RICHMOND - Richmond Park Academy

That all sounds good - do let us know how she gets on with things - my daughter is in year 5 and the general news I've heard (both here and through people I know with children at RPA) has been positive.

Just to say that my daughter has had such a wonderful first week! I haven't seen her this happy in a while. RPA were very much expecting her and had a timetable and a buddy waiting for her when she arrived on day one! Academically I can't pass judgement just yet but she has enjoyed all of her lessons so far. I think she is a little bit like a new toy at the moment but I am hoping the friendliness continues!

Well, they are sending Latin homework to us for dd to do over half term and bring in with her on her first day!!!! I just knew I was going to like this school!! hahahahaha (She is not so impressed!) So not what I was expecting!

Hahahaha...Thanks for that loulou63. Am also estate fodder!!! It is a friendly, safe environment that I am looking for most...the parents here seem to tick that box so I'm sure the kids will too!

By no means loulou63 are you letting any side down! You are championing excellence and challenging perceptions of narrow minded stereotyping...well done, and every success to your very bright daughter.

Hey, there's always one, isn't there! My daughter is in Year 10 being challenged, stretched and inspired by a brilliant teaching staff and on target to achieve excellent grades in 10+ GCSEs (fingers only slightly crossed!). I know many parents from a range of year groups, sets and social backgrounds. I work in a local primary so get regular updates on ex pupils progress at RPA and not one child or parent has expressed that they're any less than thrilled with the school. Lesley Kirby is a legend - Fact!!
P.S I live on the local estate, don't have 2 heads, an ASBO, wouldn't harm a fly and never, ever say 'innit' - am I letting the side down?!

They assess frequently - so there would be scope to move if DD was in the wrong set

I'm glad to read your responses! This could be the single most important decision I ever make!! Can any of you tell me anything about the streaming as I have never experienced it before. Is there room to move about if you progress or are finding it too advanced? I'm not sure if I agree that the CAT's are a good indicator or not. I look at some of the NV reasoning and see hieroglyphics, yet I wouldn't consider myself a dummy!

I agree JWhizz - my children are very happy at RPA. Didn't see Kewmommy's remarks so can't comment. My kids are certainly being stretched by some brilliant teaching.

Phew! That sounds more like what I've heard

There are always a few unhappy ones in any community, and I really hope that Kewmummy has taken up her dissatisfaction with the school and gets the support she needs.

Kewmommy's comments have greatly saddened me especially at this crucial time when other parents are considering school choices. To any other prospective parents I'd like to say... I am a very happy parent at RPA and cannot begin to praise this school and the staff enough. I know many other parents who are just as happy with the hard efforts of all the staff and the children at RPA. I know my child is extremely happy and very well looked after on all levels. Mrs Kirby is an amazing head, she is warm and approachable, with a fabulous team around her. I cannot believe Kewmommy would have failed to address such concerns in the appropriate manner, and has chosen instead to air them on a public forum?
I am a parent who is passionate about our local school of choice. In fact I would like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to the RPA team for all their ambition and hard work. I'd like to congratulate RPA on its overwhelming success with their latest GCSE results, and for continuing to perform at such high standards during the building work which is beginning to look very smart. The teachers are what drew me to this school and they have proven to be inspirational to my child, and instrumental in my child's phenomenal success.

If anyone has been concerned by the long post above from I suggest you also look at this thread on the local Richmond website - several RPA parents have been posting there too.

local.mumsnet.com/Talk/local_richmond_upon_thames/1867675-RPA-or-Christs

I do not recognise the school you are describing and do not believe this account. (DD in Y8) Why would you post on here so freely and not take all this up with the school?

Just to pick up on a couple of points -

Humanities is a huge strength for the school for example and the male history teacher is fantastic and produces excellent results from a standard comprehensive intake.

The school do not sell most of the uniform - only a few branded items, and the winter coat is warm, durable and good value. Is it such a bad thing that the school has high standards and checks up on them each morning? Kids have more respect for teachers if the rules are reinforced rather than loosely applied. Perhaps your DD hasn't liked being reminded of the uniform rules but I think I speak for most parents when I say that it is no bad thing for our kids to learn how to follow the rules. It is a good lesson for life but also helps to make for a better school for all students.

And the headteacher is there for everyone to see/meet. I have never known one to be so open. Much more so than you would get in most schools.

