic school providing an education consistent with Christian teaching for pupils of all backgrounds and faiths.

Founded in the footsteps of St Julie Billiart’s pioneering work in girls’ education, we continue to empower young females today, equipping them with a strong moral purpose to play a dynamic and responsible role in a modern, diverse society.

Research shows that girls outperform boys when not in a mixed school and our high aspirations ensure all pupils make measurable progress regardless of their starting point.

Our Offer

We believe in each individual and their potential and care deeply about the wellbeing and development of our pupils. Our curriculum offers a breadth and depth of academia and creativity, using the facilities of our inner city location to the full.

As a small school with smaller than average classes combined with a culture of caring professionalism, we know each of our pupils individually, forging close relationships in a committed and supportive environment.

Our bespoke Year 7 building helps make your daughter’s transition from primary to secondary school as smooth as possible.

Our Future

“

Being a member of the Notre Dame Community has taught me the following: to be resilient, open to new opportunities and able to strive towards whatever I want to achieve in life.

These qualities have shaped me as a young woman and I am confident that they will guide me through my journey as a student, and God willing, a future leader.”

Former student.

St Michael’s

Bringing each student to the fullness of life through education

St Michael’s Catholic College

Llewellyn Street, Bermondsey, London, SE16 4UN

Telephone: 02072376432

Web: www.stmichaelscollege.org.uk

Principal: Ms F. Corcoran

2022 OPEN DAYS AND EVENING

Monday 26th September 9.30am to 11.30am and 4.30pm to 7pm

Tuesday 27th September 9.30am to 11.30am

Wednesday 28th October 9.30am to 11.30am

Please see our website for more details. Please note there is no parking on-site

ADMIssIons

Supplementary forms must be submitted to the College alongside the standard online application parents or guardians submit to their home Local Education Authority.

There are up to 150 places on offer for September 2023. Where the number of applications exceeds 150, the oversubscription criteria will apply.

The admission policy is available to view online and is also in the application pack, which is only given to parents attending College Open Days.

During Open Days parents / guardians will receive a prospectus and application forms. Tours of the College, an address from the Principal, and guidance on how to apply will be given.

‘Students respond exceptionally well to the challenge to achieve to the highest levels and make outstanding progress.’ Ofsted

CoLLeGe LIFe

Consistently graded ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted and with excellent examination results each year, St Michael’s provides academic rigour within a caring, Catholic community, for students from Year 7 through to Sixth Form.

The learning environment is tailored to meet the needs of all students, providing extra challenge for those who are intellectually gifted and offering learning support for those in need. Our team of well qualified, dedicated staff work creatively and professionally to ensure that all students flourish and achieve.

The modern, light, new building enables dynamic learning, with access to excellent facilities and resources. Safe, well ordered and with a professional approach to pastoral care, St Michael’s strives for academic and personal success for every child.

Academically, we challenge students with a broad range of subjects, exceeding the requirements of the

National Curriculum by offering Latin and classics. College life is enriched by a House system which provides diverse activities, designed to encourage experiential learning and foster enjoyment. A broad spectrum of sporting, musical, artistic and technological clubs are offered at lunch times and after school. This includes lessons in Journalism, as well as Cricket, Drama, Band, Chess, Computing

and Science.

Specialisms in Languages and Business allow us to provide exciting opportunities for students involving training, work experience, internships and mentoring in international companies including JP Morgan, Bloomberg, Ince & Co, KPMG, Grant Thornton, Prudential and Barclays. Partnership working also enables some of our students to access Russell Group University preparation and experience, including Cambridge Summer School and University of London Maths and Science programmes for more able students.

Residential trips abroad are an integral part of broadening student experiences. We offer trips to Rome, Paris, the USA, South Korea and the UK for activity, adventure and retreat. The religious life and service of students is nurtured through active engagement in liturgical events and services, undertaking charitable endeavours and working with Priests who support our College.

‘If you want a school in which your child can be really happy, which develops their character and gets excellent academic results, St Michael’s is well worth applying for.’ Year 10 Parent

Reflec�ve... Inclusive... Transforma�ve RATED EXCELLENT

Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist schools (SIAMS)

•Excep�onal outcomes at GCSE and A level

•Well above na�onal average figures for KS4 and KS5

•Excellent SIAMS & Outstanding Ofsted

Our students consistently achieve excellent outcomes at GCSE and A’ level. But our school is more than our exam results and we believe in the importance of educa�ng the whole person. From Year 7 through to Sixth Form our students live and learn our school values - Transforma�ve, Suppor�ve, Inclusive, Compassionate and Reflec�ve.

Our aim is to be transforma�ve – to develop well rounded, capable, emo�onally and spiritually engaged young women who take advantage of the opportuni�es offered within the school and beyond.

We are a suppor�ve school community – we have strong systems built on mutual support and collabora�on. We have common goals which we work towards, with a focus on the wellbeing of all.

We are an inclusive school – everyone is unique, special and loved by God, regardless of faith, ethnicity, or social status.

We teach our students to be compassionate – encouraging them to help and support each other, as well as serve the wider community.

We are reflec�ve in that we emphasise the importance of collec�ve worship and we value opportuni�es to reflect on what is important to us.

Our students are focused and disciplined. They are talented and ambi�ous, they work hard and achieve well.

Come and visit us at one of our open events and see for yourselves.

In order to be considered for a Foundation place, St Saviour’s & St Olave’s Supplementary Forms must be completed and returned directly to the school. Please vist our website for more details on how to apply.

