John Paul II Wimbledon. Ashcroft?

[QuintessentialShadow]

Any advice?

We are considering this school for ds1, and would love to hear from parents with children at the school.

[gazzalw]

Went to look at Ashcroft for DS - seemed very modern and plush. Teachers at the Open Evening seemed slightly in the background and not generally terribly effectual. The Head's speech was a bit like something out of the German WW 2 propaganda machine and it seemed extraordinarily strict with registration session after every lesson. There appears to be an H-Block type compound for the naughty ones....

As you can tell it wasn't for us but our opinion won't be the same as the next poster's so see what other people have to say!

[Tianc]

That was a very strange thread title to read till I noticed the topic...

[marriedinwhite]

I drive past it on way to and from work and there appears to be a regular police presence! I know people at work with children there and they say very positive things however. I believe it's the Wandsworth school of choice after Graveney/St Cecilia's.

[QuintessentialShadow]

Thanks, I dont know anybody who has gone, or sent their children to either, as we are just across the border in a neighboring borough. We are used to police presence in the streets, though, due to our local secondary, which just came out of special measures. Interestingly, most the students are from wandswarth.

[Hoover01]

My DD is about to finish Y7 at Ashcroft. She has really enjoyed her first year, is proud of "her" school and is doing well. She really likes her teachers and the school clubs. She has made friends and settled in well.
The ethos at school appears to be work hard and be disciplined. Discipline in the school appears to be very good but what is not commented upon is the reward system that the school has adopted. There are lots of competitions and awards for excellent work and this has certainly enthused my DD.

I looked around a lot of private and state schools for my daughter and Ashcroft impressed me with its resources and facilities. At the moment my daughter is bringing back vegetables she grew at the Horticultural Club.
She has never mentioned seeing the police outside the school although I imagine there are and will be incidences where some proportion of pupils act poorly. When I have visited the school it feels like a safe and lively environment.

I think Ashcroft is the first or second oversubscribed school in the Borough. I chose it over St Cecilia's.

My views may change during my DD's progression through the school, but at the moment, I'm satisfied we made the right choice for her.

If you are interested in the school make sure you do the D&T Aptitude Test. There is no catchement criteria governing the award of places through the test.

Finally, good luck, I'm sure your child will do well which ever school they go to, as they have you and their family supporting them and that is the most important key to a sucessful and happy child.

[One4TheRd]

My God daughter has just finished her GCSE,s at Ashcroft and has done extremely well there. She has had a happy 5 years and is staying on for the 6th form. My daughter didnt get a place as even living in Putney puts us just out of the catchment area and I dont think many places get given up. I would wipe John Paul, or St John Bosco as it is now called, off your list!

[basildonbond]

I don't know anyone who's actively chosen John Paul II - virtually all the kids who go there are bussed in from outside the borough

Ashcroft seems to be well-regarded

[2littleterrors]

My dd has just finished year 8 at Ashcroft and has thrived at Ashcroft. I like the fact that the children are set in every subject in year 8. THe results are great for a truly mixed ability school.
As for the discipline, yes it is strict but that can only be good as bad behaviour and disruption are clamped down on very quickly. My dd has made lovely friends not just in her tutor group but across the year.
I suggest go along and have a look at Ashcroft you may like what you see.