Royal Alexandra and Albert School (RAAS) - Ofsted boarding report - "inadequate"

[noisyhome]

We are planning to apply to RAAS for full boarding in Sept 2013. We've looked at many schools and so far, it's well ahead in our top choice of schools. Well, that's until I read the Ofsted report of Oct 2011 that rated its boarding provision as "inadequate". Now I am really stuck. Half of me wants to take the Ofsted report with a large pinch of salt (as I have only ever read amazing comments on this school) and I'm not sure if Ofsted reports are worth the paper they are written on) while the other half of me thinks that I can't simply ignore the report. Could you Mners with children at this school (and I know there are a few!) please comment on the boarding there? The good, the bad and the ugly please! Many thanks!

[carolinejames]

I went to look around it a few years ago and was not at all impressed. In the end I put son in St George’s at Harpenden. He boarded. He did well. Nice new accommodation for sixth form. The girls accommodation was nicer than the boys TBH. Also the school has a chapel and must attend Sunday service. Had a great team of staff. He’s now at University. Also, this school is oddly convenient for travel. There is a train station less than 5 minutes walk. The station goes to London and continues on the same line to Gatwick Airport. ( no need to change trains). Also, I needed to get my son to Heathrow airport a couple of times and the staff called a taxi for him. It took quite a while to get there , but the boarding team were helpful. It’s a Rugby school- my son liked football so he played with a local team.

[Tiaram]

Please can someone advise how is Royal Alexandra and Albert School in Surrey is in terms of academics and boarding especially for sixth form? Grateful for your help.

[LIZS]

She would be year 8 in September 2020 if already 12 by then. You would need to check if a boarding place was available by then and whether she would qualify from Greece.

[Charawitz]

We’re looking applying to RAAS for boarding for our eleven year old grand daughter. She will be twelve in March /20. So year 7 for Sept /20. She lives in Greece. Is there a waiting list? Any comments would be most welcome.

[Charawitz]

We’re considering application for boarding at RAAS for my grand daughter who is eleven now, twelve next year. She currently lives in Greece. I’m assuming this would be for year 7 in Sept /20. Is is difficult to get in? Would you recommend RAAS

[feistymumma]

I recently went to see this school for my DS to board (secondary) and a I can ay is that OFSTED outstanding is not worth the paper it's written on. The dorms were cramped, rooms could have benefitted from some air, filthy (unmade beds, clothes strewn everywhere). The children who took us around seem disinterested and one of them had such a dirty uniform it was unbelievable. Sadly first impressions are everything for me so it was a definite no. If you are thinking of sending your DC to this school to board please make sure you visit the school and see for yourself. We also thought that upon arrival the staff could have been friendlier.

Having been shown the dorms first, we didn't bother with the interview.

[Bluebonnie]

Plenty for you to look at in the 2018 Ofsted report:
//www.raa-school.co.uk/ofsted_inspections.asp

(The school comes out as "outstanding" in contrast to the 2011 inspection)

[Armless]

Also looking for updates.

[feistymumma]

We are considering this school for our son in Year 9 - are there any recent updates on the school? Thanks.

[carolinejames]

Debbiewest0- may I ask please what schools you saw and which boarding you decided on for your Son? I would be very grateful for your thoughts. I am overseas and don’t have the luxury of being able to just pop in and have a look. I would be grateful for help.

[carolinejames]

Thank you debbie west0. I am grateful for your comments. We are considering it for boarding for a bit older than year 7. So it has to be - good fit. I can’t get a tour until all the paperwork has been completed. So it’s a chicken and egg situation. Does anyone else have comments too please.

[debbiewest0]

We looked round the boys boarding house last year for our year seven son. We were shown round with another family and we both agreed that the rooms were untidy, not clean, the bathrooms were not very nice, the laundry being returned was just thrown crumpled into cubbyholes, the housemistress who was there didn't want to engage with us and the housemaster ignored our group completely. We felt an air of neglect and will not be considering it.
This was just the opinion of us and the other family but we both agreed other schools we had looked at were offering better care.

[carolinejames]

Actually I would be grateful for any boarding comments about Royal Alexandra and Albert in Reigate

[carolinejames]

VM28 - I wish to ask you if your child joined RAAS? We are considering it for our senior school child too and would be grateful for your insight

[VM28]

Hello does anyone have any updates as we are considering RAAS for September for our 14 year old to board

[Nialong]

if your child is attending make sure all your communication is via letter. Never call as when trouble starts you have your letters to back you up. You would find that they may call you when they have done wrong (no tracking) but when you have done wrong they would write to you. This is to cover their backs.

Also monitor your child regularly - allowing them to come home every two weeks at least and they are not always wondering in town unsupervised. The school is large and the children have found ways to fool the adults. The adult may accidently find out.

[Nialong]

As a parent I did not have a good experience there. In all the schools that I have ever had dealing with this was hard work. My concerns were ignored. My DD has previously attended both private and state schools and we have never had any problems dealing with members of staff or the heads. My DD received outstanding reports and had always been a year ahead of his peers in class, this got him four out of five offers of boarding school admissions.

Things changed when DD attended RAA. DD was happy at the school, but had problems with the boarding aspect. DD's grades stayed the same since attending and in some subjects went down.

DD was quickly labled at the boarding house. Some realised the lable was unfair and changed, others needed to prove themselves right and made things difficult. Communication breakdown made things even worse.

Some parts of the school is good, there are some outstanding teachers. However the boarding side lets the school down. The ofsted report was right. Learnt the hard way!

[sarahd29]

Hi there, just to add my two pennies.

I boarded from the age of 7 at RAAS and loved it. There is a difference between what RAAS offer and "private" fee paying schools but you point out its cheaper so your obviously aware that your child won't be in 5* digs with a butler. Harrow is quite handy though for that if the budget allows.

He or she will be incredibly comfortable at Gatton Park, supported by a network of House Parents/housemates and offered a super selection of activities backed up by great teachers.

I have incredibly fond memories of my time there and warmly recommend it.

[Sadsad374]

Hello
Any latest updates and news about RAAS? And any particular reason why the staff has left?
Many thanks

[LIZS]

Have you read the report itself ?
//www.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/files/2074215/urn/125279.pdf
By overall comments do you mean here or elsewhere ? I will admit there is often a certain snobbishness towards RAAS and state boarding schools in general but nothing in that report is particularly alarming to me. Year 10 is start of KS4 if that helps

[Cato2014]

They told me the school rating changed from Outstanding to Good was due to the rating scheme of inspection was changed to more tightly then before. It seems that the overall comments of RAAS is not good.

[eroyal123]

The OFSTED criteria changed between the outstanding and good inspections. It depends what you want from a school really.

Apparently lots of teachers left to go to independent schools and because they didn't like the way the Head and governors ran the school. I would ask the school about it and let us know what they say!

[LIZS]

Good is actually well , pretty good in the scheme of things lol ! I don't think it has ever been rated higher than that. Was that overall or for boarding only ? There will be elements of bullying wherever , it is how they deal with it that is the issue. You need to visit as it is smaller than it seems on paper and in need of some updating to its buildings but no more so than many other state secondaries and it has had extra funding in recent years. When do they expect her to take up the place ?

[Cato2014]

RAAS has just offered a place of year 10 for entry Sept 2015. I am struggle to send her there because the 2012 Ofsted report is down grade to Good. I really want to know the update to information about the school. Are there any bullying in the school? Why lots of teachers left school?