We have just moved to Sydenham from far away, so we don't know local families and all we've learned about schools has come from reading online and from brief visits to the schools. Our thirteen year old daughter is going into Year 9 in September. She has been offered a place at Sydenham School, and we would love to hear any thoughts from parents with daughters there before we sign on the dotted line. We're concerned about all the usual things, how happy and safe the girls feel at school, whether learning is disrupted by the building project, or by disruptive behaviour, whether there is a good work ethic among girls, really, anything would be helpful. Oh.. also interested in whether the school is strong in music and drama activities. Many many thanks in advance.
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Secondary education
My daughter will also in be in Y9 this September, while her sister will be going into Y7. DD1 is Ms Dramaqueen Incarnate, and has been very well supported in this - school referred her on to Lewisham Youth Theatre; and her sister is pretty musical (just done grade 4 on two instruments) and the music head assures me she'll be signed in for just about any musical activity you can think of (I sing, and think the chamber choir is pretty damn good there).
Work ethic: well, DD1 has just had a glowing report and been told how hard she's worked, which is a tribute to the school rather than her parenting, I can assure you; there's a real cohort of bright hard-working young women in that year, which reflects very well on them, I think.
Building project: hmm. Probably does interfere with daily life a bit, but the only main thing was going down the road to do dance at the local pool.
Disruptive behaviour: school is pretty good at handling this, and will reshuffle tutor groups accordingly.
I'm very happy with it.
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