I'm a parent of year 8 girl, and have no agenda except to share my view on wlfs secondary school. I was so stressed when having to apply for schools a few years ago. We looked at usual local options, HA, Chiswick, and WLFS, Holland Pk (long shot), and private. I was looking at mumsnet a lot during this time, reading every single different opinion... very confused.
So here's my view, but each child is different so this may be helpful or not.
DD got offers at private schools (v.reluctant to do that). Art would have been good at Holland Park. But for her, HP would be far too serious, slick and corporate, even if academic grades are good, I don't think it's much fun there as a pupil.
Had concerns about WLFS because it was a risk and unknown, but since she started last year, we are very pleased with it. With all its teething growing pains, she's def in the right school for her, and pleased that my younger, very different and more sporty child will be joining her in a few years. We also really like the Headmaster, and think he has made strong positive changes, as well as being an approachable, likeable man. Can't have been an easy job to go into... and he seems settled and leading in right direction. They set high standards, and communicate well. Only been a few comms issues, but they deal with it. I feel like I'm informed, and can email questions or concerns if needed.
The small buildings was actually an advantage to my year 7 child moving to bigger secondary school. She liked Cambridge grove building, and is now in Pallingswick house. I don't think the buildings have been a problem and next year will be different and better.
WLFS, for all it's faults, is great and we are very pleased she eventually got in (we were on the waiting list for a few months even though we live nearby). My child has made really great new friends, studies hard, and wants to do well. She's doing well academically, and progressed. Teachers seem good, dedicated, and haven't had any mid term changes. There were a few teachers last year who weren't so good, but they didn't last for long thankfully, which is a great sign that the school will manage the teachers. She hasn't got any teachers now that seem to be poor, that's not to say she likes them all. They seem to be stricter in year 8, and she's not keen on that, but her grades are progressing.
She doesn't complain about disruption, any more than her outstanding state primary school. Of course there are some naughty kids, but you could get that anywhere, and they seem to be tougher on discipline now with a new system. This was also discussed at PSA, and parent gov meet. Some parents think its gone too far now (personally it hasn't affected us).
She's not sporty at all, but really enjoys music piano lessons and bands and is more confident with singing out loud. She's has a reserved personality and the small friendly school suits her.
We went to watch the Sweeney Todd production. So impressed and incredibly high standard, and it felt like a performing arts school with lots of talented kids, not all music scholars.
Very encouraged with majority of children staying on for new 6th form. They must have looked around other schools, and decided to stay at WLFS. This will also bring in more experienced teachers teaching A levels.
She loves art, and has really taken to classics (including latin). I was worried that there wasn't going to be much Art, and it would be too theoretical art history. However, I see her enjoying and learning about Art history and getting so much out of it. The Art teacher is really great, and looks like Art is going to get stronger. She's also likes the Classics...Completely new to her, and we were very cynical about it before she joined. But now that I see her enjoying the learning, (more the Classics history more than the language).I'm pleased that she likes it. Anyway lots other local schools teach Latin, so don't think much different if she gone elsewhere.
Lots of active and engaged parents at PSA and Parent gov meetings which is a good sign that the school will be challenged and can't get complacent. Good changes that seemed well thought out, and considered... although perhaps a bit different to usual convention, which is fine if it makes sense. One of reason why I liked WLFS, is because I thought our state primary (even though outstanding), was too relaxed with stretching bright kids, and not encouraging them to aspire higher. So I don't mind if WLFS changes the system... about time to shake things up, and offer alternatives.
I would recommend it, but obviously it depends on child and what parent wants. I think it is under such scrutiny and certainly is not popular with everyone. They do try to improve things, and therefore have to make changes and do things a bit differently.
Hope this helps someone out there, but it's just my personal view. I'm sure there are many other different perspectives on WLFS.