Portland Place School

Sorry, I missed this. Dd ended up going back to her mainstream academy. Another independent school in the area would not accept her.

Her mainstream was actually great at supporting her, but it was very very difficult and she still is not very well. I was surprised by the support they gave her and they really invested in her without and EHCP, which has actually only just been finalised. She is off to another state sixth form. We can only hope she goes well.

have you thought about an EHCP to get the reasonable adjustments you child may need?

My son went to PP for 4 years & was very happy there. It’s a nurturing environment where they encourage individual creatively & allow children to develop their personality. Education has changed drastically over the years & from my point of view, individuality is key. Mr Bradbury is a compassionate & forward thinking headteacher. Got for it!

@imip - did you find anywhere or end up at PP? Our 12 year old DS was just diagnosed ASD and is really struggling in his massive, hothouse independent. It is too big, too loud, too bustling. His anxiety is worsening and I am starting to think we might need to move, so was thinking about PP.

Are there any parents out there with children at Portland Place with Autism. My dc have burnt out under the state system with catastrophic results (think suicide attempts/hosp admissions). They are bright and want to learn. The pressure of ‘you must get 9s’ in mainstream just broke them. Is Portland Place the right environment for this child?

@Schoolofrock1 thanks so much for coming back to this thread. It's great hearing from people who's children actually go there. We've accepted a place for my
dd for year 7. She really liked it which is always a good sign.

I have a couple of children at Portland Place. They have never been happier. The teachers are excellent (enthusiastic and inspiring, plus they seem to really care about their students) and the pastoral care is superb. Sport is taken very seriously and there is a seemingly never-ending list of enrichment activities and trips. We looked at, and were offered, other schools, but are SO glad that we chose Portland Place!

@hibbledibble no probs. I know things can be misconstrued in text. My daughter would get a place at an outstanding secondary school but it's so big I worry she'd get lost. Their Sen dept is already stretched. Portland place gives me small classes. And extra senco support that she really needs

@MP2021 my ds is at king alfred. He is dyspraxia, duscalculia, dysgraphia and adhd. He absolutely loved it and their Sen support is brilliant

@hibbledibble I don't really care about results; my child will probably become a zookeeper, baker or an acrobat and as I understand, Portland Place doesn't have a 6th form anymore any way.

@Stuffragette I like Maida Vale School but the location is not ideal. We can stay at our current prep school until Y8 and try to get in to Fine Arts, or... wish for a miracle. We'll see. Friends who are in the same boat like King Alfred or Forest School.

Sorry for any offence caused, my point was that the school has a poor academic record, and that often children would be better at their local comprehensive. I don't see what the parents who spend fortunes on their children's education there, for them to leave with zero/ poor qualifications (not a single A-level is some cases), achieved.

Where have you looked @MP2021? I've tried every school I can think of in London! Her state school option is a really good one but it's so big I worry she'll get lost and not have enough support. I hate this school business sooooooo much

@Stuffragette I’m in your club. Some people really need to think before they type. Schools like Portland Place exist for a reason and there aren’t enough of them.

@hibbledibble my dd is 'nice but dim' as you put it. Trying to find a school in London for her on the London selective school circuit is impossible. So don't forget some of us need schools for the dim. And they're v hard to find.

Change is not always improvement. I’d rather have older teachers with proven strategies, formal manners, and constant emphasis on SPAG. But I’m a strict traditionalist who strongly believes in high standards and good pastoral care.

The behaviour involved alcohol, drugs, and underage sexual activity.

The Good Schools Guide mentions that the first thing the new (current) head did was to expel two pupils for drug-related activity. I find that quite a surprising thing to feature, given that the GSG is usually unrelentingly positive and I can only assume it’s to reassure prospective parents that the school has turned a corner. If you do a search for the school on mumsnet you’ll find references to poor student behaviour although no specifics. Perhaps there might be more intel on a local forum?

@hibbledibble please will elaborate on the "shocking behaviour" at school and on trips.

I like the school, headmaster and their ethos and my child attended their assesment day there yesterday. However, I don't know anyone that actually goes to the school so am interested to find out more.

Portland place has a reputation for being a school for nice but dim pupils. I know many who went there, who did very poorly academically, but generally had a good time. Their academic results are quite likely worse than your local comprehensive's.

An issue of the school is that it is very permissive, which has led to some shocking behaviour on the school site and on school trips.

Sorry. I thought this was a discussion forum, not an echo chamber.

@ghislaine - I query a few of your points. Firstly, your desire for older teachers. Yes, they may have more experience but a school with younger teachers is at a great advantage. They are so much more adaptable to technological and pedagogical developments than many (but not all) staff nearing the end of their careers and have had so much more recent and research-driven training on the diverse needs of children whether with SEND or not. Secondly, circumstance and a desire for a more diverse teaching career (or a multiplicity of other reasons) does not mean that teachers from state schools moving to the private sector are “refugees” - a displaced person forced to move or who is unable to return. Would that term be applied to civil servants moving to the corporate world - this is perhaps rather demeaning. Finally, and maybe my strongest feeling is that teachers, who are educating our children for today (and tomorrow’s) world, should (arguably must) be alert and tackling racism and discrimination in all its forms - which is the definition of WOKE rather than the meaning which some have decided to take to have a negative association.
To end - choosing a school for your child is a very personal and individual selection, as every child is different. Some schools you may love; some schools you may dislike: there is no benefit in preaching your very personal and individual opinions where others will read, and potentially question their own decisions for their child who they know infinitely better.

I looked into both of those schools but in reality the commute is too far from us so I didn't pursue things further.

Thank you @ghislaine - very interesting insights.
Did you look at Maida Vale?

@ghislaine , you should look at Ewell Castle in Ewell, it has a good head who will engage with you.

You guessed right, south of the river is a bit far for us and the schools we applied at are all around North London.

Roll on 11th Feb (that's when most of our chosen schools send out offers) so I can be put out of my misery!!!