Bright Futures Applying to Start Secondary School This Autumn

applications 31 Oct 2019 closing date for

Bright futures applying to start secondary school this autumn

apply online at www.eadmissions.org.uk 1

Introduction

Having had three children pass through likely it is that your child will be offered a place local schools, I know what an exciting and at your preferred schools. Understand the important moment this is in your child’s life. I admissions process and how the preference also know that it can be an anxious time. system works – you can learn more about this further on in the brochure. We want to help you choose a school that How is the journey? is right for your child. Secondary schools in Think about the amount of time your child will Lewisham are exciting places to learn. We are spend travelling to school and back. A very proud that our schools are modern, vibrant and long journey on public transport may not be stimulating, with dedicated and skilled staff the best choice for your child. Get to know the and headteachers. All of our schools support schools that are closest to your home – you students to reach their full potential, no matter might be surprised what they have to offer what their abilities and challenges may be. once you visit them and speak to staff, parents We have produced this brochure to give you and students. more information about the process of moving Do your research from primary to secondary school, and also Ofsted results and performance tables are about every mainstream secondary school in important when considering a school. But the borough. There is much more information there are many other elements that make a available online at www.lewisham.gov.uk/ great school. What sort of school would suit secondaryadmissions your child? Find out about the extra-curricular Visit as many schools as you can activities and support that is available. How It’s important to visit as many schools as you can, does the school challenge high academic including ones you haven’t considered, before achievers? What support is available for deciding which ones to apply to. You can fi nd children with special educational needs? Does details of all school open days in this brochure. the school take the mental health of its pupils Don’t judge a school based on what others say – seriously? All these factors could help you with this is the perfect opportunity to visit them and your decision. make your own decision. In the end, you will I know our secondary schools well. I am know what’s right for your child, but you can confi dent they have a lot to offer the children only make that judgement if you’ve seen them and young people of Lewisham. Wherever your for yourself. child goes, we wish all those starting secondary Are your preferences realistic? school next year the very best for the future. Think about how realistic your preferences are. Make sure you read the admissions criteria Councillor Chris Barnham for each school and clearly understand how Cabinet Member for School Performance

apply online at www.eadmissions.org.uk 3 Applying for your child

Applying for a secondary school place can Visit as many schools as you can seem like a daunting task. Here are the Visit as many schools as you can before deciding things you need to know and some tips on which ones to apply to. School open days will the process to help you. show you more than a league table can – you’ll get a flavour of the school, meet headteachers, Make a note of the deadline date for staff and students, go on a tour of the school applications – Thursday 31 October 2019 and see examples of students’ work. You can apply for secondary schools when your child is in Year 6. The application period starts on Read the admissions criteria 1 September and closes on 31 October each year. It’s very important that you understand the admissions criteria for the schools you’re interested Which schools can I apply for? in so you know whether you have a realistic chance You can apply for schools in the borough of of your application being successful. Lewisham or outside the borough. Special educational needs and disabilities provision and special schools

In Lewisham, we are determined to help If your child has an Education, Health and Care all children thrive, and we are proud of Plan (EHCP), you can name the school that the support we give to children who need you would like them to go to, and the school additional help. then has a duty to offer them a place. Most children with special educational needs Depending on the complexity of your child’s and disabilities (SEND) are educated in needs, you may be considering a special mainstream schools. Each of our mainstream school. The application process for children secondary schools has a special educational with an EHCP to both mainstream and special needs policy for parents to look at which schools is different to the main secondary should be available on their website. These transfer application process. policies, which apply to academies and Our four special schools for children of federation schools as well as community secondary school age are Greenvale, New schools, explain the school’s approach to Woodlands, Drumbeat and Brent Knoll. SEND. Reading them is a good place to start when you’re planning your school visits. For more information about the specialist It’s a good idea to talk to parents of children provision at each of these schools and the with SEND who already attend the school. application process, visit the website Most schools will also be happy to arrange a www.lewisham.gov.uk/myservices/ meeting with the Special Educational Needs education/specialschools Co-ordinator (SENCO) before you apply for a place, so you can discuss your child’s needs and how the school would meet them. 4 Bright futures applying to start secondary school this autumn Use all your six choices National offer day is Monday 2 March 2020 You can apply to up to six schools. When you If you made an online application, you will get apply, you should use all six preferences for the an email in the evening telling you where your best chance of getting a place. You must list child has been offered a place. your schools in preference order. If you applied by post, or if you haven’t been Apply online offered a place, we will send you the results by Applying online is quick and easy. You need to first class post on Monday 2 March 2020 (first complete a supplementary information form for class post does not guarantee next-day delivery). some schools, as well as naming the school on your application. For example, a church school will For more information about applying need to see evidence of church attendance. for a secondary school place, visit www.lewisham.gov.uk/secondaryadmissions

