LA Fontaine Bickley

[Beautyathome1234]

Hello,

Any mums here who send their kids to LA Fontaine primary? I’m looking for experiences at this school good and bad. Other choices are st George’s Bickley and Bickley primary.

Thank you

Can anyone help? I will be moving and new to the area. Thank you 🙏🏼

My two children attend LFA, and they are both very happy there, and always have been. The school has had three headteachers whilst my children have attended. The first headteacher was French, and since he left there hasn't been as much incorporation of French culture in everyday school life, and possibly less teaching of French, although that's difficult to guage that as I don't get much from my kids! But, I've been much happier with the school overall since we've had the two new (albeit English) Headteachers. Organisation and communication is much better and staff retention has significantly improved, which is very important. It was December 2019 when the first Head left, so the new Head and Deputy Head team who joined then (the Deputy who started at the same time as the 2nd Head, is now the current Head) have been dealing with Covid and all the challenges of that pretty much since day one, so I can understand why the French element has not been a priority for the last two years. It's a lovely welcoming community though, and LFS seem to attract lots of multinational multicultural families (obviously French, but others too), which I think is a real positive. Bickley and St George's are also very good schools too. We're very lucky really to have such good choices here, any one of the three would likely be a good move.

@Janie576 Hello, and thank you for taking the time to reply. Sorry I didn’t see the message till today.

I have been very anxious as I know nothing about the school so it’s great to hear you are happy with it.

what are your thoughts on the level of teaching as I have heard it is quite academic?

thank you

No problem! My two children are quite different, academically speaking, and I would say the teaching seems appropriate to the child, as it should. I think the school did have a reputation for being quite academic, but I would say that the culture is now a bit different with the change in leadership, less "one size fits all". The teaching seems pretty sound to me, my eldest particularly is thriving, and my youngest may well just be getting into his stride!

@Janie576 Thank you! It sounds like a great school all round. 👍🏼