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Original poster

Appalling independent school

40 replies

Maggiegreen1979 · 12/07/2022 20:37

My child has left Broadhurst school and we were extremely disappointed with the provision. The resources in the classrooms are outdated and broken, they don’t have qualified teachers and the curriculum is outdated as they don’t have any curriculum leaders and no teachers who are qualified to plan effectively. My child only passed assessment because I got a tutor and worked with him after school.

My child always complains how much ‘table time’ they have and when I asked the teacher she said that they only get 20 minutes outdoors the rest is sat at a table.

In the winter my child was always sick because the classroom was always cold and they only have one caretaker to clean an entire school.

The classrooms are so small and there is 12 kids in a class, mixed ages which I felt wasn’t appropriate in terms of teaching according to their developmental stage. Often they were under staffed, one member of staff taking care of all the children in the class.

I wouldn’t recommend anybody to send their child to this school.

OP posts:
Chilmark79 · 14/07/2022 18:05

I’m curious to understand why you chose it- presumably you did some research?

MarchoftheAardvark · 14/07/2022 18:14

You could always go state. No?

Carrieonmywaywardsun · 14/07/2022 18:38

The ISC page says they have 55 pupils but are prepared for 106. No wonder they are half filled if they're as bad as you say!

WarmJuly · 14/07/2022 18:40

The cold doesn't make you more susceptible to illness. However, the school doesn't seem to deserve the name.

YukoandHiro · 14/07/2022 18:40

You're in London. The state schooling is exceptional, the teachers highly qualified and wonderful. Ffs save your money!

MarchingFrogs · 14/07/2022 19:16

Out of idle curiosity, how long was your DC actually at the school? No more than a term and as long as it took to find a place elsewhere for them, one would hope...

daretodenim · 15/07/2022 04:50

I love how you're giving a review of something to forewarn other parents and yet all it does is make you look like you didn't do any research before sending your child there. Its not a soft play centre, it's a school you had to actively select, apply for and pay money to. It's not like it was the only school in your catchment area and you had no choice. It's a private school!

Surely class sizes were something you knew about? Same with mixed age group classes? How can you not know these things if you do any research at all. I mean what was it about the school that appealed to you and why did you think it was a good fit for your child?

Btw lots of schools have teacher problems due to covid and the classrooms were cold because windows were kept open for ventilation.

Gogster · 15/07/2022 04:54

MarchoftheAardvark · 14/07/2022 18:14

You could always go state. No?

Urghh

EmmaGrundyForPM · 15/07/2022 05:03

Surely you would have known about the curriculum, the state of the classrooms and the mixed ages before you decided to send him.there?

Jobseeker19 · 15/07/2022 05:18

I worked in an independent school and was shocked at how little resources they had.

So much was reliant on student staff and the staff turnover was high. The staff who did stay on treated it like secondary school and were very cliquey.

The school did not have an adequate playground so would take the children to the local park which could already be busy with other children or nursery's on an outing.

It was dirty and the chefs had to be magicians with the tiny budget they had. I used to be embarrassed sometimes to tell parents their child ate.

Sometimes year groups were put together if the intake was low and they didn't want to pay for 2 teachers.

Of course every single winter the boiler "wasn't working" during the coldest days.

I didn't realise how bad it was until I left. But it showed me that some private schools are just about elitism for the parents and free wrap around care included in the fees (open 7.30-6 51 weeks a year)

Jobseeker19 · 15/07/2022 05:23

I would say to pp that the school hides it flaws on show arounds and open days. So that the parents wouldn't know they were being sold a lie until they child starts.

I have witnessed parents being told that they have small numbers by choice to give the children the most attention and that the school rents out fields for the children to play on.

That their is a nutritionist planning the meals out weekly and that all the staff are qualified.

It is sold very well.

Decidualcast · 15/07/2022 14:37

It was a place whose reputation precedes it for getting kids into pushy schools (a bit like St Mark’s nursery Primrose Hill). Sounds like it’s gone downhill.

abclondon · 23/11/2022 14:03

We have been very pleased with Broadhurst School and I am happy to write a positive review for others who might be considering this as a nursery option for their child. When choosing Broadhurst, I had toured all of the top nurseries in the area (we are based in St John’s Wood).
As a mother of three children (our eldest attended recently and our younger children shall attend in due course) I can say with confidence what a top nursery it really is.

We were very fortunate with our lovely teachers -they were very nurturing, kind, professional and really got to understand the intricacies of character in our eldest child and brought out the best in her. Our eldest thrived there and we saw her blossom under the wonderful care of her teachers. We were given daily feedback and were always made to feel comfortable and welcome in the classroom upon visits. It was also very easy to get one to one time with the teachers if requested.

Mrs Sylvester is a very involved principal and makes a point every morning of greeting all children and parents. She has three children herself and is a grandmother and knows first hand about raising children- on top of an impressive career in childhood education.
The community spirit is very much alive at Broadhurst and we have made some special and firm friendships there - so much so that our younger siblings will also be attending with the other younger siblings of our eldest’s friends!

Our eldest would always say how much she enjoyed garden time - and what a lovely garden/playground it is. For central Londoners, it is difficult to find nurseries with lovely private gardens and this is an advantage of Broadhurst school.