Secondary school improvement programme

It’s an exciting time for secondary schools ●● rapidly increase the number of good and in Lewisham as we are seeing a lot of outstanding secondary schools improvements across the board. ●● increase the proportion of good and The overall percentage of pupils to score grade outstanding subject teaching across all 9–5 in English and Maths GSCEs last year (with secondary schools 9 being the highest grade) rose to 40.7%. ●● improve the attainment of all pupils – That’s an improvement of 2.7%, which is faster in each school and for the borough as than the national average. a whole. We have more than our fair share of high As well as the Secondary Challenge, our achievers too – out of the 732 students in secondary schools are part of Lewisham England to score 9’s in all of their GCSEs, Learning, a partnership between schools to 13 them came from schools in Lewisham improve progress and attainment scores across (compared to the national average of 4.8 the borough. pupils per local authority). All of our secondary schools are involved in an For more information about Lewisham improvement programme called the Lewisham Learning and the Secondary Challenge, visit Secondary Challenge which aims to: www.lewisham.gov.uk/lewishamlearning.

apply online at www.eadmissions.org.uk 5 The following table indicates how places were allocated on 1 March 2019 under each admissions criterion. 2019/20 application and appeals rates for Lewisham community schools and own admission authority (AA) Ke Survey. For precise home-to-school measurements for schools in other boroughs, please contact the local authority for that borough directly. For 2019/20 admissions, all distances were measured in metres using a straight line to a point in the school premises as determined by the Ordinance Addey & Stanhope Bonus P Conisbor Deptford Green School Forest Hill School Haberdashers’ Aske’s Hatcham College Haber Pr Pr Pr St Matthew Sedgehill School S Trinity Church of England School Lewisham ydenham School y endergast School endergast Vale School endergast School Ladywell H : Applicants all offered a place dashers’ Aske’s Knights Academy astor Catholic College ough College Academy l

: Contact school

2 8 / / 71452 6 1,405.27 27 0 N/A N/A 0 486 120 number admissions 8 0 / / 30 0 N/A N/A 1 802 180 8 7 / / 13746 0 0 0 3,714.65 41 0 N/A N/A 1 471 180 8 1 / / 24636 0 0 2 4,693.62 42 0 N/A N/A 0 516 180 4 2 / / 36 0 N/A N/A 1 427 240 208 0 5 26 946.82 4969.18 39 0 60 12 0 450 208 2 9 2NA03 6.73 860.57 32 0 N/A 12 2 796 120 2 9 / 002 ,0.80 2,007.38 26 0 30 N/A 1 595 120 8 0 / / 53176 3 3,117.69 35 0 N/A N/A 0 602 180 8 7 / 0013 0 60 N/A 0 376 180 0 7 / / 14 0 N/A N/A 0 276 306 4 3 / / 31791 33 13 3 1,739.18 53 0 N/A N/A 7 939 240 2 7 / / 31 0 N/A N/A 0 477 120

Published Published

1,161 applications

Total number of of number Total

26 5876 1 827.61 45 0 60 12 2 children

Looked after after Looked

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l (metres) H H H l

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Children with an an with Children

l 2018 of summer l l l l l l l l

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Number of appeals appeals of Number

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in the summer of of summer the in Successful appeals appeals Successful

