COLPAI PR vs Reality

[Wasntmeanttobethishard]

DH and I are considering Colpai (City of London Primary Academy Islington) for our DC next year. Whilst the COLPAI PR is absolutely brilliant, we are struggling with PR vs word on the street. On our recent tour staff didn’t seem engaged with reception children and coats/ bags were really messy. There also wasn’t a strong community feel there. The building itself is nice and new and the pupils seem super well behaved. But…

• More Able children aren’t provided for beyond the ‘one size fits all’ curriculum. Power Maths (a Singapore style maths mastery programme) and their own English curriculum with a heavy reliance on RWI synthetic phonics in reception and KS1 to the point of holding some gifted kids back. The school doesn’t recognise HLP children or link with any outside agencies to support gifted kids.
• The school day is long and play times seem shorter than any other school in the area. Plus there’s little playground space to speak of and no equipment for kids to climb, hang, swing etc. No end date for housing construction next door which is affecting playground provision.
• sports don’t seem to measure up to other schools. Nothing before KS2 so far as we can see. No plans for sports outside school hours due to no space. Can’t see any involvement in Islington or city galas/ competitions to date. No swimming lessons in school before KS2. Hanover is regularly at IRB developing their stronger swimmers after school.
• There seems to be a high teacher turnover despite their claims of employing high calibre consultant level staff for management.
• Communication is a big part of our school choice. COLPAI say they are big on it but all the parents in the playgrounds locally say personal communication (about your child specifically) is poor although the school does send lots of reminder emails about various things. Some parents have reported having several emails ignored, being given the cold shoulder by senior staff members for questioning practices and being brushed off when asking in person. On the other hand some parents say they are given all they need plus more but that’s because they’re on some committee in the school??? There doesn’t seem to be a clear cut practise that we can see.
• They say they provide a world class education and have excellent results but how much of their results are actually from private tuition outside school? City Juniors is a stones throw away and lots of kids try for that (much to the Head’s fury we hear). The school won’t provide references to private schools and won’t prepare kids at 11+ (Hugh Myddleton does this). Apparently the school even sent out what amounted to a nanny/ tuition advertisement of a leaving TA last year?? Should this ring alarm bells?
• We are new to the British education system so are yet to get our heads around what’s what. Is it normal for the Chair of Governors to essentially be a member of staff? The COLPAI COG teaches French and her daughter is the DH in the school. Is this common practice to use governors skills in this way? Is it common to have family links on staff in a state school?

We know that different schools fit different kids. We have little choice around us. It’s hard to ignore the PR pumped out but also we can’t ignore first hand experience being shared. Any insights welcomed! 🤯🤪

Sorry to read about the challenges you’re facing with COLPAI, @sweetbaby123 . You’re definitely not alone. Many parents are trying their best to grin and bear it each morning, knowing the ongoing issues with the school.

And @dashmummy , leave your unqualified judgement of other people’s children out of this conversation please. You’ve added nothing to this discourse.

The original topic of the thread is about COLPAI’s PR vs Reality. What is clear is that there are issues at COLPAI, and how much families are willing to tolerate the issues depends on individual families’ circumstances.

Those who can afford private education, will tend to leave after year 2.

The school days are long for younger children (nearly 5+ hours more a week than most other local schools), with few sports and music provisions (horrah for the playground this year, finally!), and very difficult to rely on afterschool club spots.

Often the staff and teachers are young and relatively inexperienced. This isn’t a problem, until they are over stretched by the school and have to fall back on disciplinary techniques (over long days with few breaks) to get the desired performance from the children.

The message repeatedly given to children is that they are judge by their behaviours at all times, with little self-autonomy. And they must do what adults in the school tell them to do, with no small amount of psychological pressure and sometimes even physical intimidation. Behaviour above all else!

There are strong conflicts of interest with a chair of board of governors who also teaches in the school and is the deputy’s mother. Think about what this means and what happens if you ever do run up against a serious issue with the school’s leadership team.

If your child is SEN and/or “more able”, good luck dealing with the SENCO. (Many parents are choosing not to if they can at all help it.)

Yes, occasionally some parents do fight on school grounds (really should never happen), most of the local families are lovely. Some try to curry favour with the school leadership in hopes of an advantage when it comes to 11+ time, and that’s understandable. What isn’t acceptable is when they act like the problems at the school for other families and their children don’t exist because they want to feed into the PR illusions of COLPAI. Or maybe even feed their own illusions.

