Hundreds of Croydon kids fail to land a place at any of their chosen schools
by Aline Nassif
aline.nassif@essnmedia.co.uk
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IN DEMAND: Harris Academy Crystal Palace headteacher Steve Kenning and some of the pupils lucky enough to be taught at what last year was Croydon's most popular school
Just three out of every five Croydon pupils have won a place at their first choice of secondary school for the next academic year.
Of 3,931 applicants to 21 schools and academies across the borough, 1,649 will be disappointed not to have won their preferred place.
And more than 350 of those have failed to get into any one of their six choices.
The overall statistic of 58 per cent of girls and boys in the borough gaining entry into their number one choice is one per cent ahead of last year.
But Croydon is still languishing behind the majority of London boroughs with 66 per cent of pupils across the capital as a whole accepted into their first choice schools.
Breakdowns for individual schools - showing Croydon's most and least popular schools - are not yet available.
However, last year's most popular school, Harris Academy Crystal Palace, in Maberley Road, Upper Norwood, received more than 2,000 applications this year - for just 180 places.
*For more on this story see this week's Croydon Advertiser, in shops now.
*Has your child failed to land a place at any of your preferred choices? Let us know your story by calling the newsdesk on 020 8760 7615 or e-mailing newsdesk@croydonadvertiser.co.uk
8 Comments
by Diana, Croydon
Thursday, March 11 2010, 4:07PM
“Have Croydon students failed to get in to Croydon schools, or have Croydon students failed to get in to schools in neighbouring boroughs, or have students from neighbouring boroughs failed to get in to Croydon schools? I know a lot of kids go to school in the southern parts of Croydon but live in Brixton, and lots of Croydon residents try to get in to schools in Sutton. So what does this article mean? Please clarify. I'd like to know what proportion of Croydon school places are taken up by Croydon resident students, and what proportion of Croydon resident students actually go to school in Croydon. Then perhaps I will ask why?”
by Anon, Anon
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 9:11AM
“I agree (for once) with Mrs P. For too long schools have pandered to feral children. At Least South Norwood now mean business. Lets hope this reflects in the grades the kids get now.”
by Mrs P, Thornton Heath
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 7:47AM
“Mad,
Think about it. If the school is excluding pupils it means it is adopting a hard stance against unruly children. This means my son will be going into a better environment. Also I think Years 10 & 11 are from the old Stanley Tech days, so will be leaving the Academy shortly. I'm betting the exclusions are from these years.
Your comparision to Alleyn's is silly and you know it.”
by Mad, South Norwood
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 12:37AM
“There are plenty of school places in Croydon, it's just not the places parents want. The article doesn't say they didn't get a school, it says they didn't get the school of their choice. Big difference.
Mrs P - since when is a high number of exclusions a sign of a good school ???? I wonder how many exclusions Alleyn's has ?”
by Mrs P, Thornton Heath
Tuesday, March 09 2010, 10:34PM
“I'm not sure it's because of immigrants there are not enough places at good schools.
I applied to St Joseph's College (we're the worst kind of Catholics - lapsed - and I'm no hypocrite), as well as the two Harris' local to me, Crystal Palace & South Norwood as my second & third choice.
I already knew it would be difficult to get my son into Crystal Palace as I knew too many children had got in due to sibling & special needs criteria (it's good to talk). However, I feel glad he got into South Norwood because 1) they've excluded the highest number of pupils, meaning they mean business and 2) they received an outstanding grade from OFSTED in January 2010.
The problem is "good" schools are heavily over-subscribed. My view is all schools should be "good".”
by Shirley, Surrey
Tuesday, March 09 2010, 8:24PM
“Yes, unfortunately, I work in a Croydon school and it is the case that young immigrants and children in care are awarded places before anyone else in the vacinity even if we can't seem to prove their age!! What is happening to this county??????”
by Anon, Anon
Tuesday, March 09 2010, 3:03PM
“Oh how very very true thats exactly what the problem is , but you watch everyone jump on the usual bandwagon oh woe is me!”
by Mark, Croydon
Tuesday, March 09 2010, 12:36PM
“Could possibly be the fact we are overbourne with immigrant family's coming into Croydon and having about 10 kids each causing there to be not enough places for those that actually deserve school places in this country.”