Canary wharf college - views?

[marmiteandchocolate]

was going through the archives trying to find views of canary wharf college but all the threads seem pretty dated. anyone has DC enrolled in this school? DD is about 3 so it's time we decide whether we're going to stay or move elsewhere. the school has been rated outstanding by ofsted but this was in 2012 and there isnt much info available on key results. it's a relatively new free school so we arent quite sure what to make of things and wanted to see what views there were of the school?

[01forLondon]

Resurrecting this thread to see if anyone has any views on CWC? I'm not the OP! But interested in this school for my DC, thinking of moving to the area.

Anyone?

[IODmum]

Avoid, avoid, avoid!
It is style over substance. It's like when you buy a used car that is fine in the showroom but breaks down on the drive home. They are good at giving an appearance of doing well and impressing Ofsted but they are inexperienced and headed up by an overbearing person who has given herself the title of CEO and Executive Principal. Her reputation and the reputation of the school mean more to her than your child ever well. Your child is a commodity to conform. The school either ignore or don't understand basic statutory requirements and have no real understanding of state education. Many key staff are young and inexperienced labelled as 'home grown talent' by Ofsted - give it a while and you'll realise it's not home grown talent but rather people who cannot challenge the over inflated CEO. The school is not inclusive. It is a self -serving school founded predominantly by those who didn't want to send their child to a state school but also didn't want to pay for private school fees. There is no accountability. You cannot approach the governors if things go wrong. Instead you have to approach the EP/CEO and if things are still not resolved then she will arrange for 3 of her friends to decide what's what (check out the complaints policy). The school is not accountable to the LA so you can't ask the LA for help. Even if your child has SEN or medical needs, the school won't work with outsiders ... oh, they pretend to liaise with others though. Seriously, please just avoid. Anything that could be wrong with the free school model, this school has it.

[IODmum]

See this link for a review from someone else showing a bit more of the school's true colours

www.schoolguide.co.uk/schools/canary-wharf-college-isle-of-dogs

[01forLondon]

Very belatedly - thanks for this reply! I had since heard similar from someone locally. We're not moving to that area any more but appreciate the feedback. Bullet dodged! It did seem very marketing-y when we visited. Whereas St Luke's seemed lovely, with a great head.

[localbee]

Agreed with all the comments about Canary Wharf College. I am a local resident and mum with children who love learning and want a school, which provides good role models and raises aspirations. Canary Wharf college is a huge marketing scam; I've had friends who sent their children there and don't see what the big fuss is. Teachers are usually average or lack experience, the CEO is hard to reach or is not interested. Another parent even said they 'poach' the brightest from neighbouring schools. How?
If you believe in a diverse and successful school setting for your child, this is not it. Look closely at the school and you will recognise a 'particular' type of child they like to admit. On the other hand, the neighbouring school, St. Luke's, I hear is fantastic, fun and the teachers are outstanding. This is all from local parents with children who attend this school. They get opportunities to have in depth music lessons, swimming sessions, fun workshops and exciting trips. The teachers are exceptionally hard working, experts in their field and the Head is very inspirational. This is the school for your child. Visit and you will be blown away. Unfortunately, we are moving away from the area so my child will not get an opportunity to go here.

[laurisse]

You know I have visited st Luke's - and I agree with everything you say! I was blown away, and far more so than with CWC. The head at St Luke's was fab, I really warmed to her. anyway, all academic now as we're not moving here, but in case anyone searches for these schools!

[extrastrongmint]

I lived in the area and had a child at the school in the not too distant past. It bills itself as having the ethos of and the same standards as a private/prep school but it it is nothing of the kind
.
The main issue is the gap between the principal's spin and the actual academic standards. At a meeting I attended the principal assured new parents that students made far higher than expected progress - 3 sub-levels per year relative to an "expected" 2 sublevels. The problem with this is that at the time there were only KS1 pupils in the school. and 3 sublevels is what is expected at KS1. the "reference expectation" of 2 sublevels only applies if averaged over years 1-6. So the claim that three sublevels was better than expected progress was basically a lie.

The principal also claimed pupils would receive the same education as in her former "11 thousand per year prep school in leafy surrey".
The actual performance data can be seen here .

