Shocking! Holland Park school art aptitude result

Holland Park School is a terrible choice. I know - my kids have been there for 5 years plus. The former head, Colin Hall, conned Ofsted (by destroying critical staff questionnaires). He and deputy David Chappell presided over a culture of both bullying (of teachers and students) and favouritism (teachers with diddly squat experience being put on SLT; rules being bent to allow Gove’s son, W - living way outside catchment area - in under special pleading (as CH acknowledged to fellow favourite middle-class parents). I am delighted that the school has - finally - been called out and they are disciplining SLT. Hopefully the new MAT it will join will sort it out - the school needs drastic intervention

It’s like stepping into a parallel universe reading this thread.

A number of posters on this forum have had very negative experiences with this school, including me. Please do not disregard this. This appears to be ongoing and I think it is likely that it will take some years of disruption before it starts to improve.

The school is not something special or better than other schools. It was the vanity project of a sociopath (in my opinion) who manipulated many others including RBKC into buying into his very expensive ideas. £280k for a Head teacher - really? Company cars? Flowers, candles all that rubbish is only part of it. Every single thing: book, pencil, chair, paper, pen, paperclip was thrown away before the new building opened. An absolutely shocking waste. A teacher gave brand new books to my DC and their friends as they were about to be binned.

Please read the recent report and thing about all the stories behind it and consider the suffering of those brave enough to tell their stories. This is not just students but former staff also. For each one told there are dozens, perhaps worse, which have not been articulated. The school lied to and manipulated Ofsted for FFS. I know for a fact of cheating by a teacher/students in a GCSE exam.

My DC was one of the former pupils who complained and asked for an inquiry. The behaviour of staff was appallingly aggressive and bullying. Many of the SLT are still at the school.

My DC developed panic attacks and was referred to CAHMS by our GP who also referred a number of other students at the school. The pastoral care was non existent, all the school cared about was image and nurturing a small group of the chosen (mainly white, middle class, those of rich or famous parents).My DC is/was a polite, caring child, with kind and supportive friends, which is what saved her in the end. Other children were not so lucky. One actually attempted suicide at school.

My DC was an art aptitude student (although they would have got in anyway).

The art intake she was part of were selected on potential alone. It is quite disturbing to see that people are now taking classes and so on to prepare and of course the families who can't afford classes are left behind as usual.

By the way, art aptitude conferred no particular benefit once in the school. There were a few extra sessions mainly to facilitate ridiculous exhibitions with the art teacher telling them exactly what to make and how to do it and the school would try and flog the products to parents and guests at exhibitions - that was it.

In fact, I think it had a negative effect on my DC. She only really enjoyed school art at Sixth Form in another school and did an arts related degree and is now working in an artistic field. Her enjoyment of art and confidence were shattered by HP.

surely if there is adverse information regarding the school you intend for your child, you would want to know?
why are you closing your eyes to this?
how will that help your child.
head in the sand is not a good policy.
even if you disagree/ know more, why be so dismissive to posters trying to alert you to the issue.
i don't understand your attitude, EvaIN.

I think if you want to be shown "courtesy and respect", then you have to offer courtesy and respect. I see no evidence of that here.

I’m aware of all these events, but thanks for taking the time to spell them out.

And no, the tone was not right.

If you think someone typing "seriously???" has the wrong "tone", and isn't giving you the appropriate courtesy and respect, you are going to be severely disappointed by how things are at Holland Park. You must have seen that it's been confirmed (although we already all knew) that it's been seething under a culture of bullying, racism, Islamophobia, favouritism, and a lot else, all perpetrated by the leadership team, The right "tone" at Holland Park was usually an adult in authority screaming abuse at full volume to a child. The old head, Colin Hall, may now have gone, so there's a chance it has to turn around and become a half-decent school, but they are a VERY long way away from that, yet.

But if you don't want information about the school you appear to be planning to send your child to you, more fool you. (Was that the right tone? I can never tell.)

Thanks, that’s very helpful! We are not working with the arts but my daughter did a drawing course with Mini Picassos. We’ll need to take it forward from here, as you say encourage her to practise often.

Sorry but I don’t appreciate the tone of your message. Please write with courtesy and respect.

Sorry but I don’t appreciate the tone of your message. Please write with courtesy and respect.

Holland Park school should be closed and investigated fully. No child of mine would be sent to such a toxic environment.

Seriously???
Have you no idea what has been going on at Holland Park?

Hi Jasmine, congratulations on your son receiving an offer for Holland Park! My daughter is looking to apply as well and I was wondering if you have any tips for the drawing exam and preparation?

Do you have an alternative school locally which you would send your child to jobseeker?

I wouldn't be sending my child there after everything that has come out especially with the new academy its joining.

Congratulations to your ds @Jasmin2021!!!!

Does anyone knows if there are movement on the Art Aptitude waiting list?

...you are aware of the state the school is in at the moment? The very serious allegations of bullying and abuse of both teachers and children by the leadership team (including Mr. Chappell)? The fact that the head Mr Hall has had to say he will resign retire? I am not surprised that their admissions are currently a mess.

To “pass” the first stage of the art entry, your child needs to score higher than 20 out of a possible 40 marks. Typically around 10% of the children who sit the art exam get a letter telling them that they have got through this stage.

The school never sends out your rank within the possible 24 places available, but when you get your offer letter for secondary schools, if they are in the top 24 and you have put Holland Park on your list, then you will get an offer.

The art places are independent of which band they are placed in.

Hope that helps!

Interesting. From observing past years, the rankings have not been transparent at all. But there also seems to be quite a bit of movement in the art aptitude waiting list, so I wouldn't necessarily write it off if you don't feel confident but really like the school.

@JazzBand - thanks for the reply. I must admit that is what I also thought. But I re-checked the admission criteria as published on the school website and it says there are a total of 240 places in Y7, with 54 in each of the 4 bands. This makes a total of 216, which adds to 240 only when considering the 24 places for the art aptitude...so based on that. it seems art aptitude places are assigned regardless of the banding? I contacted the school of course to ask if they could also share the ranking results but I suspect they will not disclose this info...although I am not sure why they cannot be more transparent on this matter.

My understanding was that it depends on the Banding Test results as well. So if there are 4 Bands, the top 6 scorers in each band will get offers on National Offer Day. Everyone else stays on the waiting list but will get offered places as other people with higher scores within their bands decide to go to other schools.