56 Brixton Hill, London SW2 1QS

HEALTH ENGINEERING FINANCE

Upcoming Open Events

In-Person Open Events

unique opportunities to gain hands-on experience in their chosen field, whether it’s Business and Finance, Health, or Engineering.

Our state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, along with our strong relationships with employers and universities, provide our students with the skills and experience they need to succeed.

So if you’re looking for a sixth form that will give you a competitive edge in getting into a top university or securing that dream apprenticeship, look no further than South Bank UTC!

What are you waiting for? Apply today!

Saturday, 1 October 2022 | 10:00 - 12:30

Wednesday, 12 October 2022 | 17:30 -19:30

Wednesday, 7 December 2022 | 17:30 - 19:30

Wednesday, 1 March 2023 | 17:30 - 19:30

Saturday, 29 April 2023 | 10:00 - 12:30

Virutal Open Events

Wednesday, 9 November 2022 | 18:30 - 19:30

Wednesday, 18 January 2023 | 18:30 - 19:30

Wednesday, 29 March 2023 | 18:30 - 19:30 Sign

“I have had so many amazing opportunities at Globe. Teachers are always there for you and the friendships you can make here really will ground you. Without the extracurricular, I wouldn’t have done well at the interviews for Cambridge.”

Thursday 1 December 2022 4:30pm-6:30pm

Lauren Lopez, Alumna, now at University of Cambridge

Kingsdale Foundation School

First Class and Top of the Class!

‘This popular school is a harmonious environment where pupils learn how to be successful in modern Britain.’ Ofsted 2017

Kingsdale is Outstanding in every area (Ofsted 2017) and presents exceptionally rich opportunities to challenge students of all abilities including providing options to study Latin, Economics and Psychology. There is also the chance to learn two languages from the start of Year 7 for gifted & talented linguists. Kingsdale attracts many able students and operates a diverse, expansive curriculum to meet the particular needs and aspirations of all of our students and their families. The school offers a wide variety of academic subjects including 4 or 5 optional courses selected by each child in addition to co-curricular activities every day.

‘The curriculum is broad and balanced, supporting pupils’ outstanding outcomes because of the chance pupils have to be successful in a range of subjects.’ Ofsted 2017

Kingsdale is rated as a high performing non- selective school for attainment nationally at Key Stage 4 and has a very impressive record of being one of the foremost schools, in the Local Authority, for outcomes at Key Stage 5 with some truly outstanding academic results.

average class sizes are normally approximately 20 across core subjects.

‘Pupils’ personal development and welfare is outstanding because of the care and attention that staff pay to making pupils’ time in school productive and safe.’ Ofsted 2017 Subsidised excursions to amazing destinations such as Malaysia, Namibia, Brazil, the USA and the French Alps are scheduled to resume next year or as soon as possible thereafter.

Harnessing Sixth Form Talent

Take advantage of the chance to visit Kingsdale Foundation School’s purpose built Sixth Form Site. See for yourself how we bring the best out of our students and why our post 16 provision is so popular and so heavily oversubscribed. We invite you to apply for a Sixth Form Scholarship worth up to £1,000 per annum. For more details email: sixthform@kingsdale.southwark.sch.uk

Kingsdale Sixth Form Open Days/Evenings 2022

Wednesday 28th September 4.30pm - 7.30pm

Wednesday 19th October 1.30pm - 6.30pm

Wednesday 9th November 1.30pm - 6.30pm

Kingsdale had an incredible history of regularly producing the top achieving individual student in the country at GCSE during the pre-pandemic period! The school has one of the best pupil to teacher ratios of any mainstream secondary school in South London and

Wednesday 30th November 1.30pm - 6.30pm

Please be advised that virtual tours will continue to take place concurrently and broadcast live during each of the above events!

For further information, visit www.kingsdalefoundationschool.org.uk

Kingsdale Foundation School

First Class and Top of the Class

‘This popular school is a harmonious environment where pupils learn how to be successful in modern Britain’ OFSTED 2017

Applications for Sixth Form courses are now being accepted

Take advantage of the chance to visit Kingsdale Foundation School and see for yourself how we bring the best out of our students. A tour of Kingsdale Foundation School enables you to realise why we receive such glowing reports. In the Autumn term 2022 you will have just that opportunity as we will be holding Sixth Form Open Days for entry in September 2023. Scholarships in Mathematics and the Creative & Expressive Arts are on offer for gifted and talented candidates who meet our entry requirements. Scholars receive free individual or small group tuition provided by expert professionals to the value of £1,000 per annum.

Harnessing talent!

Prospective students are invited to come along to our Open Days or join our virtual tours to explore the fantastic opportunities and inspiring state-of-the-art facilities in our dedicated Sixth Form Centre. As Ofsted noted: ‘The range of subjects taught is imaginative, well constructed and contributes well to students’ achievement and their outstanding spiritual, cultural and moral development.’

Kingsdale Sixth Form Open Days 2022

Wednesday 28th September 4.30pm - 7.30pm

Wednesday 9th November 1.30pm - 6.30pm

Wednesday 19th October 1.30pm - 6.30pm

Wednesday 30th November 1.30pm - 6.30pm

Visits by Appointment Only. Virtual tours will be taking place and broadcast live during each event!

Amelia, Jacob & Alex’s 8A*s & 2A Grades at A Level have enabled them to study English at Cambridge, Engineering at Sheffield and English at Cambridge respectively!

Matteo has taken advantage of achieving 4A* Grades at A Level to study Computer Science at Cambridge University!

Can you make Southwark cleaner greener or safer?

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