Gypsy Hill federation of schools

[toomanywheeliebins]

Anyone got a child at one of these. Seem good but looking for parents views.

[WatchaWannaGonna]

Yes have two children there. We chose it on basis of it being our closest school. To be honest not a lot of choice where we live, just lucky it was half way decent. Well more than half way. Have no complaints as far as primary schools go it seems pretty good. Children are happy going, I do drop off every morning and it is lovely the children are all smiles going in. School is bright and airy, and we've not had a bad teacher for either child.

[toomanywheeliebins]

That's good to know. Are you Lambeth or Southwark?

[WatchaWannaGonna]

The school is in Lambeth, we are in Southwark. At the time we applied for eldest now in year 6, we only had a realistic chance of getting in to Langbourne or Kingswood. Frankly Langbourne was appalling and the two people I know whose children started left in the first week. It is now called Dulwich Wood and seems to have a decent head and be turning around. Where are you?

[WatchaWannaGonna]

Pluses - lots of help for less able and for more able pupils, music lessons, great on behaviour and bullying, lots of school trips, good at building confidence (my youngest is painfully shy). Downsides - not enough sport IMO and small playgrounds. Also Kingswood is now on two sites, which is a pain. Overall though the kids are happy going to school and that's pretty much all I look for in a primary school!

[toomanywheeliebins]

Really really helpful. We are in southwark and the school is in southwark which will probably out me.
We had thought the gypsy hill school the best run school and liked it lots but it's a bit of a walk. But we thought the school at the end of the road was good too -confidence shaken by poor OFSTED and poor SATS(I have another thread on this in Education). The gypsy hill school was quite recently in special measures hence we don't know anyone that chose it but has been on a massive amazing journey since federation and now feels a v good option.

[WatchaWannaGonna]

Oooh yes I know the school. The new head of school there was at Kingswood and had a lot to do with my eldest. She is just lovely! Really was quite upset when she left. I see from the newsletters that the school has done really well - most improved Primary.

[toomanywheeliebins]

Ha! So you know what school we are talking about! Yep we met the new Head on the tour she was v impressive. In fact I was bowled over by the whole way they share practice across the federation. That said, they have done v well on SATS results for Level 4'a but less strong on 5's. Wondered if that was a hangover from special measures - only so much a school can do in 3 years!

[WatchaWannaGonna]

SATs aren't the be all and end all. But as you say an impressive result in three years. I like that they have the Federation to draw on for resources. I like the way that the promote internally. Three of my children's TAs have become teachers at the school. Also like the use of HLTAs for things like cover when teachers are in prep as they employed by the Federation - none of the issues you get with supply teachers.

[WatchaWannaGonna]

Also we have a new head too but the transition is pretty seamless because they use the same methods across all schools and have the same exec head. Whereas my sister's children went to a lovely school that was destroyed in a year when the head changed!

[toomanywheeliebins]

Yes was v drawn to federation for reasons you say. Seemed so 'sorted' for all types of children. Kings wood is big though now? Is it still friendly?

[WatchaWannaGonna]

It is now a four form entry! That's as big as one of the secondaries we put down on our application! But I don't mind. They needed the school places around here and I have never felt like the school was too big. Everyone has been friendly enough and I got involved with the school doing volunteer reading to get to know it more. There's this thing they do called Parent Reading as well, I think they do it across all schools. On Friday mornings you can go into class at the start of the day and read with your child for half an hour. Then afterwards they have coffee and biscuits for the parents.

[toomanywheeliebins]

Thanks that's so helpful