Hi OP

Just to manage your expectations on 1 March my ds was in the mid-20s on the scholarship waiting list after being awarded a full sports scholarship but did not get a place by the start of the academic year. This suggests that no half scholarship kids got a place unless they got one through the lottery.

Wishing you and your dd good luck wherever she goes!

Thanks so much Goldhawk !

There are 4 extension classes - made up of the 70 extension places and sibling/distance entrants who score highly on the Wandsworth Test

North is a GCSE pathway at Graveney where the most able are expected to take 10 or 11 GCSEs

So the website says that there 70 places for the highest scorers on the wandsworth test, so then where do the extra 10 kids (ish) go then ? they don't make it to one of the two extension classes ? just trying to understand. 

I also heard that the extension class had been rebranded as North class ? Can anyone confirm ? 

thank you 

Extension class size is approx 30.
280 pupils across 10 classes

Just a comment that lessons time vary in secondary schools : some schools prefer short burst of 35minutes that can be doubled according to subjects and needs and longer lessons like  50/55 minutes. 

Does anyone know the class size for the extension at Graveney please? I wonder if it 35 for each extension class ? 

Thank you Goldhawk and Denwand, very useful.
How did you feel about sport/after schools clubs? Enough choices?
Another question. I have been reading about school curriculum on the school website and it appears they offer only 3 or 4 one hour lesson of math and English per week.  Is this right as other schools offer 5 lessons per week for these core subjects and I am not sure if 3 hours of math per week in year 8 would be enough for example.  Am I missing something and if not, did you fee the amount of lessons in core subjects were sufficient?
Thanks a lot

Having just seen a son off to University after joining Graveney following a Wandsworth Test result seven years ago I can only sing Graveneys praises... 

They really supported him through his secondary years and all the parents I know from his class are also well pleased with the school.

I can't comment on Kingsdale but there is lots of music at Graveney

Auditions for music scholars are held in the first term
Scholars get their first instrument or voice lessons for free
Half scholars get 50% off

Non scholars - lessons are £160 a term or £90 for paired lessons - minimum of 30 lessons per academic year (30 mins a lesson)

Hi,
I am in a similar situation and need to decide within a week which school to put first on a list.  We live between Clapham South and Clapham Junction so need to train/tube to both schools.
I do not know anyone who has kids in Kingsdale but like what I read about the school.  I only had a brief visit there as was not hopeful for my DD to get a music scholarship.  Not possible to visit now due to half term so would really appreciate comments from parents who have kids there, especially on scholarships.
Regarding Graveney also visited 2 years ago now but seems to be popular with parents in our area if their kids get high Wandsworth test.    The results are better then Kingsdale, but Kingsdale seems to be offering more clubs., music  scholarship programme seems to be attractive and and they claim classes are around 22 pupils?  Is this the case?
Really appreciate any insights from parents in those schools or who has been in similar situations considering both,

If you live in Balham then surely it's a no-brainer! Graveney is a very good school and your daughter wouldn't have to travel far plus have local friends. I've had my issues with Graveney but in a situation like yours I can't imagine why you'd even consider Kingsdale. The music department at Graveney is very strong so she'd be getting plenty of musical opportunities

hi there, we are applying for schools this year and to be honest I haven't heard of Graveney but totally in love with Kingsdale, all the best to your girl, my daughter does Art but they do scholarship ones you are in its a lottery and waiting game, bring on 1st of march, V.

Hi,

First of all I would like to say that my post is to ask for advice and is in no way to boast. I would like to ask for feedback from Parents whose children currently attend or have attended either Graveney or Kingsdale schools.

My daughter scored well in the Wandsworth test, well above the level of 253 points (the lowest level for acceptance on 1.March to Graveney for the last 3 years). This means that she would almost certainly be accepted to Graveney on 1.3, should we put it as our first choice.

She also did extremely well in the Music scholarship tests for Kingsdale (Dulwich) and has been offered a full scholarship (she appears to be in top 15% on the list). This, as yet , this doesn’t guarantee that she will be accepted to the school, as we still need to go through a ‘lottery’ type of process the results of which will only be known on 1.3.

We now have two major choices for two very good schools – Graveney, which is well known in this area as a top academic school (we are in Balham) and Kingsdale – less known but very good in both the Music department and academicly only slightly behind Graveney.

I would like to hear from parents whose child is attending Graveney and is musical (achieved Grade 4+ in their instrument). I would like to know how much support your child gets to improve musically, are the lessons free, and overall if you’re happy with your choice of school.

I’d also like to hear from parents whose child is a Music scholar in Kingsdale. I would like to know how intensive is the music learning, if your child misses out on any curriculum subjects because of music, and overall if you are happy with your choice.

I know that we will decide based on my daughter’s preference but at the moment, as I can see, she is guided by her friends’ decisions and therefore might be guided for possibly the wrong reasons.
I’m extremely proud of my daughter’s achievements and am torn between the two options that we have as a result of her successful test outcomes in regard to choosing a secondary school.

Your feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!