Note in particular:
Fewer high attainers than the national or local authority average.
Lower attainment scores in maths than the local authority average.
Negative progress scores (i.e. less than national average) in maths and writing.
Boys do particularly badly with progress score -3.7 in writing, and no boys are high attainers
What excuse could account for the mediocre progress when they have brand new buildings and facilities, a class size of 20, a longer school day than normal, and far fewer pupils on FSM/pupil premium than average??

Other issues:
The measuring point for home-school distance was for several years set to be the steps at mudchute DLR which was over 200m from the school. Why? - because it moved the catchment away from the social housing on the east side of millwall park and towards the conservation area and private housing to the west of the school, i.e. they were gerrymandering their catchment into the middle class area and away from the undesirables. Furthermore although places are nominally 50% faith, 50% community, most of the community places were given to younger siblings of children admitted under the faith criteria in earlier years. This is how they've managed to engineer far lower percentage of pupil premium/FSM than the surrounding area or local authority. They can't quite rig it to be 100% middle class christian but they're trying awfully hard.
The "CEO/executive principal" is more focused on empire building than anything else. She runs the school in a rigid, autocratic style - it's her way or the highway. Any issues raised with the governors or through the complaints procedure will face a rigged jury. Normal standards of balance or accountability do not apply.
Religous ethos: the job adverts for teachers ask for candidates with "grace and courage". which is basically a buzzword saying only the devout / born-again need apply. And get used to hmyns - lots of them. My child seemed to learn a lot of hymns and no maths.
The school was not effective at dealing with special needs. One neighbour had many meetings with the school regarding their child who had a specific learning difficulty. As the CEO/Prinicipal was otherwise engaged on loftier subjects, these were mainly with her appointed deputy, who told the parents on many occasions that he "could only apologise" for failures in provision. After several such meetings they concluded that he was telling the literal truth - he could quite literally only apologise - and they removed the child from the school.
Don't believe the spin or the ofsted report. It's a mediocre school run by someone with a severe case of hubris who is riding the free school gravy train as far as they can. It's christian in name, unchristian in behaviour.

[ooooooooooooo1]

Hello,
I am a parent, who is struggling in CWC. Have you moved your child out of the school? And if yes, how is he/she doing in the new one? My child has got SEN, and we don't know what to do. Both stay and move are traumatic experiences. We don't know which one is better?

[ooooooooooooo1]

Sorry, I was asking IODmum. I have read your review, and it sound like as if I have written it myself.

[IODmum]

Hi ooooooooo1,
Sorry for not replying sooner. We are trying to move school but as you say moving school is stressful. I genuinely believe that the school intentionally fail certain children - I'm not sure it is the teaching staff as much, but more that children are failed by those who dictate behind the scenes what can and cannot happen to support your child. I am sure it is all with the intention so that parents will eventually move the 'less desirable' kids out of the school. The SENCO is young and inexperienced and in our experience will not advocate for you or your child, so even if she wanted to help she can't/won't. With the CEO being dominant in decisions and the SENCO not a part of the senior leadership and not being prepared/able to advocate for your child effectively, we see no choice other than to leave. Schools know, I believe, that parents don't want to raise formal complaints either as then they won't want to send their child in. It's a horrible situation to be put in and I feel for you, as we are in the same boat. I have realised that the CEO responds very well to flattery - so if you haven't yet met with her to resolve things you could try that tack.... It might work but I can't guarantee it and she is probably well aware of your difficulties. She is proud and as extrastrongmint has put above, we too have experienced her dishonesty - it is shocking how easily it trips off her tongue and until you are at the receiving end of it, it is somewhat hard to believe. So, my opinion is you could try flattery - "we are so grateful for your time," "thanks so much for the opportunity to be a part of a fantastic school," etc and then put your requests in an attempt to salvage the placement. I'd suggest making sure you keep good records of all conversations (personally, record it on your phone - just in case!) as they will be used against you if the school decide they want you out. I hope it works out for you and your child, either there or elsewhere.

