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Original poster

West London secondaries - I really can't see any good options

59 replies

ThreaderickDorrit · 07/02/2012 13:27

We live Hammersmith and Fulham. We are not religious. We cannot afford private education. DD1 is reasonably academic but also loves art, drama etc. My heart is sinking when I consider our options. I read threads from South and North London mums and they just seem to have so much more choice.

Can anyone add anything to my summary of choices for children in our area?

Hammersmith Academy - totally untested. Only has year 7s at the moment. Might turn out to be great or terrible and therefore it is a total gamble. It is a technology specialist school and for me that is offputting. All I ever hear is that it has great indoor facilities but very limited outdoor space.

West London Free School - totally untested. Only has year 7s. Might turn out to be great or terrible: total gamble. We can't even assess the facilities as the building is temporary but my understanding is that there will be very little outdoor space. The political will behind this school must increase the chance that it will be successful, but probably only for a certain type of child. It is run by Toby Young who comes across as one of the least appealing characters I have ever read/heard etc. He seems to know nothing about education and I fear he is a risk to the success of the school. I take my hat off to him for establishing it but he really should have stepped back at that point. The Head was once Head of a (very average private) school in Devon where I know some teachers. They do not rave about his abilities. Even setting aside these worries we have to bare in mind that if we want this school we are unlikely to get it. It is hugely oversubscribed already.

Pheonix High School - I actually know little about this school. I dismissed it because of its historic repuation for having a problem with violence and not getting great results. I have assumed its not an option for us but would love to hear from anyone who knows more about it.

Chiswick Community SChool - Satisafactory Ofsted. Huge school. Another Tech specialism. Massive turnover of Heads. Just doesn't sound great.

Tiffin - I did not start coaching the DDs while they were still in utero so I am assuming we stand no chance. It is also miles away.

Burlington Danes - sounds like it is doing well. But if you are not religious and you do not live nearby then you have no chance.

OP posts:
BarryShitpeas · 08/02/2012 10:38

Oh that's interesting- I didn't know that CCS criteria wasn't borough based.

I went to an open day there last October and was quite impressed BUT if they are in the process of converting to academy status, I can't think it will be good for teacher morale, and maybe they will lose some of the friendly community school ethos? And maybe lose some good teachers, who don't want to work for an academy? I spoke to the head and he said that politically he didn't want to become an academy, but financially he had no choice.

Holland Park or Phoenix would be my choice, but then I am a die hard "Just go to your local school!" bore.

My (many) in-laws, who live in K & C all send their kids to Church schools, and never have a problem getting in, despite being muslim. I think the number of places for children from other faiths is quite high, if this were a route you wanted to go down.

Original poster
ThreaderickDorrit · 08/02/2012 10:25

Lol at Pheonix being "less stabby" than it used to be Barry! What an advert for the school. The reason I listed CCS is that it's distance criteria is not Borough based and there are parts of H&F that are closer to CCS than parts of Hounslow are. I am not sure whether we would get a place but I have been lead to believe that it is not impossible.

Mominatrix - thanks for the info on Hammersmith Academy. It is promising that the Mercers are involved. I do worry that competition from the West London Free School will not benefit Hammersmith Academy which maybe had a better shot at success before it seemed likely that the WLFS would cream-ff some of the more academically inclined children in the area. I really hope I am wrong as the ethos of Hammersmith Academy is more attractive than the ethos of the Free School. How brilliant if they could both be successful.

Kensingtonia and Bandit - I had never heard of the arts aptitude test at Holland Park so thank you for alerting me to that. We may well give it a go. Our of interest Bandit, where are you most hoping to get a place? What is your first preference?

Mimble - I agree that it is a real shame that Gove and Young have mixed politics and education in the creation of WLFS. Such a shame and I think such a risk for the future of the school.

Sue - I think there are some great religious secondaries in Ealing but I am not sure what is on offer for the agnostics among us.

Majurormi - sadly I do not think Chelsea Academy is really an option for those of us to the west of the Borough. Good luck with finding God!

OP posts:
BarryShitpeas · 08/02/2012 09:27

I am confused as to why you are considering CCS if you live in H & F?