Anniesw...I need you to help me work out the above post!!! It really does sound like kewmommy is talking about a different school to the rest of the thread. Surely if you feel so strongly about the things you have mentioned you would have had meetings with the school??? What an awful experience for your DD. I would have been down there like a shot...The response to contact I have had so far has been amazingly quick...I'm talking replies at 7.39 in the morning!! Latin was definately an option according to the HT, and today at home time the kids I saw leaving were calm and happy! I do know the saying "You can't polish a turd!" But I have really got the impression RPA has turned itself around. The school you are describing is the Shene of the past....supposedly! Now I'm sweating....

Gosh!

That sounds like a different school to the one several of my friends have described :-0

wow = how people get things WRONG
My son just started there and its fab - he loves it and the teachers are wonderful - met the year head once and he remembered my name and was able to talk fluently and knowledgeably about my son! The OFSTED report was GOOD not "just satisfactory" as one person said.
The headteacher is great and caring - please don't believe those who say its a poor school - its not

Thank you...she is bricking it somewhat, but very excited...I feel like I'm in the movie Sliding Doors!!!!

Hi One4 - I will certainly pass that message on to my DD. I am sure there will be many friendly faces

OK...so we have been to see RPA and DD really liked the look of it and has decided she wants to take the plunge and join after half term! It's heartbreaking to see her so unhappy at her current school when all she wants to do is get the most out of her education with a good bunch of friends. If any of you have Y8 kids at the school, please ask them to be a friendly face to any newbies starting after half term! ;)

sorryI'mlate we may have dds at the same primary

I have several friends who looked at Christ's and RPA, and others, and the ones who like Christs also like RPA and vice versa.

I so agree about the faith of the community getting behind a school. The RPA Head is a bit marmite-like, people love her or really don't, but I think at Secondary I'd go on what she's done and what she's likely to do next, rather than personality.

We've still got time (Y5) and are looking at some indies as well as state, but in terms of state options - for us, it probably boils down to RPA. So I'm watching this space and keeping my fingers crossed.

The best thing to do is do your own thorough research on this school, which will lead you to decide whether it is right for your child. Anecdotal evidence is sometimes partial and not always helpful. Have a look at www.how-to-choose-a-school.org. It attempts to be impartial, and will guide you through to make the right decision, I think.

Not sure that you can really judge effectively based on the OE, better on the daytime visits. One of the advantages of RPA is that they have massive amount of funding to improve their situation, not just the new build, but lots of free after school activities. If you live in Sheen/Mortlake then realistically you have a choice of Christ's or RPA, as Orleans is impossible. Grey Court a possibility, but much less so than in previous years. If you get GC - a better bet, but between Christ's and RPA not much to choose, so proximity would be the factor I would go on.

Hi. I've been trying to gauge local thoughts on RPA, Christs, etc via MN and have been to 3 open evenings so far (RPA, Waldegrave, Grey Court) with Christ's tonight. I have a yr6 dd at a local primary and am now soul searching on the whole secondary thing. I also did a Tuesday head tour at RPA. I have to say I wasn't blown away by the RPA head, she doesn't come across well at times but she has obviously done a great job and built a good team around her. At the open evening I was very impressed by the teachers I spoke to. They were so full of enthusiasm and absolute belief in the school. I thought the head of governors was excellent and also the head of the new sixth form. I was also very impressed by the 3 different pupil ambassadors that showed us around. This included the deputy head boy who was fabulous! It is still difficult to know what to do because it still feels like a leap of faith. We can't really see what we'll be getting with the building work on going. What was a shame is a real lack of insight into the school that you get from looking at the class room walls which were pretty blank (I suppose understandable with the building works) but this was really emphasised after visiting Grey Court yesterday. I really liked this school but with its new ofsted outstanding and it's great results I think this year we'll be outdistanced. A teacher we spoke to anticipated a lot of children applying from Kingston. Waldegrave I also think we're outdistanced for but I liked the head. I'm still not sure an all girls school is right for my DD. I do know some parents with kids at christs and seem very happy. I don't know anything about the new head, who was the deputy. I went to christs open evening last year and was not particularly enamoured of the previous head but quite liked that the school was smaller. It did appear to lack the ambition I've seen at all the other schools. Both RPA and Christs are walking distance for us and tbh I don't believe we will have much choice in reality. We didn't with primary schools as it was such a bulge year and we ended up at a primary that had, like RPA, a poor rep but has turned around completely with a new head and new build. We love that school now and wonder whether we'd have the same kind of luck with RPA. It needs the faith of the local community to make it happen. I'm looking forward to comparing RPA and christs after this evening and hearing what the new head has to say.