[duriandurian]

We went for a look see back in 2014 and realised from the photos of her embracing David Cameron and Michael Gove that it wasn't the school for us.
Smart marketing but deliberately socially exclusive. And the kind of place where a child wearing the wrong kind of socks wasn't allowed to do P.E..
Good luck

[ooooooooooooo1]

Very wise move! I am a glad that you have noticed it before you got in! Worst choice in my life to put my child in there! Still can't forgive myself that I let myself to be led by emty promisses. Canary Wharf College is a scam, they don't deliver. If your child is doing well there it is entirely your chid's credit. It is never about your child. Your child comes after their ambitions, other children, staff and money. What I heard from principal founder is simly shocking. Still coming to terms with it. Those parents who have got no problems, please be aware of this. You won't hear this as you don't have to ask. If you did, this is what you will hear, litterally and starightforwadly. If you still think that your child is safe, think twice. Your child have to witness all this. You wouldn't know about it as you don't have to deal with them, and your child may not tell you either. It's like going back in time when they used to cane children. They are not dealing with difficulties, litterally ignoring or lying. I expect, the so called success they claim, is due to them pushing out the undesired children. How many lives they have to be ruin before it becomes obvious?

[IODmum]

Dear ooooooooooooo1,

I am so sorry to read your post as it is clear from what you have written that you have now had the same type of aggressively unreasonable and unprofessional behaviour from S Counter that we experienced. She is so outstandingly rude and abusive that until someone witnesses it for themselves then I am not sure they truly believe it possible. And, once you've seen the true ugliness, it is shocking that she is allowed to work with children. She will not work with parents or outside agencies who advise to support children with SEN. She is the all knowing oracle and her way must be obeyed. Once she knows you have a hint of discontent, you are in her sights for attack. It is horrible and I can imagine what you went through as our experience has left me similarly reeling and shocked. And, I totally understand why you feel your child is not safe - we are in the same position. And, I am sure you have genuine safeguarding concerns. Lack of suitable provision and lack of suitable access to education, and the false claims SC makes to make herself look good are extremely serious - please do contact Ofsted and say you would like to inform them of the difficulties you have had and that you are calling so that an inspector can take it into account when next inspecting. Your call may also trigger an early inspection, especially if all of us who have been harmed by the school let Ofsted know. This contact will be kept anonymous from the school but once Ofsted have the detail of your situation, if they feel it is safeguarding (such as lack of reasonable adjustments leading to a failure to provide a suitable education) then Ofsted will report the school to the local authority. As SC will sadly not make suitable provision for many children with SEN, you are not alone and I wanted you to know that many are aware of her conduct so if you have not already then please do reach out for help. Some people I can suggest contacting for advice and support and also to help with ensuring that you are not alone in any further contact with the school are the parents advice centre, local Labour councillors, the local authority such as their admissions team and SEN Section if your child has an EHC and your MP. All of these people are aware of the school failing vulnerable children and of SC's shocking behaviour to families so they will not need convincing when you contact them for help.

Please also do be careful of anything the school put in writing such as emails or meetings or minutes as there will be things included that are half-truths to put a spin on things to make the school look good. There may also be false statements to make the parents and child look bad. As hard and time consuming as it is, correct the inaccuracies in writing. Or, if you don't have time then perhaps just a one line email to say, "we do not accept this as an accurate reflection of the meeting/email..." so there is something on record to show you did not agree with what has been written.


I am sorry you are going through this. Hopefully, the more of us that speak out then perhaps it will lead to SC finally stepping down and things will improve for future children.

[Memberofworldnapsociety]

Hello there mums,

I almost cried when I found your posts to know that I wasn't only the one.
Also shocked and scared how awful situation were (are) for many children and parents.

My DC with SEN has been in CWC for a few years and it's been absolutely nightmare.


Thank you for useful advices and information.
If I were to organise a group to get together to work on changing this horrible school, would ladies interested to join?

