Mumsnet Talk

Dear PrepnoMore,
It sounds like you have had some issues with this school but please do not let it tarnish it for everybody else. We have been at Orley Farm for many years. The teachers are fantastic, smiling, happy and can't do enough to help.The same with all the teams including the ground staff, caterers, medical team and office staff. There is a huge family feeling which has been there for many years. The pre-prep staff are fabulous. They are smiling from the time that they greet your child in the morning to when they give them back to you in the afternoon. This follows throughout the school. The gates have gone up in the school to give more security, this is the same throughout many schools. The teachers and senior staff are very accessible and you can set up a meeting almost with immediacy. The diary report, is a very valuable asset, which is weekly and you get to know how well your child frequently. I have visited many schools and not one has had such a regular feedback system with regards to grading. I have never experienced bad feeling around the school anywhere. There are always happy smiling faces from both staff and children. My children love it there and it has been very difficult for us to find a senior school that we felt the same way about. My oldest, when they left, said the food in particular, never compared to this school. The food is superb. My children have not experienced the language that you have discussed. The drive by system is essential for traffic as the parking is very limited on the private road outside the school. I would urge you to find a better system. It has been well thought out and put in place over many years. I have never found it problem getting through to the bursary, but I must admit I email so have never experienced the phone system.
In short, this school is the best prep school that I have seen in a few miles. To any new potential parent, please come and see our school and make up your own mind. The parents at this school are very friendly and many have made friends for life. I know, from speaking to many parents at the school, that I speak for the majority. I was very upset to see that review and felt compelled to give you another prospective.

OMG
http://www.iharrow.com/schools/head-of-orley-farm-school-resigns-following-error-of-judgment/
tiku and Unsure, what did you go for in the end?

Hi Prepnomore,

Thanks for your detailed review about Orley Farm.

My son too received offers from both Orley Farm and Quainton Hall and it helps to have some real reviews from parents who are associated with school.

Tiku / Unsure1234567,

I believe the deadline for Orley farm was 31st Jan. Have you opted for any school?

My nephew has just finished Radlett prep. All in all his parents felt he had a great education and I know he really enjoyed it. Given its location the school is about 1 third Asian, 1 third White and 1 third Jewish with all the Jewish holidays celebrated. My sister in law is all for ethnic mixes , she her self is non-white but certainly early on my nephew did become somewhat confused over his ethnic background given the strong bias . Not a negative but something to be aware of.

Well, I have experience of Orley farm.
They used to lay claim to an open door policy, but have since locked down all the doors between the staff and the outside world - they still claim the policy but its demonstrably false. Any time anyone needs to speak to the bursary, especially at the beginning of term, it is impossible to get through as they will only allow messages to be passed via the office (not great if you have a finance query). The head is very personable, although you are left wondering if this is a front, as he tends to smile/ nod politely unless what he's hearing isn't what he wants to hear, in which case he goes slightly purple and his head shakes slightly, then you know you're in trouble. If you complain about a member of staff, said member of staff is told almost straight away, but if you pass a compliment, it's kept a secret. Staff have also, IME, have conspired to lie to parents on several occasions (including once about a child who fell of some equipmment and got a head injury) and there are rumours of lies told to other parents and to the children. Many staff are very unhappy while others are just biding their time before retirement. Some have simply walked out. The parents association used to be very active and there was a real sense of community but it isn't the case any more, partly because staff have made it clear they don't care what parents do as they don't feel the benefit, most of the funds raised have ended up in the music department and other staff didn't even know they could make requests for things. Parents are kept out of the school as much as possible and theyre not even supposed to park there any more - they set up a "drive-by" system for dropping off and collection. Children swear in Urdu and Hindi at the staff and get away with it. They want kids who are excellent at sports so it will increase their scholarship stats and if you have a non sporty kid they're generally passed over for rewards, even in other subjects. Bullying is very much ignored and sometimes even the staff join in. year 7 and 8 boys are routinely sworn in front of and at by staff (names like twat and arsehole). They are completely star struck - if they have a famous parent applying the kid will undoubtedly get in no matter how good or bad they are. Certain teachers have been known to be abusive to children and parents, as well as slagging off other members of staff to parents. There's generally quite a bad feeling around the place these days. The chair of governors is the only one you're likely to see, all the others wouldn't lower themselves to speaking to parents and asking what they think, and they never turn up for anything apart from the occasional meeting (have to make sure they get their wedge). They don't even bother to turn up to the annual prize giving day any more. They pay no attention to the law, ignoring dull stuff like putting up signs about CCTV and a few parents who have had children with medical problems have all said how poor the school copes with it, pretending theres nothing wrong. One boy almost died on a school trip because they failed to let the catering people at the venue know they had someone with life threatening allergies, they didn't even tell his mother he'd had to go to hospital until they got back days later.
On the plus side, they have amazing grounds, fantastic grounds keepers (if you're nice to them), fantastic caretakers (if you're nice to them) and fantastic catering. They also have fantastic nurses. The school is about to start a major refurbishment programme to improve the facilities.
Any questions?

(Sorry - directed at 123456)

Boy or girl?

Think a little long term look at where the children move on to for senior school and see if that fits in with what you want for your child.

Quainton hall over orley farm - nooooo! (IMO)

The head at Orley Farm is lovely. He is very committed to his role, and will make sure that all children go to the appropriate senior school for them.

We are really struggling to decide between Orley Farm and Radlett for our son as well. have you had any further thoughts??

Dear peeps,

Am very confused - my son has had offers from radlett prep, orley farm and quainton hall for reception entry. Any thoughts and guidance will be much appreciated......