The Independent from London, Greater London, England • 146

12 PARENTS' CHOICE. A selection of Britain's best schools 28 JUNE, 1992 PART ONE Harmonious community Bukntwood School BmtiPMSl Lbm Lsbbjb Oris' pwU-matntatned comprehensive. 1,350 pupUs. Average doss: 26. 85 teacher.

The school is strict on uniform a blouse not tucked in could lead to detention but this a relaxed for sixth formers. There are very few displays of the children work on the walk and the corridors are badly lit The head said the school was a frmmis one, by which she meant that it wanted women to succeed at whatever they did and to be able to make choices. At GCSE, 5L7 per cent of passes were at grades A to A large number of students who would not have gained grammar school places achieved five or more GCSEs at grades A-C DJ GaffUdn, parent governor "There is an ethos of work and promts, a caring system run by a dedicated staff, and strong leadership." TlflS LARGE girls' comprehensive in Wandsworth, now opted out, wsa formed from the amalgamation of two schools in 1986. From the next academic year the school will handle its own admissions, and intends to remain comprehensrve. About 50 per cent of the children come Bom economically disadvantaged areas, and 30 per cent from homes where English is not the first language, but 87 per cent go on to further or higher education.

"A socially deprived school, but it does not feel like it," the head said. In 1990 inspectors said it was "an effective school whose community is harmonious, supportive and committed to the school's clear purpose The curriculum provides a broad academic provision for almost all pupils, with opportu- Sophisticated and BURLEIGH is unusual' it is an urban comprehensive upper school far L150 students arriving to start their GCSE courses at 14, of whom at least half stay on nil 19. It is also a boarding school for pupils aged 10 upwards. The two splendid off-site houses cater for about 60 students from all over the country and from abroad, the youngest attending a local primary school before going on to an 11-14 high school and then to Burleigh. Burleigh is a centre for adult education.

About 800 people attend day and evening classes, with some adults joining school classes for GCSEs and A- levels. Then there are perhaps another 4,000 who join clubs and sod ties. It is also a centre for the Open University and Adult Basic Education. It has a creche always full and the Day nibes for high achievement, and civilised care for individual pupils. There is an ethos of work among pupils and a real sense of pastoral concern for pupils among staff." Every year teachers are asked to identify children talented in their subjects.

These are given more stretching work. The school has won 500,000 from the DES under the Technology Initiative awards scheme. Music, although faculties could be better, is strong, and there are many instrumentalist tours abroad. Burleigh Community Collect 14-19 comprehensive school with boarding. L150 pupils.

BaadL-KsststFa Centre on site caters far physically disabled people. Eighteen per cent of the students are from Asian families The College is a centre for youth activities, working in close collaboration with local providers, both voluntary and professional. The Duke of Edinburgh award scheme caters for students of all abilities. The staff and governors seem very committed to encouraging learning for all the students. They are vigilant in their search for improvement across Bullers Wood School 1012 girls.

Grant maintained. U-1S girls only comprehensive. Average dots size: lower farms 22; sixth form 1L up to 20 per cent of parents in Bromley sending their children to independent schools and a local girls' grammar nearby, some of its potential intake is creamed off. This September it has received 498 applications for 171 places. In 1990 around 60 per cent of the fifth form stayed on to the sixth, and 40 per cent went pa to further education elsewhere.

In 1991 some 54 per cent of 157 GCSE candidates passed at The farm area at Barford School. AD the pupils learn environmental studies and rural sdeaee Pupils muck in on farm unusual the College and are effective managers of the teaching methodology (progressive), the resources (excellent) and the budget (adequate). The mission of this College is to support students through schooling, and on to further and higher education, and jobs. Burleigh puts great emphasis on its external relations. It has won awards for its work with industry, and currently the staff are excited about a possible link-up with British Telecom to enhance work experience.

It is a large institution that succeeds through sophisticated management and communications. Sheila Corbett, ex-parent, governor. "The College cares for the community. The staff are dedicated and the board of governors-conscientious." 22 acres grades A to Around 88 per cent of 71 candidates passed their A-levels, while 28 per cent of entries gamed A or grades. In 1990 around 70 per cent of 18-year-old school leavers went on to higher education.

