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Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Secondary education

Fortismere School

14 replies

showersinger · 25/09/2012 13:51

Anyone can tell me something about this school? Do you have any DCs attending it? I like what I hear but... I am a bit disappointed about them not offering latin or classics as an option...and haven't decided if I like or not like the "no uniform" policy yet! Is it a good option for a very academic child or should he try for a scholarship at a private school?

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showersinger · 25/09/2012 14:28

One more question! Class size? I can't find the answer in the website. Many thanks.

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soonbesailing · 25/09/2012 21:30

Class size 24 per form, but the lessons that are set have more in the top sets than the bottom sets (they now set in maths, PE, languages, science).

As a parent I would say if you are uncomfortable with lack of uniform and are looking for classics and latin then Fortismere is not the school for you.

Hope you don't mind my honesty, but it is based on my knowledge and experience of the types of children who attend.

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showersinger · 26/09/2012 00:33

Soonbesailing, thanks you for your honesty don't mind it at all! Just to be clear though, I am not looking for Latin and classics, my DS is! He just happens to love it. For what I know of the school I don't see why it would be incompatible with the type of children? After all it is one of the few comps I know offering philosophy A level. I would think a good base of Latin and Greek would be useful for that? Thanks again for info.

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NellyJob · 26/09/2012 00:47

don't forget you won't even get into the sixth form without all A's at GCSE.
non uniform policy seems very sensible.

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soonbesailing · 26/09/2012 06:58

You don't need all A's for sixth form you need B's, but it's still a higher requirement than many state schools.

There are many high achievers at the school, but it is a mixed comprehensive so all levels are in the school.

It also has a quite middle class intake, but it's not like a private school.

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ancientandmodern · 26/09/2012 08:40

OP -- It's rare for any state school, even a top level comp (which is probably how Fortismere would view itself) to offer Latin. However, Highbury Grove in Islington, which is a state comp, does have a very long tradition of teaching Latin as an extra curricular club/class. If you go to the website www.highburygrove.islington.sch.uk/ and click on 'after school hours learning' and then on the Junior KS3 pdf you'll see the range of options which include Latin.

Highbury Grove has a very different feel to Fortismere -- it was a huge success many years ago under a head called Rhodes Boyson (who went on to be a Tory MP), then had a sharp decline and has recently undergone a massive building programme so it's got very good facilities and is on the up. Don't know where you live, so no idea if you would be in catchment, but could be worth a look.

Agree with the poster above who describes Fortismere as 'quite middle class intake but not like a private school'. Would suggest, if you haven't already, that you go on a visit there and any private schools you might be thinking of considering

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showersinger · 26/09/2012 10:48

Thank you ancientandmodern. Yes, also Chiswick School, another London comp on the up, offers Latin as an extracurricular with the option of taking it at GCSE. It's a good formula.

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showersinger · 27/09/2012 12:37

And I just discovered Holland Park does too!

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showersinger · 27/09/2012 23:07

Ok so I just came back from open afternoon and didn't get to see the Head talk. Was there a talk by the Head? Did we miss it? We weren't offered to attend any talk and we didn't see any signs of a presentation going on anywhere. Just a crowded tour guided by a nice boy who got lost many times - Y8 and he doesn't know the school yet. Mind you, it is big and confusing. Lovely teachers. But like DS said, without hearing the Head he felt he just got half the picture. Confused.

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soonbesailing · 29/09/2012 22:02

What time did you go? The website said there was a 2pm then 3pm session so I would have expected either the head or deputy to speak first them do the tours, at least as far as remember that was what has happened in previous years.
Did you turn up between the sessions and just get the tour?
I can understand the yr8 getting lost.... It was probably my son!
The open afternoons are not very well organised and although it is very nice having the children show you around it does leave rather a lot to chance.

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WoodRose · 30/09/2012 10:16

The head gave a separate talk to parents during an open evening last week.

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bowerbird · 30/09/2012 15:19

Stoke Newington offers Latin

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sicutlilium · 30/09/2012 16:49

OP - here is another way of accessing Latin & Greek:
www.classicsacademy.com/

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showersinger · 30/09/2012 18:00

Thanks all. I arrived at the school five minutes before 3 pm following the advise given on the website. But it seems the Head talk was given on a separate evening. Typical of me to miss that. And yes, some children do latin outside their schools because they don't offer it. Its an option. But to think of adding one more thing to DS life on top of music, homework, swimming, etc!! Anyway, latin or no latin, he still liked the school and was impressed by the music dept.