LVS Ascot

[Mummyto3x]

Hello! New on here but moving to Virginia water in a few months and looking at LVS Ascot for my 3 children - Boy/Girl twins age 9 and DD age 5 wanting to keep them together through to 6th form without having to change school and have the option of boarding so this school seems ideal for our needs- would love to know any up to date opinions or any other options similar in the area please. TIA!!

That’s three hours a fortnight though, which is the same as provision for one foundation subject like history, geography, music, drama etc.

2 hours a fortnight - one hour a week. Half an hour was break. So 24 lessons a week, not 25. Not made much difference to subjects to be honest.

Has anyone used LVS as a pre prep and then moved on for prep? Long shot I'm sure.

I am sure someone did: when DC were young, some local families used Lambrook for Pre Prep then moved on to Papplewick. Or Rupert House for pre prep (Henley) then moved to Lambrook. Or people moved back and forth from Hall Grove to Lambrook or vice versa or from the excellent state primaries in Wargrave or Winkfield Row.
Sorry, that is probably not very helpful to you. I do know one family who are delighted with LVS but they don't intend to move schools: they are taking the view that an intelligent child doesn't require a selective school. What prep is your ultimate aim?

Thanks @Motorcyclemptiness
Most likely Papplewick too.

Out of interest which are the excellent state primaries? I'd say we're a bit late in the day for those really.

I'm not a fount of recent knowledge, but I believe that the Pigott in Wargrave is very good. Winkfield St Mary's used to be very sought after and I know a lot of nice, older kids who went to Cheapside and seem to be doing well. depends where you live, of course! The issue for you would be how hard kids are pushed and what they need to have achieved by age 7 , to get into Papplewick, I presume?
I presume that Papplewick is like the London schools and DC have to pass an entrance exam or test? Again, I know a lot of v.nice DC who have got into selective senior schools from Papplewick.
Didn't have the chance to try it for DS, as the woman who answered the phone told me in no uncertain terms that they weren't interested in considering a dyslexic for admission! This was 6 years ago so hopefully she has either moved on or modified her views. Or is discouraged from speaking to prospective new parents!
Certainly a very academic prep, just doesn't have the space to swing a cat in - smallest rugby pitch I ever saw, even for the under 9s!

Hi there.
I hope everyone is coping OK.
I am on a Whatsapp group with several other mums of Year 8’s at LVS, and not surprisingly there are all sorts of things being bounced around about what ‘the future’ might look like. Having a bit of time (like a lot of us I suspect!) I thought I’d share a couple of them on here to see what anyone else thinks.
So the first question is ‘When the school reopens, will it be in financial difficulty?’ as:
• The priority of the Licensed Trade Charity (who owns the school) is to support members of the Licensed Trade and their families who have fallen on hard times - which I’m guessing are all of them in the country right now.
• The school will be refunding fees for the lost time
• There’s unlikely to be any income for the foreseeable future from foreign boarders (which we’re told amounted to several million pounds last year)
We’re wondering where the money for this shortfall will come from, and what impact it will have on the school.
There’s also an ongoing discussion about the ‘education’ in general. Even before the lockdown, a few members of our Whatsapp group had raised concerns about this with the school. The schools’ recent grading by Ofqual shows they were justified. Like any business - good or bad, the buck stops with the CEO (or Principal in this case) and we thought there might be some sort of explanation of how improvements would be made, or at least an acknowledgment that things could be better, but to be honest it’s become a bit of an ‘elephant’ in the room!
Is there anything we can do to get this raised?
In fairness, other factors such as anti-bullying / pastoral care etc. are good at LVS.
Obviously these are difficult times, but if anyone has any suggestions or experience of similar situations it would be good to hear them.
Stay safe.

I’d take it up with the head. If that doesn’t work, try the Director of Education who oversees the three schools within the charity.

My feeling is that it’s going to be tough in private schools in the next couple of years. At least LVS has the backing of the charity unlike Hawley Hurst, Redroofs and the other indies that have closed in the area. beta.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=230011&subid=0

I think with less students there will naturally be savings. Teachers won’t be replaced as they’re not needed etc.

Great school. But the have referred my late school fees to a debt collection agency during Covid-19

On the subject of education I heard this week that LVS is being investigated by Ofqual for holding the online exams after their March deadline, which doesn’t sound good.

If so, it is important to know the outcome.
Ofqual can impose serious sanctions on schools if their rules are broken

Redroofs has closed? The Theatre school?

This is interesting:

www.bracknellnews.co.uk/news/18823077.lvs-ascot-deny-allegations-breached-ofqual-regulations-running-online-assessment/?ref=erec

Sounds like one ex-parent kicking off because their child didn’t get what they expected. The number of parents who genuinely believe that paying fees seems to guarantee results without their beloved child doing any work amazes me.

A member of LVS staff recently won an industrial tribunal for unfair dismissal. In summing up, the judge stated that he did not believe the evidence provided by the Principal, the Director of Education and the Head of HR.
Very serious offences.
Despite this, all three remain in post.
How?

Why do you think they should leave? You would need to be absolutely sure to uphold so this happens all the time

Also it seems you are a bit invested on this

Wondered if their were any parents of children at LVS Ascot on here that could give up to date feedback on the school? Quality of teaching, culture of the school etc. My eldest is not the most academic in terms of maths at the moment (but he is only 7) and keen to find somewhere he can thrive.

We are looking to relocate from south west London to Ascot/ Windsor way and like the look of this school for our two boys, who are currently in reception and year 3. I particularly like the fact it’s all through to avoid the 11/ 13 exams. Will be going to the next open day but great to get feedback from current parents.

Hi, my son is in KS2 LVS and really enjoys it, he has been there since reception. LVS are not necessarily hugely focused on the grades side as it's more of an all rounder encompassing sports, the arts and academic subjects but we like that as didn't want the never ending pressure on him that comes with some other schools more focused on grades.

Hi everyone, we are considering LVS Ascot for our son, age 14. I'd love any up to date opinions of what the senior school is like, the boarding and in particular the culture. Our son is mildly dyslexic so we are not looking for a hothouse/selective school. Thanks!

I was in LVS Ascot for 3 months and they expelled me for something stupid like hugging, lying across someone etc.
Also, they didn’t have the right sixth form courses for me and I didn’t get any support from the teachers.