Is it likely that you would get in from another borough?

Phoenix seems much more stable, less stabby, and getting better results than it used to, fwiw.

majurormi · 08/02/2012 09:19

Nix Hurlingham and Chelsea off your list, I live across from it and the children who go there are feral. It recently got an outstanding OFSTED rating but I would not send my children there based on the student body. The children from Chelsea ACademy seem lovely and the facilities are beautiful, although no outside space. Not sure about academics. We are faced with the same problem but have a Catholic God on our side. While not religious I am becoming one with our priest to increase the chances of an Oratory or Cardinal Vaughn entrance. So hypocritical but necessary

Mominatrix · 08/02/2012 06:43

I'd give another look at Hammersmith Academy . It is being co-sponsored by Mercers who are entrusted with the financing and involved in the running of St. Paul's boys and girls and have experience with other academies - so a proven track record.

Here is a blurb about Hammersmith Academy from the Mercer Report:

"The new school boasts a large Theatre with
Drama and Dance studios, digital editing and IT suites,
four-bay sports hall and fitness suite, modern practical
science, technology and art and design spaces, outdoor
astroturf area, restaurant, library, and bright, modern
classrooms. The Thomas Telford team has been involved
in the IT design and fitting-out programme, with specialist
input from the BRIT School on Digital and Creative
Media. The nearby St. Paul?s Schools also gave valuable
help during the construction phase, providing office space
and administrative support.

The academy will gradually fill up to its capacity
of 780 students by 2015, and, supported by its Mercer
and IT Company governors, is seeking to establish a
strong record of academic excellence and progression
for its students.'

Sounds promising.

banditqueen · 07/02/2012 18:16

I'm guessing your DC is year 5 ThreaderickDorrit? I've just been through all this as DS is year 6 and also in Hammersmith & Fulham area.

I agree with kensingtonia, art aptitude at Holland Park might be worth a shot for you, they have quite a few places.

The schools you mention are all the ones we applied to (they're the only options really!) except we also put down Holland Park and didn't select Phoenix.

If I could time travel back a year, I think I would move house and move DS' school to be in catchment for Holland Park. It would have been a massive upheaval, especially as you also need to be enrolled in a Kensington primary to fit the criteria, but it is the only one of the 6 preferences that I would actually be happy with. I am renting, so that was more of a possibility.

We have also gone for bursary places at various independents.

mimbleandlittlemy · 07/02/2012 15:52

I feel your pain, threaderick but do go and look round Chiswick Community School (or Chiswick School as it will soon be) and don't rule it out totally. Becomes an academy on 1st March, new head is really impressive and says he's not going anywhere, he has huge drive and motivation and wants to make it an outstanding school and the results are improving all the time. Last Ofsted was some time ago too and it has changed since that, and for the better. I was quite surprised when I went round and it will definitely be our first choice cometh the day, cometh the hour - ds liked it too. Lots of friends with children there and they are mostly really pleased - of course there's some gripes but I listen to other friends on the subject of some of the local West London private schools and it's not always rosy on the Dark Side Wink

Where we're going to put as 2nd - 5th choice is in the lap of the gods mind you. Would rather eat own foot than send ds to WLFS which seems to be just a self-pleasuring vehicle for Gove and Young. Deep sigh.

kensingtonia · 07/02/2012 15:29

A lot of people in my area (North Ken) would be grateful to have the chance of two new schools to choose from! The non religious here only have Holland Park and the catchment area for that shrunk to a few hundred yards for some of the bands last year. What about the Art Aptitude route at Holland Park - that doesn't depend on where you live. The Tiffin Girls' entrance exam is likely to change this year to include English and maths. What about Fulham Cross or Hurlingham and Chelsea? For what it is worth I know some people with kids at Chiswick Community and they have no problem with it. Depending on where you live, some of the church schools (Lady Margaret) take non religious as well. I think Chelsea Academy take some on musical aptitude as do St Marylebone. Greycoats take on language aptitude. There are other options to consider!

sue52 · 07/02/2012 15:02

What about Ealing? The secondaries there do very well.

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