Bolder Academy

My daughter's in year 8 and has been going at Bolder for quite a while now. Initially, we weren't happy with the school as we were hoping for one of the Twyford schools. The first term there was horrible for her. She hated it and had no friends whatsoever. After the first term she found that it wasn't all that bad. The facilities (as it is a new school) were great although it would be nice if the lunch hall wasn't as crowded. It's a lot for your kid to change from primary to secondry but to be honest unless you got to a selective(C of E or Catholic/grammer e.c.t) school the behaviour only goes so well. If you have a good kid even if they are shy it will work out. However if you have a kid that tends to talk a lot or get bad grades they won't help the kid. If the kid has okay grades and is relatively mature this school is great as it has a lot of opportunities and great trips and rewards. ( no child is bad in any way it's just I only reccomend this school for kids that are VERY VERY mature although I know it is the school's job to help your child Bolder won't-they have enough of bad behaved kids) The pastoral team is brilliant although the school lacks in teachers for CS and DT. Hopefully they get some soon. The PE department is brilliant and so is the music teacher( he's very honest but is strict and stressed as there aren't enough teachers as both quit last year leaving only one left) and the humanities department are incredible. The reception are mean and rude but not everything's perfect is it? I think this school is okay but I'd recommend your child attends with friends that you think are good influences. ITS TOO EASY TO GET SWAYED INTO THE WRONG CROWD. It's easy to pick up bad habits and meet bad people but it's generally important they have their priorities straight (the kids). Bullying happens and it isn't the nicest but personally my child needed to toughen up to stand for herself. it's been a roller coaster for her but it's secondry. My son isn't as mature as my daughter so he's going somewhere else but I would reccommend this school for already mature and strong individuals.

I hear you. It really is the worst! The teachers don’t seem to care either and now classes finish early on Wednesdays as well and Fridays! The kids literally learn nothing

i go to bolder. i got my arm broken and bullied everyday. kids would jump on me.
the school has failed to protect me even with all that power. i will be hopefully going to green school. DONT GO TO BOLDER

i go to bolder and got my arm broken. food is alright but im hoping to change schools. dont send your kids to bolder, as its a terrible terrible school.

saying this because i go there

An example of a £2 “chicken burger” Just a horrendous piece of fried battery chicken in a cheap bread bun with no salad, sauces or condiments!

Just one example of the extremely poor quality food at Bolder Academy. ZERO vegetables and disgustingly terrible quality food.

My 2 kids are at Bolder. The only complaint I hear from them is that teachers are too strict (not a bad thing in my books). All other local secondaries are either faith or single sex, which we didn't want. We are happy with our choice.
Both made really good friends at school, and my previously very shy daughter has gained a lot of confidence.

@AuditAngel Has your godson managed to change the school or still continuing with bolder? And any idea how is Lampton Academy?

My godson attends this school, his mother wishes he was anywhere else

Ealing Fields is much, much better for many reasons. I would not recommend Bolder at all

Hi

We got an offer for my son from Bolder academy for 2023 year 7. Could anyone please suggest me is this a really good school to go with?

And we did stop at nothing to get them punished which they were!
And I posted on mumsnet, which isn’t social media by the way, it’s a forum to share information and advice with other parents. You should probably know this, especially if you’re giving your unwanted opinion again

Yes we did do all that, obviously but thanks for the concern 🤦🏽‍♀️Contacted the police, senior management, the school governors etc etc etc.

No need to keep replying, you seem rather angry.

Jokes aside, if what you described happened to my child, I would have stopped at nothing to get the perpetrators punished. That is, of course, if the other party was the only one who was guilty. There are plenty of options, including senior management, police, board of governors, local authority etc . That would have been more productive than going on social media and branding potentially hundreds of children "criminals" as you did in your post on another thread.
Hope you got the outcome you wanted

Happy to be of service :)

Not a teacher or staff. Just a parent. Your experience is totally different from mine. The comment about facilities made me laugh

Ok 👍🏼😂that was NOT our experience.

I assume this is one of the teachers/staff replying. Good work there

I am really surprised you have such experience @nattyb60 The school has a dedicated email address where both parents and children can report their concerns. I only had to do it once, and received phone calls from pastoral, senior leadership team and an email from the head promising to sort out the issue. The problem was dealt with immediately and never happened again. Low level disruption as well as more serious incidents are dealt with swiftly in my experience, even if it happens outside school (chat groups, social media etc). My emails are usually answered the same day.
As to the substandard facilities... - I wonder if you have you ever visited the school? This is just laughable... How many schools have their own gym, superb drama studio, a climbing wall, several playing pitches, music room with plenty of instruments and even their own radio station?
Catering is good and inexpensive, yes there is no fruit or veg but the menu is quite varied. Packed lunch is always an option too if you wanted your child to have fruit and veg.
The school regularly tests children's progress against national benchmark, and parents are sent detailed reports. I can't comment on the amount of homework since I have no experience with other schools, but it seems right given their school day is longer than usual.
The only complaint I heard from my child is that teachers are too strict, which in my books is a good thing.

I’d also like to state my son will be leaving soon as he was threatened with being killed by other students on Snapchat. They sent awful photos and said they knew where he lived (we had to call the police)
The school did nothing but try to cover their own backs. They are truly a headline waiting to happen.
For your childrens safety do not send them to Bolder.

Hello,
The school is consistently bad at communication, never calling back when there have been problems. They never answer the phone, ever.
During the 7 week (yes you read that right!) summer holiday he didn’t receive any homework at all and the homework they do get during term time is sparse and unsuitable to the curriculum. There is no duty of care either and the teachers just don’t seem to care much. The facilities are sub standard and the food on offer at lunch is terrible (no fresh veg or fruit)
We are hoping for a swop to Ealing Fields School after half-term.

Hi, I've also been looking at this school. Can you give a more detailed opinion of bolder academy if possible please. What are the reasons you shouldn't send your child? Are there any good aspects?

It is an awful school- do not bother!

I’ve had notification from Mumsnet that my comments were factually incorrect. I should not have relied on tittle tattle and second hand information from the grapevine. My apologies

Hi, We have had an equally difficult decision to make between Bolder and Chiswick. We've had a week of sleepless nights. In the end we decided on Bolder, it seems like a really exiting opportunity to be part of something new. Chiswick is still a great option though.

I have a friend who is a primary school teacher and put it as first choice for her daughter, having done as much research as she could into the new head etc. Not sure that is of much help but it is positive at least. It is greatly needed in Isleworth which has only single sex faith secondary schools at the moment.