The school has a good library and is weu-eraipped with computers. It prides iteslf on its art department and more than one in three girls are learning a musical instrument. With parents' help it has set up its own residential centre in Normandy, where all pupils will be able to study for several weeks a year. Kerry Dring, former pupil "Having been at Lancaster University for the last 18 months I now realise what an excellent secondary education I received'' Bukford School Mansion set in herd of pedigree Jersey cows, pigs and poultry. Pupils help on the farm.

Mobile classrooms, some dating back 20 years, are amoag the ba tidings on a sprawiiag site. The boarding house Is at the other aide of Barford hi the baildiag of the original graaa-saar school, fbanded la 157L While aaaay private aad state A SCHOOL with a traditional which has a hoase sys- when an adult eaters the i Correct Baironn is end uanrtant The Robert Back, wit arrived two year ago, bcUew his Job is to fatjpaaod the school to equip it for the 1990b whBe retaking the best of its traditions. While i are ctm starring i tag and setting, Barfard in-troflaciag snare adzed ability ttarWag. It also has specific puuu to haprare the aaatlty of teachiag aad learning. A spell-lag poiky has been braaght fat' reading patkj Is deafened to give parents 1 should be reading aad whkh areas they wffl be stanysag hi At Mr Back says, Comprehensive, mixed.

1,205 including 85-90 boarders. 79 teachers. Smallest class 23. Largest 29 (years 7 to 11). Fees, boarding only: 4,500 a year.

Head: Robert Back its exam malts are good "but aot the best hi the Pupils coase from far and wide and this year there were 248 applicants for 200 places. There are three late-bus eve- whan the school stays aad sport It rrpltrtt its splraifM sur- hy rural scicacs sst the But three yean aad sosm papus cauda-a to stady the safajects to GCSE. The school site la-dades a worUag tarn with a BULLERS WOOD School, an 11-18 girls' comprehensive which became a grant mainf wwH school last year, is tucked away in the affluent and leafy suburbs of Chislehurst Partly boused in an imposing nineteenth-century mansion complete with William Morris panelling nH hatv4pintiH dmI- mg it is surrounded by 22 acres of lawns arid woodland. A purpose-built technology block is to open next year. There are nine "temporary" classrooms and there has been no large-scale building at the school since 1956.

Drawing its pupils from Chislehurst, Petts Wood, Bick-tey and parts of Bromley, it prides itself on helping girls of average to good ability perform to the best of their ability. With lag, it la naatfaaing. It has jast been attractively nftiibished aad the school is coafideat that its low sees nsake it highly It charges for hoai dlag osuy aad aot for tasttoa. Sixty par cent of children who board Drmmd Mrs WOamms, UA aauaJnla 9MWj aatoBBBBBj fikWM if Relaxed and liberal atmosphere BwjwgrowJSCTOOL 660 pupils. Co-ed.

Independent boarding school Selection: Common entrance at 13. Fees: 3,640 per term Average doss size: 19 to GCSE, 8-16 at A-leveL term. The rugby and hockey teams went on tour to Singapore, Australia, Fgi and Los Angeles last year. Arts and crafts are superb and there is a new craft, design and technology centre. One pupil's model of Einstein's head is currently on sale for 0.

The site is vast 400 acres bounded by the river Sasur. The main part of the school is a nineteenth-century red-brick building. Gathome-Hardy, parent: "Children an interested and stimulated by a lot of the lessons. They don't appear to be under pressure to be good at games." A SCHOOL that has "never been a slave to tradition" and where "one may properly speak of comprehensive according to its head. Girls and boys mix easily and wear their own clothes in an atmosphere that immediately strikes the visitor as more relaxed and liberal than other boarding schools.

The words "sex" and "love" decorate the walls of the upper sixth bar, a sight prospective parents are probably spared, although pupils say there are few opportunities for that sort of thing. I raniing how to learn is regarded as more important than being pumped brief "correction Each carries a school chart which acts as a logbook, recording day-by-day activities in and out of the classroom, including a half-hour rest after lunch every day. It is signed by teachers each week. Arts and sport (highly competitive) play a large part At least IS drama productions take place each year in the 550-aeat indoor theatre or outdoor amphitheatre in the summer. All Juniors learn an instrument in their first with facts the school doesn't regard itself as an "academic hothouse''.

There was a 93 per cent pass rate (A to at GCSE last year and 95 per cent at A-leveL All study Latin, German and French in the first year and there is a compulsory humanities programme the sixth form. Pupils have free periods for individual study from the start There is no school library, -but separate study rooms for.each subject, supervised by a member of staff qualified in that subject Pupils are then seen separately for.