Thank you so much for your insightful replies! We did decide to go with Alleyn's to avoid the 11+ 'circus'. Also thanks for pointing out the bus 37 / school bus options. We always struggle with time in the morning so I don't think it would work well for us - just started looking for a house. 

I also like the advice on the approach to alpha children - exactly what we've tried with our DD but so far haven't had much of a result... sounds like she could have done well at TC ;-)
 

Our daughter joined Alleyns at 7+ and yes the logistics being based in Balham isn’t great but she loves it. We knew we want Co-Ed for secondary so was a bit stuck anyway and as you say getting out of the 11+ stress is a big relief. She takes the school bus (possible from yr3) and our son is in Wimbledon so moving isn’t an option for us. If moving is not a problem for you, Alleyn’s is prob a fab bet. To be honest though, all these “top” schools are not that different at the end of the day. Go with whatever makes it easier for you all! X

Ps - I know a family who have both of their children in Alleyn’s and based in Clapham - not sure if they are planning to move. Obv bus 37 is direct and depends how much you want to drive back and for activities and events which is the biggest issue for us but figured it’s worth the price.

[size=100][font=Arial Narrow,sans-serif][size=100][font=Arial,sans-serif][color=#6d6d6d]To Dinsaur:  Aaah …. good to know you’re not involved with the Alpha group of religious lunatics.  But I did ask you – in my earlier post – if you were referring to that group, or if you were referring to bossy strong-willed children.   Your answer wasn’t clear.  I do agree with you that such children – particularly those who have little consideration for others - should be taught to see that everyone should be treated the same, & I’m surprised that some schools don’t support this concept, or take it seriously.   Although, having said that, when it comes to British schools, nothing would surprise me.   Best regards.[/color][/font][/size][/font][/size]

Happy to clear that up for you dimelda. 

I am not making reference to a religious group. In this context, alpha children are simply those children who believe the world revolves around them. They are bossy, commanding and have little consideration for others, obviously through no fault of their own. 

Ideally such children are supported in a constructive way to see the world through a different lens -  that everyone should be treated the same, without entitlement. However, sometimes a school will turn a blind eye, or in fact reward this behaviour and that is sad for the whole community in my view.  
 

[font=Georgia,serif][size=100][size=100]To Dinosaur:  Not sure I fully understand your reply ... but seems you might well be referring to that evangelical proselytising group, aka Alpha, sadly now entrenched in churches, which preaches dangerous mumbo jumbo.  If so, why did you invoke the name of the group in your thoughts on Thomas’ School?  When you say ‘ …. Alpha children & connected families have a much different experience to other children in my view, which is a disappointing message to the community’ (which frankly is unintelligible nonsense), it's to be hoped that you're not saying  that children from Alpha families are superior to those who are not.[/size][/size][/font]

😂

not suggesting there is any brainwashing.  

[font=Times New Roman,Times,serif][size=150]Hello, Dinosaur.   I'm i[color=#6d6d6d]nterested in your reference to ' ... Alpha children & connected families’.  Maybe I’m slow on the uptake, but do u mean bossy strong-willed children?  Or are you referring to that evangelistic religious group, experts in brainwashing ?[/color][/size][/font]

The school coach is only available to children in year 3 and above. Better to make a decision and live near the chosen school because travel with and for a little one is hard.

That's a very good point dimelda. It's not difficult at all to get to Alleyn's from Clapham. I believe there is a shuttle bus solely for Junior school children, so worth investigating that. 

Alleyn's Senior school isn't for everyone. The children are expected to be self-starters and find their own way to access the fantastic opportunities in the school. This is ultimately better in the long-run of course, but there have been some bare-knuckle experiences where I would have preferred the school play more of an active role in laying down expectations for engagement and application. 

The Junior school is wonderful and celebrates diversity in a much more meaningful way than TC. TC is not the school it once was, with a new senior school and a focus much more on the business than on the progression of each child. Alpha children and connected families have a much different experience to other children in my view, which is a disappointing message to the community. 

To SuperDad 79:   [size=100]It appears you live in Clapham & love it (from what the Administrator says).  In that case, if you accept the Alleyns’ offer, why on earth would you need to move?    You could go with her on the No. 37 bus which goes right to Alleyns’ door.  There must also be a school shuttle bus picking up from various points east & west.  Surely that too is an option.[/size]

My advice is take the Alleyn's offer. You really do want to avoid the 11+ - it is super stressful and competitive and some of my friends' children have been going through it - and despite doing really well and getting great offers - it has drained their poor children and has been stressful for the parents too. You say your child is really young but also say you want to avoid the 11+. Would you not consider the 7+?

Depending on where you live - you don't have to move to Dulwich from the point at which they join the junior school (appreciate that's a bit of time away from now). We still live in Clapham and my two kids did the 7+ and are going to Dulwich College on the Foundation Schools Coach Service, which is amazing. No school run for us - we just take the kids to the coach stop in the morning and put them on the school coach. The network runs for the whole Dulwich/ Alleyns group of schools and is enormous. You can see the route map here: https://www.dulwich.org.uk/uploaded/documents/Coach_Service/Foundation_Schools_Coach_Service_map.pdf  
Many in our class still live in Clapham and coach to Dulwich. Here is the website for the coach service: https://www.dulwich.org.uk/foundation-schools-coach-service/regular-routes

Alleyn's is a great school - I wouldn't take the place for granted at all but if the early years is logistically a problem then would recommend the 7+ over the 11+. 

Hope this helps
 

Are you mad?

You should bite Alleyn’s hand off!

A fantastic school. You might get in at 11 but it is very difficult. They also have a state school quota of 50 percent ( and rising)which you will be at the wrong end of. 11plus is a stressful circus with uncertain outcomes.

Dulwich is great and Herne Hill is even nicer.

Something else to consider is that most children are ready for a change of school after 7 years at primary.

Different environment, teachers, new friends.

Good luck with your decision

I’m not in a good position to comment on those schools, though I know plenty of parents with children at both, & they speak highly of both places.

My only thought is a word of caution: be careful moving house for a school.

We did it at a similar stage & it was a massive mistake. Having been so sure that the prep school in question was the perfect fit for our DD1 (& with two younger girls who we expected would follow her), a year / 18 months in, we realised that the school was far, far from what we wanted. We ended up moving her.

An Open Day can tell you a lot about a school, but it’s difficult to really know how well it suits your child until they’ve been there awhile.

Thank you, somebody else also mentioned getting from Thomas's to Alleyn's at 11+ is not necessarily easy... and we might not get lucky the second time around. We're leaning towards Alleyn's, just gutted to have to leave such a lovely neighbourhood!