[IODmum]

Hi, I know you how you feel about not being alone in terms of how difficult things are with the school - parents without children with SEN love it whilst the those with children with SEN are it seems persecuted. Just to add, in terms of people who can be contacted, there is also the Regional School Commissioner. If you do get something up and running then perhaps message me and others on this thread privately with the details and maybe we can do a joint something to raise concerns. I am sorry you are having a difficult time too - it is awful. I would very much recommend ensuring professionals outside of the school are aware and present at all meetings such as the local authority, if at all possible, and the local Parents Advice Centre (tel 0207 364 6489). Routinely copy any other outside professionals involved into emails you send and receive. And, in all honesty, it might be worth asking the LA for a managed move... I know it is scary and not fair at all but the placement won't improve sadly overnight and you and your child will suffer in the meantime. Take care

[ooooooooooooo1]

I am very glad, that some more families came forward. These people are overpowering and you feel very helpless when you deal with them on your own. We have moved our child out, and this is my advice to parents who are struggling. You won’t find understanding in this school. It is the well being of your child that matters most. If you don’t want your child to become angry and disappointed in life, to even become a criminal, don’t wait, move out, the sooner the better. S Counter claims 30 years experience in teaching. The way she treats pupils and parents she can be compared to a teacher like a butcher to a surgeon. She talks about the personnel of the school as he if they are her commodity or property. There’s a big turnover of staff, as well. Perhaps the staff are also in the same predicament. In the state the school is now, and their attitude, it is clear, that you child is not safe there. I suspect, by my experience, that they want the school to be that way. Why not, easy way to get rid of unsuitable children, to keep the results better? Cheaper as well, you don’t need to train staff or employ qualified in that field. I found teachers working there ok, but the routes of all evil lie in the heads, the decision making people. The question is can they do what they do? We lost faith, we lost confidence as parents, we nearly lost trust of our child in us. I would like to get in contact with you, guys, and a group complaint makes sense. We never went through a complaint process within school, I did speak with someone of the trustees and realised, there’s no point , they all speak the same language. The whole experience was stressful enough. It would be like fighting with windmills. It is definitely a matter of some external agencies to interfere. Consider me in.

[juguetico]

I'm so sorry to hear about the poor reviews of the school. We've had a completely different experience there with our DD. We transferred her from another school on the IOD and have been delighted. We wish we had done it earlier.

I've put below some of the things we really appreciate about the school. I want to mention first though that I'm not trying to negate what has been said on this thread previously, as I really believe that one size does not fit all when it comes to schooling.

• the teachers are wonderful, dedicated and seemed to really be keen to develop the 'whole' child, not just the academics. We've found them kind and encouraging and appreciated the open relationship they seem to have with parents.
  

• Communication: a weekly newsletter goes out to tell the parents what the kids have been up to that week. Also, parents are free to email the teachers directly and in our experience, the teachers have always responded extremely quickly. I also like the 'open' communication in that any time we've had a concern (our DD also has SEN), they've gone out of their way to make time to meet with us.
  

• From my experience, I've seen a real atmosphere of happiness there. I've happened to be there during some assemblies and I loved seeing the enthusiasm and sense of fun.
  

• The school trips are excellent. It seems that the teachers and the PTA make a big effort to get kids to enjoy all the best that London has to offer, from pantomimes to museums to overnight camping trips.
  

• Our DD has really blossomed at CWC. She has made a lot of friends, she has become more social and confident (eg. she often raises her hand to ask questions now, which she would never do at her previous school), and we're thrilled with her academic progress.
  

I can understand the SEN comments made previously. In our experience with schools in TH, the government's cutbacks have meant schools are struggling to provide for the mainstream, let alone anything out of that. I haven't found the SEN department to be useful in any TH school and the NHS does not help much either unless it's a particularly extreme case. We've ended up doing all our SEN assessments etc privately. HOWEVER, we did find that the CWC teachers themselves have been exceptionally accommodating and collaborative. They absolutely went beyond our expectations.

I can also understand the previous comments re David Cameron/free school concept, as no-one in our family votes Conservative (although at the moment, I don't think we like any of them!). I'm against the for profit academies. However, I wanted to highlight that the catchment area is due to the school being the most oversubscribed in TH, not because they're trying to exclude social housing. In fact, schools get MORE money for students on the pupil premium. It's true that it's a Christian school, but my daughter has Jewish, Hindu and Muslim kids in her class. I think there is more religious diversity at CWC than there is in other IOD/TH primaries. I have the impression (I may be wrong) that the school is very broadly 'Christian,' as I'm pretty sure my daughter has never attended any mass through the school.

