concerns over secondary school reputation

[aalia73]

Good morning all,

I am new to Mumsnet and look forward to being part of this community .

Right now I really need some advice - I am new to luton where my daughter has managed to get a place in a school which is ofsted rated good however local neighbours and kids are saying its not a good school with terrible behaviour and no discipline in the school and issues with staff retention which may be a reason as to why the GCSE results are below national average.

I m getting really concerned as she is due to start in September year 7 and up until now has had very good primary school education.

Does anyone have any personal experience or views on this secondary school- Lealands high school , Sundon Park, Luton?

[redstapler]

I'd suggest re-posting with the name of the school in the title, the chances of someone local stumbling across this thread are slim.

[aalia73]

hi there,

thankyou for your advice .
I have reposted .

[RedSkyLastNight]

I don't know anything about the school in question, but I would disregard anything you've heard from people who haven't been at or had a child at the school probably in the last 2 or 3 years. Local gossip tends to magnify one very small incident from years ago and extrapolate it out of all recognition.

If you're getting your info from a teenager at the school, I would also take with a pinch of salt (to hear my DS talk his school is a hot bed of intrigue and violence with drugs sold at every corner - really he is just rather prone to exaggeration - and funnily enough we would have removed him from the school if any of this had been vaguely true!)

[ElectricLions]

My sons' school is amazing, strict on discipline, great pastoral, fantastic teachers who have put their heart and soul into year 11 but to hear it from some kids who go there it is worse than prison

Each person has a different experience of secondary school so I would want specifics on actual incidents rather than a generic it's not great.