6 Bright futures applying to start secondary school this autumn How the preference system works

On national offer day your child will be ●● Child C has applied for six schools and can offered one school place. If they qualify for be offered a place at their first preference a place at more than one school on the list, school on national offer day. All of the they will be offered a place at the school that other schools named on the list are comes highest out of those potential offers ‘settled’. However, the child has an older on their list of preferences. brother at their third preference school and, after national offer day, the parent If we can’t offer your child a place at one of wants the child to go to that school instead. the schools you applied for, we will offer them The parent will then need to contact a place at the school closest to your home the admissions team to make a further where there is a vacancy. application so their child’s name is added to We strongly recommend that you apply for six the school’s waiting list. The parent is also schools, including your nearest school. advised to accept the school place offered. Examples of the preference system ●● Child D has applied for six schools, all outside the borough, but does not qualify ●● Child A has applied for six schools. They for a place at any of them. We offer the don’t qualify for a place at the first or parent a place at a school where there is a second preference school but do qualify vacancy and tell them about their right to for a place at their third preference school. appeal. However, the parent wants their We offer the third preference school to the child to go to a school close to their home, child on national offer day. The fourth, fifth which they hadn’t applied for. That school and sixth preference schools are ‘settled’ is oversubscribed and has not been able (meaning your application is not progressed to offer all applicants a place. The parent further) as they were ranked lower on the will need to contact the admissions team list. The child stays on the waiting list of to make a further application to add their their first and second preference schools child’s name to the waiting list. The parent and they will get the right of appeal. is advised to accept the place offered. ●● Child B has applied for six schools. The Our admissions team is available to answer schools are oversubscribed and the child any questions about admissions criteria and does not qualify for a place at any of them. the preference system. You can email them at We tell the parent the outcome and about [email protected]. their right to appeal. We offer a place at a school in Lewisham where there is a vacancy as an alternative.

apply online at www.eadmissions.org.uk 7 Common myths about the admissions process You will probably hear lots of different things about how the school admissions process works. Here we explain some of the common myths and assumptions people make.

1. My child has a right to a place at one 4. If I don’t put down the nearest school to of my preferred schools my house, my child will get allocated a place there anyway Not true. Your child will only be offered a place if they qualify according to the school’s Not true. If your child doesn’t get allocated admission criteria. If your child does not a place at any of your preferred schools, they qualify for any of your preferred schools (for will be offered a place at the nearest school example, because your preferences were that has places. This won’t necessarily be the unrealistic) they will be offered a place at school nearest to you. the nearest school to your home that has a vacancy after all on-time applicants have 5. If I put the nearest school down on my been offered places. list of preferences, the local authority will just allocate my child to that school to fill 2. If I list only one school then my child places, regardless of what order I list it has to be offered a place there Not true. The allocation system is subject Not true. Listing only one school does not to strict legal rules to ensure fairness, and is increase your child’s chances of being offered monitored and managed extremely carefully. a place. You are strongly advised to use all six The local authority will only offer your child preferences and include your nearest school a place at the school closest to you if it is amongst them. on your list, and they do not get allocated a place at any schools higher up your list. 3. I live nearer to the school than a child who was offered a place under the 6. If I ‘hassle’ the local authority every distance criterion last year so my child is day and call or email them constantly to guaranteed a place make sure my child gets a place at their Not always. The number of pupils that each preferred school, they will eventually give school offers places to under each criterion my child a place to keep me quiet! can change from year to year. Just because Not true. You will get a place dependent on you know pupils living near you that go to where you are in the waiting list. Waiting lists a certain school, it doesn’t mean your child can move between March and September, will be offered a place there. The information and you may get other offers. Because of about offers in 2019 for each school is on the strict legal rules that guide this process, page six. However, remember this information your chance of getting other offers will not is a guide only and no child is guaranteed a be affected in any way by the amount of place at any school. contact you have with the admissions team. It’s a very busy time for them and they are legally required to allocate places through the admissions criteria process.

