Gower school islington

[BeenieBaby]

Anyone have any experience of this school? We're keen on a Montessori education, but this school seems to have a bad rep, we weren't sure why... Anyone know firsthand what it's like?

The more I learn about TGS and the shenanigans within the four walls of that institution (I am not just referring to this thread) the more I am aghast and enraged. I wonder how on earth TGS is able to get away with it?

I have long suspected that the reason EG is against a PTA is not down to her control-freakery, no; rather EG fosters division between parents and parents, teachers and teachers, parents and teachers lest they should talk and discover just how far EG is prepared to go to get what she wants and cover up, or manipulate her foolish, ill-judged and outrageous antics. I back this up with my own shocking experience of EG and a new senior member of her team, who appears to be doing her bidding with little experience of the school's clients or it's pupils and is willing, in the style of EG, to label and discredit children (and I have heard teachers and parents too).

Moreover, I find the arrogance of TGS incomprehensible; whilst a didactic prevails of how parents and children must behave, is the proper way to behave, this ethos does not extend to EG and some of her staff, who act in such a manner behind closed doors (even openly!) that should TGS pupils behave similarly, they would be labelled disruptive, attention-seeking, irresponsible, bullying, lying or in need of special attention. I find this hypocrisy, and the blindness to their own hypocrisy, most infuriating and astonishing.

Not only are the goings on at TGS brutal practice for any primary school (any work place in fact) the current grim trajectory of TGS is extremely bad business practice. The pile of enraged and mistreated people grows daily. Many people have stated that EG is a shrewd business woman: I am not so sure and never have been. The principle is cunning yes; but her cunning is not matched by wit.

Indeed 3ToldbyanidIiot9 - and in addition to children, parents and/or teachers, TGS also brazenly denigrated (on at least one occasion) the opinion of a clinical expert, asserting that the report was biased and could not be trusted, simply because the parents paid for the assessment. For TGS to suggest that a clinical expert would compromise their professional integrity and breach ethical parameters for a few hundred quid...it's almost all too twisted for words.

it is a distorted universe inside TGS - an assumed authority too long gone unquestioned.

What hope do the poor teachers have? What hope for the poor demoted student teacher, her years of outstanding work shot down?

She should know that parents aren't buying the reasons given for her sudden change in status and are unlikely to about anything that happens to her in the future.

I guess there's the hope.

There are so many good private schools in London which offer so much more for the same fees: fully qualified staff, interactive whiteboards, good balanced meals, resources for all subjects, proper IT equipment, qualified and experienced office staff... I wouldn' t hesitate twice.

Keep thinking regretfully back to nursery days when DC was moved to a new room (age 2 1/2) I think. DC went 3 mornings a week, very laid back, lovely room, no uniform. We were told DC could stay there till leaving for reception . A few months later we received notice that DC would have to move to the Montessori room where they were prepping kids to go to primary school (already!). DC would have to now attend 5 full days (and we would have to pay more) and DC would have to wear a uniform. When we questioned this decision we got the familiar party line, "If you don't like it then maybe this isn't the school for you." Why, oh why, didn't we totally agree. 'You're right, this isn't the school for us'.

I am sitting here with another ex Gower parent and we for a laugh 'mums netted' the Gower school. Our kids were there around 2006-2008. What is amazing is that the comments and discussion are wholly unchanged 5 years on; rapid staff turnover, autocratic approach, children unfairly labeled ( educational psychs saying its not the child it's the school), children discovering they are very behind on moving into standard education. How can it still exist? Why does the head refuse to engage or believe these repeating comments? Absolutely extraordinary. Best thing we ever did removing our kids.

yes - how can it still exist?

The Head is not capable of engaging with reasonable debate of any sort, at any time, with anyone (except those perhaps of some 'status' - whatever that is?) and never has been able to do so, hence no PTA or open debate of any sort and no matter what tight-lip-service is paid. The principle/owner of the school thinks everyone surrounding her is wrong and it is they that need to be fixed, including children. She is not worthy of the position of principle of a primary school. In my experience. And in my opinion. And based on my knowledge of the school.

And I here and now state my support for the teacher 'shot down' who still remains at TGS; publicly discredited - it is not a proper way for any human being to be treated and it is shocking.

How can this happen? Aren't there laws in place to stop this sort of thing from happening? I'm not a lawyer so help please....

I really don't know what crumbling leg the school still stands on.

I was also fed the party line ,"If you don't like it, you can always leave." Should have done then - I wonder how many others have been fed this line over the years? Or warned to "draw a line and move on", the unspoken words, "Or else...." hanging in the air. Or else what?
Heavens, it's ridiculous - if it weren't so bad. SDT85 - indeed, it's twisted.

I have resisted the temptation to comment but cannot refrain from doing so any longer. The Montessori method is great but the G nursery (and I suspect the school too) is very far from the real thing (ask a Montessori expert to visit it). My child had a good time at the nursery thanks to caring staff with a strong sense of duty. I do not think the head has the level of preparation required by her role nor she is particularly gifted for human relations. Th focus is on profits (some call it The Gower Inc). The nursery has a bigger and a smaller room to accomodate kids and parents are invited to choose the smaller room because of some particular problems their child has. I found out this is said to most parents the real aim being to find 8 kids for the small room. The 'key person' for the baby room is/was the principal's daughter private nanny which was unfair vis-a-vis the other paying kids and a very wrong message for everybody from an educational point of view, I think. We were treated very well before registering our child there and very badly when it was clear we would not follow the crowd to primary. My child had a good experience at Gower nursery but we choose it because it was cleaner and overal better than other local nurseries. But please do not call it Montessori!