The results are varied but most children managed to get places at their top choice schools- particularly the boys, as many were given places at The Hall. However nothing is guaranteed and the school will always advise to have a back up plan.

We have no hesitation in recommending Broadhurst School- and it continues to be oversubscribed for good reason!

LondonNw6 · 28/01/2023 16:14

looks pretty stupid because you should it done you homework before and if you were not happy why did you not move your child?

CurrentParent · 23/04/2023 20:28

Broadhurst provides a happy and nurturing environment. My daughter has flourished with the considered care and attention of the school and staff.

At the helm a caring, professional and focused head teacher, leading the school through the difficult COVID years with an eminently sensible and pragmatic approach.

With great dexterity, Broadhurst balances this happy environment with the right guidance and tools for school assessments.

I have no hesitation in recommending Broadhurst school for its approach to nurture children, set the foundation for good values and learning through play, in order to transition children into the next phase of good schools.

Decidualcast · 24/04/2023 13:39

CurrentParent · 23/04/2023 20:28

Broadhurst provides a happy and nurturing environment. My daughter has flourished with the considered care and attention of the school and staff.

At the helm a caring, professional and focused head teacher, leading the school through the difficult COVID years with an eminently sensible and pragmatic approach.

With great dexterity, Broadhurst balances this happy environment with the right guidance and tools for school assessments.

I have no hesitation in recommending Broadhurst school for its approach to nurture children, set the foundation for good values and learning through play, in order to transition children into the next phase of good schools.

Poor attempt at writing convincingly - sounds like corporate gobbledygook….

Munchies7 · 25/04/2023 06:30

CurrentParent · 23/04/2023 20:28

Broadhurst provides a happy and nurturing environment. My daughter has flourished with the considered care and attention of the school and staff.

At the helm a caring, professional and focused head teacher, leading the school through the difficult COVID years with an eminently sensible and pragmatic approach.

With great dexterity, Broadhurst balances this happy environment with the right guidance and tools for school assessments.

I have no hesitation in recommending Broadhurst school for its approach to nurture children, set the foundation for good values and learning through play, in order to transition children into the next phase of good schools.

🤮

This says a lot about the school - Good at sales

Mangoflimtastic · 25/04/2023 06:35

ChatGPT, please write me a positive review of Broadhurst School…..

Jobseeker19 · 25/04/2023 13:38

Yes this is what I was saying uptrend about selling themselves.

Clearly someone in the school googles it now and again and mumsnet comes up. So they write a "review".

NortWestmum · 26/04/2023 18:11

CurrentParent · 23/04/2023 20:28

Broadhurst provides a happy and nurturing environment. My daughter has flourished with the considered care and attention of the school and staff.

At the helm a caring, professional and focused head teacher, leading the school through the difficult COVID years with an eminently sensible and pragmatic approach.

With great dexterity, Broadhurst balances this happy environment with the right guidance and tools for school assessments.

I have no hesitation in recommending Broadhurst school for its approach to nurture children, set the foundation for good values and learning through play, in order to transition children into the next phase of good schools.

Please avoid this nursery. The management is horrible and lot of dissatisfied parents

NWLondonParent · 28/04/2023 09:31

@NortWestmum as a current parent of a child at the school I would ask that you provide some examples of the dissatisfaction as it helps people make informed decisions. If there are examples of mismanagement that dont involve sharing personal details it would help explain your point of view. My child has been there almost two years, has thoroughly enjoyed her time and will go onto her chosen school in September. Teachers have always been supportive, available and caring by our experiences and the head will always make time to speak to you if you have any questions. I have no issues recommending this school.

NortWestmum · 28/04/2023 10:14

NWLondonParent · 28/04/2023 09:31

@NortWestmum as a current parent of a child at the school I would ask that you provide some examples of the dissatisfaction as it helps people make informed decisions. If there are examples of mismanagement that dont involve sharing personal details it would help explain your point of view. My child has been there almost two years, has thoroughly enjoyed her time and will go onto her chosen school in September. Teachers have always been supportive, available and caring by our experiences and the head will always make time to speak to you if you have any questions. I have no issues recommending this school.

The teachers in my child's class were excellent, and he has grown a lot as an individual under them. However, we had a terrible experience with the management, and we had to withdraw our son in the middle of the academic year. So our personal experience could have been better. Only now that we are out of that place do we realise how badly run that nursery is.

I am glad that you have had a positive experience, and I am happy you got into your chosen school. Good luck to your little one on starting the new school in September.

Hoppinggreen · 28/04/2023 10:22

CurrentParent · 23/04/2023 20:28

Broadhurst provides a happy and nurturing environment. My daughter has flourished with the considered care and attention of the school and staff.

At the helm a caring, professional and focused head teacher, leading the school through the difficult COVID years with an eminently sensible and pragmatic approach.

With great dexterity, Broadhurst balances this happy environment with the right guidance and tools for school assessments.

I have no hesitation in recommending Broadhurst school for its approach to nurture children, set the foundation for good values and learning through play, in order to transition children into the next phase of good schools.

Blatant attempt at Reputation Management.
They should sack whoever came up with both the idea and the text
“with great dexterity” 🙄

EmmaGrundyForPM · 28/04/2023 12:31

It's not even written in proper sentences.

ichundich · 28/04/2023 12:58

I would be careful about posting such accusations online. The school may decide to bring defamation charges against you.