8 Bright futures applying to start secondary school this autumn www.as.lewisham.sch.uk Addey and Stanhope School 472 New Cross Road, SE14 6TJ 020 8305 6100

Addey and Stanhope is a school with a rich tradition and history at the heart of the Deptford community. We are a small, caring, high-achieving school that puts the happiness, health and success of our students at the heart of everything we do. We have a hugely committed staff body, excellent teaching, a curriculum that caters to students’ individual needs, and enrichment opportunities that equip them for successful futures. Our work to promote the personal development and welfare of our students has rightly been judged as outstanding, and our students feel happy, safe, and supported. Our careers and pathways education is also outstanding. Our students go on to Oxford, red-brick universities and quality apprenticeships. We expect engaged and respectful behaviour at all times, which will help students throughout the rest of their lives. We are delighted with our recent Ofsted judgement of ‘good’ but we are ambitious and are on a journey to becoming ‘outstanding’. We look forward to welcoming the next generation of Addeyans to our school. Jan Shapiro, Headteacher

apply online at www.eadmissions.org.uk 9 www.bonuspastor.co.uk Bonus Pastor Catholic College Winlaton Road, Bromley BR1 5PZ 020 8695 2100

Bonus Pastor is a Catholic school with a warm and caring ethos where every student is known and loved. We have a culture built on respect and we have exceptionally high aspirations for each student. We have a long history of excellent GCSE results and in September 2017 we were graded as ‘outstanding’ in all categories by Ofsted. Our excellent teachers know their students well and ensure that their learning is personalised. Bonus Pastor is visionary, innovative and research engaged. Teaching and learning is at the heart of everything we do and our curriculum is broad and balanced, ensuring that our students go onto a variety of careers. Student attendance is outstanding and we are proud that every student goes on to a sixth form placement. In 2017, Ofsted commented on ‘the wealth of extra-curricular activities’ which prepare our students very well for the next steps of their education. Bonus Pastor is a truly inspiring school – we hope you will come and have a look around our fantastic facilities and see for yourself. Jonathan Ronan, Principal

10 Bright futures applying to start secondary school this autumn www.conisboroughcollege.co.uk Conisborough College Conisborough Crescent, Catford SE6 2SE 020 8461 9600

Our vision is to provide an outstanding education for all our students. We have a highly personalised, interesting and engaging curriculum designed to ensure our young people thrive, develop and have the necessary skills for their future studies. We believe that achievement in all areas of school life should be rewarded and celebrated, and we challenge our students to excel in all areas of school life – academic, cultural and sporting. We have a wide range of enrichment activities that ensure our students are fully engaged both inside and outside of the classroom. We aspire for the very best outcomes and to be an outstanding, inclusive school that serves our local community. We have a fully established partnership with Colfe’s School in Greenwich, who work with us on a range of projects, particularly for academically gifted students. Our highest achieving students can secure scholarships to the sixth form at Colfe’s. We are extremely proud of our school and the contribution our students make to the local community. Mrs Jane Hadlow, Headteacher

apply online at www.eadmissions.org.uk 11 www.deptfordgreen.lewisham.sch.uk Deptford Green School Edward Street, New Cross SE14 6LU 020 8691 3236

Deptford Green is a vibrant community school committed to providing local children with an outstanding education. We want every child to achieve their very best whatever their starting point, and we do this by encouraging our students to have high expectations and to strive for excellence. We are committed to delivering a broad and balanced curriculum. A strong emphasis on English, maths and science is balanced with great provision across the arts, sport, technology and the humanities. Enjoyment and engagement are important elements of life at our school and we work hard to ensure our students feel safe, happy and inspired to learn. In return, we expect our students to work hard, behave respectfully, dress smartly and take pride in their achievements. Our commitment to student leadership and citizenship education encourages our students to be active members of their school community and to develop the confi dence, grit and resilience needed to be successful in later life. These qualities will help them to develop into well-rounded young people, ready to make a positive contribution to the local community and wider society in general. Mark Phillips, Headteacher