Goldfish

You really, really, ought also to look at the state primary schools in Islington. I have no ideological axe to grind on this, but an in year admission to an Islington Primary School that you decided you liked is something you should really consider.

The savings on fees would then be available to support your childs education in other ways. If need be by specialist tutoring for entrance exams if you want to go fee paying for secondary.

or you could spend it on drink

In alphabetical order, I have heard good/great things about:

1. Abercorn (note: very, very expensive, a lot of expats)
2. The Academy School (Hampstead)
3. Arnold House (Boys only--St John's Wood, very competitive)
4. Gatehouse
5. Heathside (Hampstead)
6. Northbridge House
7. Queens (Girls)
8. St Christopher's (Girls - competitive entry)
9. Trevor Roberts
10. UCS (Boys--very competitive entry)

Very locally, this is what I've heard about the following schools:

1. Dallington - more relaxed approach, so will need a tutor to help your child prepare for 11+ exam about a year before the 11+ exam. I have one friend who loved it (hired a tutor and got offers at all top secondary schools), another who felt academically it didn't stretch DC enough and was very frustrated. Heard lukewarm things about the Head.
2. Lyceum - classroom space isn't great, but very good if your child is interested in music.
3. Rosemary Works - very good for younger children. I don't know anything about their upper school.

What nlondondad said. Go and look at William Tyndale and see what you think. Even if you're set on private it will give you a benchmark against which to compare the other schools you're looking at - it's really only by looking at a range of options that you start to appreciate what's important to you. And that's easier to do once you have a child of school age already - I think when you have a preschooler, all schools look quite appealing in the sense that a classroom full of children doing early years stuff is always rather heartwarming.

Really, go and look at the state options as well, it's the only way of finding out whether you really want or need to pay.

I've heard there is really a nice sense of community at William Tyndale.

I think some people actually do think that Islington primary schools are full of feral illiterates. But there are some schools where getting on for half the parents work for the Guardian or the BBC. It really isn't like walking into the set of Shameless.

Of the private schools mentioned in that list, about half I wouldn't consider because I dont want the whole full-on pushy competitive thing, and the other half I wouldn't consider because I'm not convinced they're offering more than the local state options.

Agree, I don't live in Islington but know many who do - one who endures a 3-hour in total hellish commute every day with her 7 yr old ds to a school right the other side of London, because she says "there are no good schools in Islington". I really have to bite my tongue not to ask if she ever considered the many state primaries - she obviously didn't.

In my immediate area, the kids who don't go to the local state schools go to: Arnold House, UCS, The Hall, NBH, Sarum Hall. There are quite a few schools that offer school buses from Islington. My kids left Gower to attend one of the schools listed and my big regret is that we didn't do it sooner. There is absolutely no comparison between the Gower and a proper school. There was no big 'incident' that led to us to move our kids, just a realisation that we were being led by a very, very poor operator whose talent (?) is in running a profitable nursery, not a school. I thank my lucky stars that we made the move. The opportunities my kids are given to develop as confident,kind individuals (as well as great academic progress) at their current school makes the opportunities to do so at the Gower look like 'play school'. Yet for many years i totally believed the hype from Ms Gower. Now I know better.

and my friends child goes to The Childrens House.....

If you're prepared to go as far as UCS and want somewhere a bit less pushy consider St. Margaret's in Kidderpore Gardens. Really nice very small school, girls only, goes from 4-16. Headmaster is inspirational.

Very helpful to have all these views. I actually don't have a problem with a good state school, it's just that we don't live in the 'catchment' area where we are likely to get in to any of the good ones - like William Tyndale. I don't know much about in-year admissions and whether catchment becomes less important? I do love my child's class right now but I am starting to think that it might be worth thinking about moving from 7+. Any views on highgate schools? Channing or Highgate? Are there any others in that area?

Channing always very oversubscribed and they don't have a 7+ so next intake would be at 11+. But for the last two years they have had a two form entry which the existing parents are not happy about so I would guess that when those years get to 11+ level they may have less spaces at the senior school. Don't know about Highgate, they run the 7+ but also very competitive, would definitely need tutoring.

7+ runs formally at SHHS, NLCS and Habs, St Margaret's usually do one too.

All the private schools that we applied to invited DC in for a "taster day or morning" and they observed how happy/friendly/polite/confident etc DC was in situ and gave DC an informal test. It's interesting to note that the schools DID NOT ask for a prior school report or reference. This is very significant, because your child is walking in with a completely clean slate.

Going slightly against my grain of sticking to state schools here, but two that I know of that people rave about (if you have girls) are Cavendish in Camden Town and St Christina's in St John's Wood. Both Catholic, but only very lightly so, esp Cavendish. They do the academic rigour side of things without going into overkill on the competitive/pushy front.

I'm glad you posted Daisycake85. I'm sorry you felt that you had to withdraw it.

It is good to have a member of staff on this thread confirming that the 'negative' comments about the school are all accurate.

Daisycake85 makes the statement that staff numbers at the school decrease during the day (blowing the myth of the 5:1 ratio).

In fact the inference is that parents have to gather on the forecourt to pick up their children in the afternoon so that they are unable to see the true state of affairs regarding the staffing situation.

Daisycake85 also expresses that the principal is not qualified to run a school and several members of staff have expressed concerns to her about how the school is run.

Needless to say she hasn't listened.

evamariesaint - having re-read the dozens and dozens of critical comments about the leadership of TGS, I have to wonder:

What else is there that has not been revealed?

What would the majority of former teachers say about their TGS experience and the way in which TGS conducts business?

How many children have been wrongly labelled? Can the damage be undone or is it irrevocable?