Holland Park school. Any updates?

Thanks @Dodgeitornot - yes you could well be right. The head inherited much of the old leadership team I think. I have one DC there already and one due to start in September. Will have to get on case and find an alternative asap

@Balcony66 Oh I'm so sorry. Maybe the SLT does need to change. If they're not letting the Head make choices than it'll be the same again and again. That's really unfortunate.

Here is one hell of an update. Us parents unfortunate enough to have DC there have just got email announcing that the new head is leaving in May! He’s only been head since September! The instability is a huge worry as we thought school was improving under him. No idea why he is going….

Wonderful @Dumbphone - you can’t get any better than Twyford. A vibrant environment when we looked round - cf. Holland Park so bland and joy less.

I had professional dealings with HP school last school year and was absolutely horrified. There are serious behaviour management issues there, and no cooperation with other agencies (police and children's social care) to resolve this. There have been incidents in the local press - just google and see the sort of things these children are doing with teachers just looking on. The school was defensive during an investigation where they were partially at fault, and it was the worst case of 'shutting up shop' I've come across working with schools across London for my entire career. Though we live reasonably locally I didn't put it down for my son who starts yr 7 in September. I did visit with my mum who loved the building, and the children who showed us around were absolutely lovely. I also know a child there who is achieving well because she is incredibly bright but she has a number of teachers per subject which is a disadvantage. There is no art on the walls, no feeling of children actually being in the building, it's like a corporate box. I wish all well on this thread with children there, but I'd choose anywhere but for my child personally.

@Hereipop we went for Twyford, which feels really well run, with a strong academic history and great results, the children's work covers the walls, there is outdoor space, a general reputation for kindness, and good SEN provision. The buildings look like children use them, e.g. there are scuffs on the walls, but overall a lovely atmosphere and no rumblings of disorder/authoritarianism which HP had suffered for many years before the fallout.

That's really lovely to hear. Mine stayed in the private sector but I always imagine what it might have been like in an alternative reality!

Yes. My son is one of them. In year 9 at HP and thriving with wonderful and kind friends by his side.
We had a meeting with all of his teachers for his GCSE options and they were all well prepared, informative and kind. We were positive surprised after those meetings but - as our son is very happy there - never considered moving him.
His friends at Fulham Boys on the other hand live in fear of forgetting their pen (or doing any minor mistake) and getting Saturday detention. Not an option at all. All based on fear and squeezed into the tiniest of classrooms.

So yes, if anyone considered Holland Park we can highly recommend it, Parsons is a good choice and the head of the year (for year 9) is great too.

WLFS and even Latymer are worth a try for high achieving children for those looking for state options.
I understand why HPS still appeals to some parents. The site is impressive, there are fee savings to be made and yours may just be the type of student who thrives and achieves highly there (there always are a few in every school).

Hi OP. I wouldn’t opt for HP if I were you. Why would you? You haven’t given any info as to why you like it? Don’t choose it as an easy option (HP will offer places to all and sundry now as students and parents voted with their feet!).

So many other choices. Teacher turnover enormously high at HP even for London. Where else you looking at? I live in RBKC and have one child at HP (won’t leave as has good friends despite us urging switch) but my 2nd and step child gone elsewhere even though could have got in under sibling policy.

Very struck by PP saying that SLT is still full of people who endorsed the discredited head. That’s a red flag to me.

Interested to see this thread pop up as we are thinking about Holland Park. Having read this and the Ofsted, it’s just too much of a gamble. Also not good that senior leadership team from previous regime still in situ. Why on earth! Where else are parents on this thread considering? For our DS, we thinking West London Free, Fulham Boys? For younger DD, Lady Margaret’s looks great as does Greycoats. Have heard mixed reports about Chelsea Academy. Kensington Aldridge fabulous but too awkward a commute for us (as is Twyford which would be our dream school)!

