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Original poster

Does anyone know what's going on at Acland Burghley School?

29 replies

frogs · 04/02/2014 18:07

I know they had an unfavourable Ofsted inspection, which didn't really take into account that they were inspecting the school in the first few days of the school year, which seems a bit daft.

All the parents seemed to be very supportive of the school, and felt the report was unfair, but now the headteacher has resigned.

What on earth is going on? This is one of our local secondaries, and we have a child in the upper stages of primary, so it's very unsettling. Does anyone have any insight?

OP posts:
Snoopyone · 06/03/2014 22:25

It's a bit worrying, but I'd wait and see whether they manage to get things back on track. My DS has been there for a year and a half and he seems so happy and sorted and has really whizzed along in his studies since he got there. I also have a child at the upper stages of primary and feel confident that it'll be a good school for him too. I'm not sure the school is very polished or sells itself that well - they're not the best communicators - but I've always found all the staff - from the head down - to be lovely, and really committed to the students and the teaching. A big fan here.

PaperMover · 07/02/2014 18:55

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Original poster
frogs · 06/02/2014 08:45

Haha, yes it was me who liked the architecture, I do like a nice piece of brutalism. Smile But even I can see that choosing your child's secondary school according to its architectural merits is a bit shallow. Blush But combined with the whole no-uniform vibe I do find it very appealing.

I was reasonably impressed by Jo Armitage based on open day speeches etc, I thought she came across well, and had previously taken the school from 'satisfactory' to 'good'. So the whole sequence of events and her resignation somehow doesn't quite add up. Otoh I have heard mutterings that staff have been less happy than parents with the management, though no idea how true that is.

But the academy conversion I think was CNJ scaremongering - Camden education dept are quite a successful act overall, so I can't see that there's any real grounds for forced conversion. AB certainly doesn't look like a Downhills scenario. Hope not, anyway.

Anyone with any more insider info?

OP posts:
PaperMover · 05/02/2014 20:43

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