Farrington school chistlehurst

Although we initially were really happy with our choice, friendship issues meant we eventually withdrew after two years. Farringtons was not a terrible experience for my child but having moved to a more traditional if slightly more expensive independent there is really no comparison and my child is so much happier. I didn’t realise there would be such a difference until we made the move. I wouldn’t not recommend Farringtons but I would say there is much better out there

I write this with a heavy heart. My child was at Farringtons for several years, so this is not a drive-by review. I do not recommend this school. Not one bit. In all that time, my child's ability was never properly recognised. Academically, I found the school far less rigorous than its glossy marketing suggests. My advice, as a parent who gave this school years of our lives: do your child a favour and choose a different one.

While I appreciate your perspective, I must strongly disagree. The account you mention from a decade ago is no longer relevant—if anything, leadership has deteriorated further since then. Our recent experience has been nothing short of a disaster.

I cannot, in good conscience, recommend this school to anyone. Its deplorable practices and severe mismanagement reveal that it fails to embody the very essence of what a private school should be. I hope that more of its shortcomings come to light so that others can steer clear of this failing institution.

Yes, while some may have varying experiences, ours was unequivocally terrible. Who is really prepared to risk their child’s happiness on such a sinking ship?

I have posted on a previous thread too.
I had the privilege of working at this wonderful school for 10 years, working with some amazing littlies and their families.
The staff work tirelessly to support and nurture children. The joy in seeing a shy little child grow and flourish is the best feeling in the world. The children are offered a broad and balanced curriculum, with many additional experiences that help develop well rounded, confident and resilient young people.
Everyone will have different experiences of schools, but l urge you to visit and experience it for yourself. You will know if this is the right school for your child.

Apparently in the letter it said Dulwich

Has that head moved to a prep in SE London? If so poor them!

They’ve limited it now to stop people posting the truth! Bet that’s from the school management, I honestly feel so bad for the staff

Terrible

I can’t access the website…in summary what do the comments say?

Doesn’t look great now, look at the comments on this teachers strike post

https://gbma.org.uk/

It's been just over a year since I withdrew my child from that school, and I'm more than happy to answer any questions you have. My advice—without wanting to alarm you—would be to get your child on the waiting list for nearby prep schools. While there may not be available spots for Reception next year, openings could occur, and you might get fortunate. Consider this: what if your child ends up unhappy, and you can't find another school due to limited availability? We took that risk, and when we needed to leave, we struggled to find places—even in state schools. We ended up staying another year before we could move. Are you ready to take that chance? I just wish someone had given me a heads-up! Also, think about why staff at Farringdon choose to send their own children to Melton Court Prep, even with staff remission fees. Feel free to message me if you'd like to chat; I have insights on other private schools in the area and can share some helpful tips.

We've just registered our child for Reception next year after visiting at the recent Open Day. The school came across quite well and of course the negative reviews on here are disconcerting. Are there any parents of the younger years here who wouldn't mind messaging with me in regards to any questions please? Thank you xx

I am highly disappointed with our experience with Farringtons. Despite applying three times, our child was refused admission without even the courtesy of a meeting or the opportunity to sit the entrance test. They claim to have available spaces but still wouldn't consider our child, which seems both unfair and unprofessional.

Moreover, they contacted our child’s current school without our permission. The staff we interacted with were dismissive and rude, which was very discouraging.
Farrington's claims to be an unselective school, but it’s clear that they do not accommodate children with dyslexia, contradicting their inclusivity claims.

Additionally, their academic performance lags compared to other independent schools in the area, making their selective stance even more baffling.

Overall, our experience with Farrington's was unsatisfactory. I would advise other parents to consider other schools that genuinely prioritise both inclusivity and academic excellence. After reading this thread it seems like their are a lot unhappy parents here.

Thank you I will do. I work in education locally and actually do personally know one of the secondary school teachers . I think some
have different opinions but I fully accept your comments . All I can say from a personal perspective is that my child is so happy at school and I suppose at the end of that day that is what I focus on.

@Positivitywins Happy for you to DM me we are one year into seniors and have had nothing but positivity all round . I did reply to your original post but can’t find my old log in . It seems most of the negatives are around the prep school which I have no experience of so not to belittle anyone’s experience but the children my DS is with that came up from the prep all seem very happy . Only 1 child has left in year 7 that I am aware of and 3 have joined and we are honestly thrilled with our choice