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Original poster

Kingsdale Foundation School

187 replies

WhatILoved · 07/10/2024 14:47

What's so great about this school? I'm navigating choices and have been to visit this one we and others in the area. It is massively over subscribed and people really want their kids to go there. It feels huge. If I'm honest I didn't get a real feeling for it, probably hampered by fact I could only visit in a Saturday whilst other schools I've seen in action during the week. However whenever I ask local parents of older children there if they recommend it I very rarely get outstanding recommendations for it. I've had at worse "don't even think about sending your child there!" And at best " yes my kids have done really well but it's not all that"
I'd love to know therefore why it has waiting lists that go to infinity.

OP posts:
Needmorelego · 07/10/2024 15:07

@Anicecumberlandsausage it's because it's a lottery.
Literally anyone who applies can get in if their name is pulled out the hat (I don't think it's an actual hat).
(unless they are starting the primary school priority thing then things are gonna change)

Original poster
WhatILoved · 07/10/2024 15:05

Yes they claim to take equal amount of kids from each band. As do Harris etc
They have given some local schools a certain number of spaces (40 out of about 450) this year

OP posts:
Original poster
WhatILoved · 07/10/2024 15:03

All I know that is from years of living here (under 2 miles away) the local parent Facebook pages are full of people asking about their waiting list place after offers day. I'd say our other options are good so was curious to know if anyone had any rave reviews. But maybe not!

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northerngoldilocks · 07/10/2024 15:03

Its not an entry test - its a banding test. They do a test to sort kids into 6 (i think) bands and then they offer the places they have available equally over those bands. its not the only school who uses banding tests but might be the only one in the local area. If kids weren't offered places its not based on 'how they did' - just that they didn't get a lottery place within their band.

HarrietBond · 07/10/2024 15:02

It would do a huge amount for their reputation to re-establish some links to their local community. It's been a very sore subject since they changed their admissions.

Anicecumberlandsausage · 07/10/2024 15:01

My perfectly capable DD did the entry test in 2016 and was rejected.

They never told us why.

Luckily we found another school where she thrived. Their loss.

Needmorelego · 07/10/2024 15:01

I believe there are plans to give pupils from some of the nearby primary schools priority places. It will be interesting to see if that makes a difference.

Original poster
WhatILoved · 07/10/2024 14:59

Yes I thought it was so boiling! And it wasn't even that warm outside

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Needmorelego · 07/10/2024 14:57

I live near it.
I found the building very claustrophobic and shabby when I did the tour. The wooden 'pod' thing where the head gave a talk.... urrgh.
I really didn't think it was anything special. I know loads of kids there - and it seems to be that the general view is - "It's ok I suppose...".
I don't understand the fuss personally 🤷
Most of the parents I know who chose it did so simply because it's the nearest school.

northerngoldilocks · 07/10/2024 14:56

Its exactly as the poster above noted - its an outstanding secondary school with no distance criteria - so it is oversubscribed so many more times than other schools locally because everyone has the chance of a place. They also have a weird scholarship system but it seems that it doesn't actually result in a place - more if you get the lottery place you get the scholarship. Not sure if this is for all or if full = a place.

Some people really like it, others don't, but in any event its not somewhere you can really assume you'll get a place at so is a wildcard at best.

Dinnerplease · 07/10/2024 14:56

Exactly the above. They also tempt the kids in with promises of fancy extra curricula activities that in reality few can access (e.g. horseriding). It's notable it's right next to an estate and yet by using the lottery system they can conveniently not take children from that estate.

It's huge as well, 16 form entry I think.

They tout the 'most applied to' label but that's just an artifact of them having no distance criteria really.

We've known a couple of teachers there who were not effusive in praise. Loads of homework as well which alway makes me suspicious of the efficacy of a school.

HarrietBond · 07/10/2024 14:49

Because absolutely anyone can apply to it wherever they live and they present themselves as a dynamic middle class friendly option for those who are not excited by their local secondaries.