[ooooooooooooo1]

It looks like you are describing a primary school. My child did not go to a primary in Canary Wharf College, so I can't compare, all I can say is that if you talk to receptionists in their primary, they are much more helpful there. Overall the support for a SEN child changes in secondary education considerably, so if you are in primary still, try to get the most of it. At the end of the primary school, our child academically was almost at the expected level for his age.We also had a close contact with teachers and SENco in his primary school, exactly the way you describe. All changes in secondary school. That's when the teachers become unavailable or too busy, the time that you speak to them shortens as well. The problem with Canary Wharf Secondary is that the Head Founder is completely delusional about what her school can offer to a SEN child. She claims that the school is the best for your child and you won't find any better in the borough and the alternative is only! specialised school (regardless of the opinion of their own SENco and Educational Psychologist). Just like that! Oh, and she also makes assumptions on what to expect from your child based on her own children, or age of the child. Because, of my child's SEN not met in this school, the academic progress stopped, as well as a desire to study. They wouldn't say, that perhaps you should consider another school that is more equipped, they would blame your child and you. When you have a SEN child it is already a harder work for parents to achieve the same results as the rest, you don't need this unnecessary fight with the school ambitions. They waisted so much of our time and energy! We have contacted almost all schools in the borough, trying to move our child out of there, and we did come across schools that would honestly admit that perhaps we should consider another school. But CWC school is perfect, if it's not, it's your fault! Our child is in the school now where his SEN are treated accordingly, where he is treated according to what he can do, not to what it is expected of his age, and the changes are almost immediate. The material is more available to our child's understanding. It's nice to see our child to take interest in studies again, and ask teachers for help. At the moment there's no need to contact teachers almost every day (as it was in CWC), because there's simply no need for that. And occasionally when you child has got difficulties, they are sorted just with one phone call or email. There ARE better schools out there, something that CWC has to realise.

[IODmum]

Hi ooooooooooooo1,

I'm so glad things have improved for you and your child - I was wondering how you were doing. We had the same nonsense about the Executive Principal's own children (who are old enough to be parents of school children themselves by now). Her kids had dyslexia she told us. Somehow having a child over 30 years ago with dyslexia makes her the all-knowing oracle on all types of SEN meaning that the advice of the educational psychologist (he was very nice to us and gave brilliant clear advice) could be ignored. She made very inappropriate remarks about our child's needs, which are actually not hard to meet. It is shocking that a secondary school with only 80 children at the time you were having difficulties couldn't get their act together. Please do contact Ofsted.

Hi juguetico,

I am pleased you are having a good experience so far, that is great. With regards to some of your points, I'd like to add to it from our perspective as a parent with SEN who has now had to leave the school:

• the teachers - I am friends with a former member of staff who told me the school is unable to retain staff. In a school with small classes and only 10 week terms, that is not usual and shows there are problems. She said staff know not to question the Executive Principal as one person who did very nicely was then overlooked for a promotion they should have got. Also, she said staff know the Executive Principal's reaction is very strong and unpleasant to anyone who disagrees with her, such as with 'the look' - we have had 'the look' ourselves along with eye rolling and huff puffing. It is intimidating, imagine if that was your boss?
  

• Communication. This is the school's poorest area in our experience. Newsletters communicate only what the school want to share and not what is always needed for an individual child, particularly one with SEN. Copies of what was being taught and adapted learning resources were not provided. This is basic for supporting many children with additional learning needs and lots of schools would routinely provide them for those with additional needs even without any additional funding for the child. The school were asked repeatedly by professionals in our situation to start to provide the appropriate and much needed communication. Suitable communication never happened despite how in many areas the type of communication being requested was actually specified as a statutory requirement for all children, not just those with identified SEN.
  

• School trips are not inclusive. Many children with SEN require support to participate and this was not provided in our situation. I have a letter about this that I will be copying to Ofsted as evidence of children being excluded on grounds that they shouldn't. I know that if a trip is not classed as 'educational' then the school is not under an obligation to provide access to the trip. But, there were educational trips with opportunity for participation denied. I have also seen participation denied for other children based on whether a family can afford for the child to take part - evidence of this will also be going to Ofsted.
  

