My son did incredibly well in his CAT scores (average of 131) so we decided to look at Kings in Wimbledon given its incredible reputation.
We were so disappointed in the school on the tour that we actually left before the Deputy Head could speak. Our overall impression was that:
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There were no displays/artwork/celebrations of the kids in the corridors. As a result the school felt like a functional building not a celebration of the individuals, almost factory like.
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The Design Technology Lab resembled that of an underfunded 1970s comprehensive. Engineering and technology are the future, to deny this just seems ignorant. It feels like they are creating children for the finance jobs of today which will not be the roles of the future.
3)An almost claustrophobic air in the classrooms up to GCSE, kids tightly bunched in with no space between desks which were arranged haphazardly. It would not be working environment an adult would thrive in, so I am not sure a child would.
Overall, it had an aggressive feel about the place which I was so surprised about. The sixth form centre, with its low ceilings and lack of space, was the worst. The bell went and shutters went down on the cafe loudly, straight away, as though the staff had had enough and were done. This is at odds with other schools which are creating open coffee shops all day to allow for kids to collaborate together in a positive environment.
I put emphasis on academic achievement, but I was shocked at how negatively I felt about the school. From my son's prep school I know other parents are feeling the same way as me. I am wondering if Kings will be a bit like Blockbuster the video store, riding high until one day because it fails to keep pace with the times, will just lose its shine completely?
What do you think?