12 Bright futures applying to start secondary school this autumn Mainstream secondary schools in Lewisham

DEPTFORD

GREEN SCHOOL EDWARD ST

PAGNALL ST

ADDEY & STANHOPE SCHOOL

HABERDASHERS’ ASKE’S HATCHAM COLLEGE

ST MATTHEW PRENDERGAST ACADEMY VALE SCHOOL

PRENDERGAST SCHOOL TRINITY CHURCH OF ENGLAND SCHOOL LEWISHAM

TAUNTON RD

PRENDERGAST LADYWELL SCHOOL

SYDENHAM SCHOOL

M CONISBOROUGH FOREST HILL A

Y COLLEGE

SCHOOL O

D BONUS PASTOR CATHOLIC COLLEGE HABERDASHERS’ ASKE‘S KNIGHT’S ACADEMY

SEDGEHILL SCHOOL

apply online at www.eadmissions.org.uk 13 Open days for 2020 admissions Please arrive at the start time for the open mornings/evenings Prendergast School below, late arrival means you may not get the chance to get a tour of the school. Wednesday 11 September 9.15–10.40am Times and dates correct at the time of going to print – please Friday 13 September 9.15–10.40am check school websites. Wednesday 18 September 5.30–7.30pm (evening) Friday 20 September 9.15–10.40am Addey & Stanhope School Thursday 12 September 6–8pm (evening) Prendergast Ladywell School Tuesday 17 September 9–10.45am Tuesday 10 September 6–8pm (evening) Thursday 19 September 9–10.45am Thursday 12 September 9.15–10.30am Wednesday 25 September 9–10.45am Tuesday 17 September 9.15–10.30am Tuesday 1 October 9–10.45am Thursday 19 September 9.15–10.30am Tuesday 24 September 9.15–10.30am Bonus Pastor Catholic College

Thursday 19 September 6.30pm and 7.30pm (evening) Prendergast Vale School Monday 23 September 9.15– 11am Wednesday 11 September 4.30–6.30pm (evening) Tuesday 24 September 9.15–11am Wednesday 18 September 9.15–10.30am Wednesday 25 September 9.15–11am Wednesday 25 September 9.15–10.30am Wednesday 2 October 9.15–10.30am Conisborough College Wednesday 9 October 9.15–10.30am

Wednesday 18 September 9–10.30am Tuesday 24 September 9–10.30am St Matthew Academy Thursday 26 September 9–10.30am Tuesday 17 September 9.15–11am Thursday 26 September 6–8pm (evening) Wednesday 18 September 9.15–11am Tuesday 1 October 9–10.30am Thursday 19 September 9.15–11am Wednesday 9 October 9–10.30am Tuesday 24 September 4.30–7.30pm (evening) Tuesday 15 October 9–10.30am Tuesday 1 October 9.15–11am Wednesday 2 October 9.15–11am Deptford Green School Thursday 3 October 9.15–11am

Monday 23 September 9–11am Tuesday 24 September 9–11am Sedgehill School Wednesday 25 September 9–11am Wednesday 25 September 5.30–7.30pm (evening) Wednesday 25 September 5–7pm (evening) Friday 27 September 9–10.30am Thursday 26 September 9–11am Monday 30 September 9–10.30am Friday 27 September 9–11am Tuesday 1 October 9–10.30am Tuesday 8 October 9–10.30am Forest Hill School Tuesday 15 October 9–10.30am