• All schools are struggling financially. Our child has additional funding provided by the local authority who were happy to provide more funding. This funding was not spent on our child, instead, they sat in meetings refusing very basic support with the Executive Principal huff puffing and telling half truths about what they had done. I could give examples of these half truths but they are personal. Without us as parents correcting them, her accounts give a very different impression of the truth. We ensured we had evidence of what was delivered - I won't say on here how we had evidence - but we had evidence of failure to provide very simple things which protected us.
  

I have friends in the school who are very happy. Their child doesn't need anything out of the norm. I also have 2 friends who have both recently told me they have friends who have had to leave. One said the child's additional needs were not met. Another said, the parents were quite literally persecuted. Both these families and the others who have commented on here is in keeping with our situation. I hope things continue as they have for you but I would say be careful. Depending on the support your child needs you might be ok and I genuinely hope that is the case.


For anyone reading this, just to add the school don't yet have a permanent site for the secondary school (they are in their 3rd temporary building) so it is a bit of a gamble going to the secondary school. There is a local site that is designated to be a secondary school but this has not been allocated to CWC. I know that the local authority is keen for a transparent process for the allocation of this site and keen to ensure it goes to the right school that serves the whole community.

[IODmum]

Slight correction: the above should read - 'from our perspective as a parent of a child with SEN...'

Dear Memberofworldnapsociety, I hope you and your child are ok...

[ooooooooooooo1]

Yes, this is pretty much what was happening to us as well:

• within one year my child went through four form tutors, not to mention subject teachers.
  
• my child was excluded from educational trips, it was presented as a punishment. When I contested that, the Head Assistant finaly admitted that she was not confident to take my child to a trip. When I asked what steps have been made, there was an awkward silence and then I was told that his funding is not enough for them to make any. This is disgusting, as it was presented as a punishment, bringing my child down, not even giving opportunities to ajust. And also surprising, as for paid recreational trips they had no such reservations. How come, they had no problems when the trip was paid for? They had no problems with going to the theatre or residetial (overnight!) trip, but problems with museum trip, during school hours? Should have taken it further, and ask for financial information about what they actually spent, but was under so much pressure and not that wise about how things are working. Probably too late now...
  
• SENco is not only young and inexperienced, but also is a liar. She claimed that the school was unaware of my child's problems, because they had never received an EHC Plan, blaming local authorities for that. Almost a year passed, and all this time I had assumed that it was in the school. Almost at the end of the year, it turns out that it was not. She claimed that children wait for years to get it send. When I contacted local authorities, they were surprised by this statement. If she didn't get the plan, why she never raised concerns? I have checked in my child's new school, and they were able to produce it to me, no problem. Outdated, still from primary school, as there were no changes made, during year 7 in Canary Wharf College, despite annual meeting having being held there, but they have it. I suspect that she had it all along and lied to me to cover herself.
  

I have contacted OFSTED, and got the letter from them, that all they can do is to take it in consideration at the next inspection. I wonder, when this is going to happen as they keep changing names and addresses? Canary Wharf college is rated outstanding, as a primary school. All they advise me to do is to leave a feedback on a parents site to make people aware.
My neighbour wanted to send her child to Canary Wharf College, child has SEN. Strongly advised her against. All I can do for now...

[Kath246]

The latest KS2 results for 2018 says it all really. Result below the national and local authority average, its a failing school despite selective intake and the exclusion of social housing, non-christian children. Its shameful and should be defunded as its failing children.

[Purslip]

I am wondering if the discussion was about the primary schools, east ferry or glenworth, or secondary school?

[Kath246]

The poor sats refers to East Ferry, I don't think the others are doing any better either. This school despite selection, racial, class and religious discrimination is doing a lot worse than the local authority and church schools. Shameful!

[onemoremummy]

I can’t comment on the SEN aspects and really feel for those who are having a hard time.

But to add my experience, my child attends one of their primary schools and we couldn’t be happier. Our experience has been very positive and all of the parents I have spoken to feel similarly.

I hope that the SEN provision improves, but wanted to offer another point of view (for those searching for reviews of the school).