School priority list help please

[zee]

...We are in a situation where we will move to area where my DS gets admission. ...

Check the admission rules VERY carefully. For some schools, and this definitely includes Challoner's, you have to be in catchment LONG before you get offered a place.

I agree with Hermanmunster that English Bacc is a poor way to choose a school.

As a parent with two sons at Challoner's, but no experience of your alternatives, I can add that we are exceptionally pleased with the school: not just the obvious high academic standards, but the all round package, including pastoral care, support for those who need it, sports teams and extracurricular trips and activities.

[Daogroupie]

Clement Danes also has no catchment area, they have a maths and VR exam with no english, they also have twenty music places. I would suggest you use all your six places, you are lucky to have them, we only get three. If you really are prepared to move then be brave and use all six places for entrance exam schools. We used all three of ours for entrance exam schools but were prepared to go on local waiting lists if it all went wrong!DG

[Looking for help]

I would just like to interject to say that you must put a school on your CAF that you can get in to. There is no point whatsoever in putting 6 grammars on a list and then having 6 bad days, this has been known to happen. You must put something on there as an alternative that you are happy with and that should the exams go against you, you are prepared to accept. Going on a waiting list after the fact gives no guarantees of a place in the September and can leave you with a place at somewhere you would never be happy with.

[muksoni]

We totally understand the fact that Dr Challoner's is very good school, one must move into the catchment area well in advance for some of the schools and one must put at least ONE non-grammar school as option on CAF.

Now the real dilemma is - If English Bacc is not a good way to shortlist school then what is the best way? GCSE results? Do school specialisms make any difference? school infrastructure? sports results of the school teams? Teaching staff?

When we go for any school's open day, we just see the school facilities and infrastructure and i do not thing that should be the main criteria.

DS is good academically, likes maths and science (at least for now) and not a genius at music/sports.

[la boume]

Actually there is a Sticky just above your post with all the questions you can think of considering choosing the school.
What about your gut feeling? have you experienced the "feel" of the school while visiting?
There are also this year GSCE and A level results you maybe already have checked by now. I did, but it does not matter for me if the school is on the 1st place or 30th, it is still very good result.
Will you be equally happy to live in Bromley, Sutton, Kingston or Barnet? What about friends/relatives/social circle?