Monday 23 September 5–7pm (evening) Thursday 26 September 9.30–11.30am Sydenham School Friday 27 September 9.30–11.30am Wednesday 18 September 9.30-10.45am Thursday 3 October 9.30–11.30am Tuesday 24 September 9.30-10.45am Friday 4 October 9.30–11.30am Saturday 28 September 9.30-10.45am Friday 4 October 9.30-10.45am Haberdashers’ Aske’s Hatcham College Thursday 19 September 5.30–8pm (evening) Trinity Church of England School Lewisham Saturday 21 September 10–1pm Tuesday 10 September 9–11am Wednesday 18 September 9–11am Haberdashers’ Aske’s Knights Academy Thursday 26 September 9–11am Thursday 3 October 5.30–7.30pm (evening) Wednesday 25 September 5-7pm (evening) Tuesday 8 October 9-11am Open days for 2020 admissions Please arrive at the start time for the open mornings/evenings Prendergast School below, late arrival means you may not get the chance to get a tour of the school. Wednesday 11 September 9.15–10.40am Times and dates correct at the time of going to print – please Friday 13 September 9.15–10.40am check school websites. Wednesday 18 September 5.30–7.30pm (evening) Friday 20 September 9.15–10.40am Addey & Stanhope School Thursday 12 September 6–8pm (evening) Prendergast Ladywell School Tuesday 17 September 9–10.45am Tuesday 10 September 6–8pm (evening) Thursday 19 September 9–10.45am Thursday 12 September 9.15–10.30am Wednesday 25 September 9–10.45am Tuesday 17 September 9.15–10.30am Tuesday 1 October 9–10.45am Thursday 19 September 9.15–10.30am Tuesday 24 September 9.15–10.30am Bonus Pastor Catholic College

Important dates for the admissions process for children starting secondary school in September 2020.

September and October 2019 g Schools open for visits

Sunday 1 September 2019 g Applications open (apply online at www.eadmissions.org.uk) Thursday 31 October 2019 (we recommend you submit your online g Closing date for applications application by Friday 18 October 2019)

Monday 2 March 2020 g Application results Monday 16 March 2020 g Deadline for accepting your offer

Sign up for email alerts If you are applying for a 2020 secondary school place, you can sign up to get free date reminders, information and advice about the process. Visit lewisham.gov.uk/secondaryschoolsignup

www.eadmissions.org.uk apply online at

16 Bright futures applying to start secondary school this autumn www.foresthillschool.co.uk Forest Hill School Dacres Road, Forest Hill SE23 2XN 020 8699 9343

Forest Hill School is a thriving and aspirational school providing high-quality education to boys aged 11–16. We also partner with Sydenham School to provide a highly successful mixed sixth form. We believe students achieve their potential if they fi nd their work stimulating, challenging and enjoyable. We offer a broad curriculum that includes dance, drama, art and music alongside traditional academic subjects. Our dedicated teaching staff are passionate about their subjects and are experts in educating and inspiring boys, no matter what their aptitudes and abilities. We provide a wide range of opportunities outside the classroom, including curriculum- related day trips within London, residential trips in the UK and abroad, and a plethora of extracurricular clubs – from football and gardening to programming and chess. We pride ourselves on the quality of our pastoral support, and our house system plays a pivotal role in establishing a strong community and caring ethos. Our academic, extracurricular and pastoral strengths combine to give our students the foundations for a lifetime of success. We look forward to welcoming you to Forest Hill School. Michael Sullivan, Headteacher

applyapply online online at at www.eadmissions.org.uk www.eadmissions.org.uk 17 www.habshatcham.org.uk Haberdashers’ Aske’s Hatcham College Pepys Road, New Cross SE14 5SF 020 7652 9500

Hatcham College is a specialist music and ICT College, educating children through innovative, personalised learning and specialist teaching. We provide exceptional support to enable all children to achieve their full potential. We are hugely popular with parents and children. Our young people enjoy their time here and this is refl ected in their behaviour and their attitude towards their learning and the community as a whole. We provide a safe, rigorous and challenging learning environment for pupils of all abilities and backgrounds. We want all our pupils to develop into stable and well-adjusted young adults with high self-esteem. Our expectations are extremely high in terms of pupil achievement, behaviour and uniform and we insist that pupils behave respectfully toward others and the environment. I believe that Hatcham has a great deal to offer your child. I look forward to meeting you and working with you over the coming years in bringing about the very best for your child. Alex Williamson, Executive Principal

18 Bright futures applying to start secondary school this autumn www.habsknights.org.uk Haberdashers’ Aske’s Knight’s Academy Launcelot Road, Bromley BR1 5EB 020 8698 1025