Seriously, are there no other options for your DC than this school? I would never send mine to an inadequate school! For sure, there is a new head but he will take time to bring about change - particularly as he has inherited some SLT who were PERFECTLY HAPPY to work in the oh-so-toxic environment created by the extortionately paid former head Mr Hall and his deputy. They knew EXACTLY what was going on and never called it out yet they remain on the SLT which is incomprehensible to me and does not bode well.

@malfrale congratulations, I hope your child will love it there! Please keep us informed on how it’s going. We will apply this coming October, seriously considering HP!

@MumA123 you had mentioned that your child would be joining. How is it going? Can you please let us know a little bit? Thanks!

I agree. There is every type of school imaginable available so why take such a big gamble? I know a headteacher (or two!) who would be really successful as a spin doctor so I am not surprised.

@Plitvice yeah it’s such a shame. From what we heard from YP in the area though, the school was never really a hero in recent years - just had a head (now left) who was a whizz at marketing and manipulation 😁. We wouldn’t consider it either at the mo. Why would you when there are better options around? My DC aren’t going to be guinea pigs for new owners of the school

I still cannot believe how that school went from hero to sub zero. When DH and I were younger, we always thought we would be sending our future DC there because it ticked all the boxes and some more. Now, we wouldn't ever consider it. By the time we have grandkids, I'm sure it will be world class again!

I wish you all the best OP with Holland Park. You have taken a leap of faith so are braver than us (we applied but turned down place in the end). My friend has a daughter in Y7 - she’s quite enjoying it but they are still keeping an open mind about whether she should do GCSEs there (Key Stage 4) or move at end of year 8 or 9.

@XelaM I don't know the school aside from what was in the press but your daughters friend probably has a behaviour problem not a pastoral care problem. If she's confrontational and a 'cool kid' than she's probably going to be in detention or isolation in most schools. The mum should probably get her daughter some outside help before she's excluded.

So... my daughter's best friend loves the school, but she's a very popular "cool" girl who is super confident and confrontational. Her mum absolutely hates the school and wants to move her elsewhere (by my daughter's friend doesn't want to move because of friends). The mum says the school's pastoral care isn't good and her daughter spends most of her time in either isolation or detention.

I am also a Year 9 parent at Holland Park. One never wants to admit that one made a bad choice for DC and it’s taken me a while to accept it (I was initially an apologist for the school) but I now do so.

Fortunately my DC has just got a place elsewhere (also state school) so will be leaving this July to start GCSEs courses in year 10. Their Y7 was dreadful - the bullying behaviour and blatant favouritism of the head and senior leadership team were frightening and shocking. Teacher turnover was terrible too - DC had three maths teachers in one year alone! Y8 (last year) was even worse - great that the head and SLT were forced out (long overdue and proved by independent investigation) but there was no leadership team in place to pick up the pieces and the school was a mad house. Huge discipline problems.

Also, last year there was a parent group (siding with the disgraced SLT and minimising problems) that made it even worse (referenced in the inadequate Ofsted report - the parents, maybe well-meaning, nevertheless did so much harm!).

This year much better - United Learning academy trust taken over the school and the new head is great and they put in place middle management (Heads of Year etc - as is the norm at schools but not in Holland Park). Pastoral care previously woeful but now better. DC leaving though because bullied by a peer whose mum was active in the dreadful parent’s group and now just wants a fresh start after all the turmoil. Holland Park will be good again but will take a few years

My DD is in year 9 currently

In summary - I have little doubts it’s a great school for her (remember please it’s state sector taking all abilities )

I have lived though the problems the school has been facing. I dislike the fact that the group that have taken control of it are based from far afield and I joined the parent protest group to try to
prevent this.

Despite these reservations my DD likes it there & has no complaints.

I believe it’s greatly above ordinary
To give my perspective some context I am state educated, have only one child and could not afford private.
My child commits to the ethos of working hard to achieve good results - but I am no helicopter parent pushing her to over achieve - I let her pace drive her own commitment ( gentle enrouagwnt were needed ).

I looked around other schools
In West London stretching as far afield as Richmond Park Academy. (An advantage of being a divorced parent is choice of locales for school applications and for us the choices were West London vs South West London)