Welcome to Haberdashers’ Aske’s Knights Academy. We are a vibrant, diverse school community with extremely high expectations and aspirations for our pupils. We strive for excellence in all that we do. We provide a happy and nurturing environment, so that as well as maturing into well-rounded, healthy young people, our pupils develop a passion for learning. We enable our pupils to succeed through high-quality teaching, an engaging and stretching curriculum and focusing on each child as an individual. Our pupils develop confi dence and self-esteem through the excellent provision offered through our social, moral, spiritual and cultural curriculum, our sports specialism and our extensive extra-curricular activities. We are built on an ethos of tradition and innovation, respect and responsibility, collaboration and inclusion. We instil these moral values in our pupils, enabling them to contribute to our school community and the communities in which they live. It will be my privilege to work with you and your child along this exciting journey of their school career and help them to achieve the very best. Dr Tesca Bennett, Executive Principal

apply online at www.eadmissions.org.uk 19 www.prendergast-school.com Prendergast School Adelaide Avenue, Brockley SE4 1LE 020 8690 3710

At Prendergast School, staff have been providing exceptional opportunities and education for every student for 128 years. We are an all-girls school, with post-16 provision for male and female students, with a long history of high achievement. There is a kind and caring ethos, and students and staff are proud to be part of the school. The school is set in the beautiful location of Hilly Fields, and has a split site that contains a new build and a restored main building. We have a wide curriculum, including creative subjects such as music, DT, textiles and art. We offer many extra-curricular opportunities and a range of educational trips. We are very proud of our last Ofsted judgement of ‘outstanding’ in all areas, our third ‘outstanding’ in a row. We are described as ‘exceptional’ and having ‘exemplary attitudes to learning’ across the school. Your child’s safety and happiness is very important to us, and we pride ourselves that students feel confi dent in school and thrive under our care. We look forward to welcoming you to our school. Paula Ledger, Headteacher

20 Bright futures applying to start secondary school this autumn www.prendergast-ladywell.com Prendergast Ladywell School Manwood Road, Brockley SE4 1SA 020 8690 1114

Welcome to Prendergast Ladywell School. We believe that all our students can achieve excellence. We provide high quality teaching, a challenging and enjoyable curriculum to suit different students’ needs and a range of enrichment activities. Our students achieve outstanding exam results and go on to become successful lifelong learners. The knowledge and skills they acquire here equip them for life as confi dent and responsible members of society. Prendergast Ladywell School is a place where we have the highest expectations of young people and where ambition is valued. We are ambitious for every pupil and work tirelessly to support them; we expect students to be ambitious, work hard and be resilient in order to meet these expectations. Our school culture is encapsulated in our ‘PLS CARES’ ethos. ‘CARES’ stands for community, ambition, resilience, effort and success – the values and qualities we want all students to develop. At our Ofsted Inspection in February, we were judged as ‘good’ in all areas; this marks the next stage in the school’s improvement. The forthcoming years at the school will be incredibly exciting. We warmly invite you to be part of our community. Niall Hand, Headteacher

apply online at www.eadmissions.org.uk 21 www.prendergast-vale.com Prendergast Vale School Elmira Street, Lewisham SE13 7BN 020 8297 3540

Prendergast Vale School is an all-through school for children aged 3–16. Our aim is to enable all students who leave the school to be on the path to university and then onto successful careers. We believe all students should be able to play a full and active part in the lives of their families and the wider community. Our curriculum offers every student the opportunity to study academic subjects, such as computer science and separate humanities subjects, from Year 7. In January 2018, our school was given a ‘good’ by Ofsted and ‘outstanding’ in our primary phase. We tell our young people that it’s important they work hard and be nice. We know that you want a school where your child is happy. You are very much welcome to visit our school to see for yourself how we are working together with young people to help them achieve their absolute best. Mr D Kamya, Headteacher

22 Bright futures applying to start secondary school this autumn www.stmatthewacademy.co.uk St Matthew Academy St Joseph’s Vale, Blackheath SE3 0XX 020 8853 6250

At St Matthew Academy, we strive for excellence in all we do. Our unique, rich offer supports students to become successful and confi dent learners. We are incredibly ambitious for every pupil. We are committed to ensuring that they excel academically and have enriching experiences that equip them for life. We promise to nurture their talent and cultivate their ambitions, ensuring they build on the foundations learned in primary school and develop the skills needed for success in the modern world. We offer many opportunities for pupils to enhance their academic and personal development, and we support each one through a shared ethos and consistent pastoral care. Our motto, ‘let your light shine’, is taken from the Gospel of Matthew and captures our belief in the unique quality and ability of every child. I am immensely proud to be headteacher at St Matthew Academy and of our hard-working and self-assured pupils, dedicated staff and the strong working relationship with parents and carers that the academy benefi ts from. Miranda Baldwin, Headteacher

apply online at www.eadmissions.org.uk 23 www.sedgehill-lewisham.co.uk Sedgehill School Sedgehill Road, Catford SE6 3QW 020 8698 8911

At Sedgehill School we continue to take great strides towards becoming an excellent local school. We have a new vision, a new leadership team and a new culture of high expectations. We’re determined to bring out the very best in every student. We offer a broad and challenging curriculum across a range of subjects, and we support our students as they strive to open doors to university, training and employment, and gain skills that will set them apart from others. But we also believe there is more to a good education than academic success. We aim to develop character and compassion and help students nurture their individual interests and talents. We want them to try new things, persist in the face of diffi culty and become resilient in overcoming obstacles. And we expect them all to contribute positively to our school community and to society. We are proud to offer an education that challenges, inspires and excites our students and helps them develop into happy, confi dent and successful young adults. It is an exciting time for us as we become increasingly popular with families across the borough and beyond. We invite you to visit and see the difference for yourself. Clare Cassidy, Headteacher

24 Bright futures applying to start secondary school this autumn www.sydenham.lewisham.sch.uk Sydenham School Dartmouth Road, Sydenham SE26 4RD 020 8699 6731

Sydenham School has been educating young people since 1917. We are a popular, high- achieving and oversubscribed school. We are ambitious for all of our students, have high expectations of them and offer a rounded educational experience. We combine strong teaching with a broad and balanced curriculum, enabling our students to develop into academically successful, open-minded young people with a sense of responsibility to others and a high regard for themselves. Our core values include respect, endeavour and kindness. The school has excellent facilities and has benefi ted from a £24 million rebuild, including state of the art STEM buildings. We are committed to developing our students in the performing and visual arts, humanities and languages so that they can acquire creative skills, critical awareness and confi dence. Post-16, we partner with Forest Hill Boys School and operate the well-established and ever popular Sydenham and Forest Hill Sixth Form (SFH6), which offers a range of courses and progression routes with outcomes that are above the national average. Gloria Lowe, Headteacher

apply online at www.eadmissions.org.uk 25 www.trinitylewisham.org

Trinity Church of England School Lewisham Taunton Road, Lee SE12 8PD 020 8852 3191

Trinity Church of England School Lewisham is committed to providing an inspirational environment for our pupils, where they can realise their academic potential and learn the skills and values they need for life’s journey. In 2016, we were rated ‘good’ by Ofsted, and our recent Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS) inspection rated us as ‘outstanding’. The report highlights that ‘students experience a wealth of opportunities’ and ‘teachers nurture students’ good manners, and their ability to learn from mistakes.’ We have high expectations of our students and we strive for success. We have a traditional curriculum, including a grammar stream, and this academic drive is coupled with character education – we are developing pupils’ independence, perseverance, selfl essness and compassion, and building a sense of kindness and curiosity in the world around them. Come and visit us and see what we have to offer. We are oversubscribed, with a long waiting list, as we offer a unique opportunity for all. David Lucas, Executive Headteacher

26 Bright futures applying to start secondary school this autumn

Important dates

Important dates for the admissions process for children starting secondary school in September 2020.

September and October 2019 g Schools open for visits

Monday 2 March 2020 g Application results Monday 16 March 2020 g Deadline for accepting your offer