There are numerous smaller issues that are felt on a daily basis by parents, yet more difficult to put into words. Long-suffering COLPAI parents know what they are (“shame without a name” emails, made up rules by the school to try to control parents, etc.). Other than to say, the school takes an authoritarian approach not only towards the children but also towards parents from the top down. The leadership team (who have their own agendas) most definitely does not want to hear from parents.

To be fair, it’s hard to imagine more challenging roles these days than teachers. Except maybe nurses and doctors and other workers who just are not being paid enough during this cost of living crisis. Still, everyone deserves to be treated with honesty and respect, including our children.

Maybe other local “free” schools have similar types of issues. Maybe most of local parents don’t care about these issues, or at least think they don’t. If you’re trying to make a decision for your little one, keep your eyes open and think through what you’re truly willing to sacrifice for your child to attend a so-called Ofsted “outstanding” school.

Ugh @dashmummy your tone policing is definitely not appreciated nor welcome. If you don't like this thread, why not follow your own advice and leave ? 🥱 #bekind

For parents considering the school - if your child thrives on routines, structure, knowing what's happening next... rewards, certificates for good behaviour etc and is genuinely happier when there are clear rules and boundaries this school is great for your child!

Prior Weston is a lovely school, though perhaps less 'middle class' than COLPAI. It has wonderful outdoor space and fantastic music through the Music Masters programme. It also has a great relationship with the local community, something I think COLPAI is still working on

So much easier to criticise other parents who are speaking out about the issues at COLPAI, to try to silence them, instead of addressing the known issues, isn’t it?

Likely every school has issues to varying degrees, but pretending COLPAI’s governance structure and the SLT doesn’t have some questionable conflicts of interest (not to mention also a practice of making up numerous rules to try to control parents and children’s behaviours) and has repeatedly swept safeguarding violations under the rug…well, you already know and you’ve heard about them.

It’s only fair that parents considering COLPAI know about these issues, too.

Too bad you can’t really silence other parents from telling the truth.

This school really is something else. I wish that parents weren’t so scared to voice their views and experiences without fear of retribution and I wish that the school would genuinely listen to parents. This post is so reassuring for the many parents like me who’ve been made to feel like we are the issue because we advocate for our child/ children. The lies and half truths told by senior leaders, including the CoG, are unbelievable. When I met fellow COLPAI parents who had similar negative experiences to me, I was relieved. Because it reassured me that dealing with school WASN’T meant to be so hard and I wasn’t mad and I do know my child and I’m not the only parent struggling with school. I know that other parents in other schools have a hard time. I don’t live in a bubble. But we live in catchment for COLPAI and moving schools takes time and isn’t easy for a SEND child (even when the current one isn’t a good fit). And never mind if your family has more than one child to move or logistics around work/ school/ childcare need to be managed!

The level of gaslighting, belittling, playing favourites, public humiliation of pupils, bullying, detentions - sorry, REFLECTIONS - changing the rules, lack of communication, lack of parental involvement at COLPAI is eye watering. And the accounts will shock you. The Head doesn’t have an easy job by any stretch of the imagination but she does herself no favours by being so disconnected, disingenuous and closed to many within the school community. The Deputy is young, condescending and lacking the experience and humility to understand where parents are coming from. The school listens to respond not to hear what parents and children are actually saying.

The current male SENCO, the one with a dubious past, is leaving. To retire again. When he joined COLPAI from another academy Trust, he told parents he came out of retirement to do this job. Now the first newsletter of the term (yes we are in week three of term) it’s announced that he is retiring (again) but will continue to work for the COLA Trust and will be visiting COLPAI. There’s a new female SENCO already transitioning in. SEND families have mostly found out via the (late) newsletter.

We can only hope that she is not like her predecessor who is managing her transition. She can’t be worse.

Our experience of the male SENCO has been abysmal. And we know we are not the only ones. The number of SEND children, diagnosed, suspected (whilst at COLPAI and now awaiting formal diagnosis at new schools) and on waitlists for diagnoses, who have left COLPAI because he failed them is high. Sensory issues, physical issues, social issues, communication issues, ASD, ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, anxiety, trauma. Referrals not completed or submitted on time. Interventions not implemented. Outside agencies not engaged. Parents batted away. Promises made and left unfulfilled. Paperwork not shared with parents. Timelines not adhered to. Strategies and resources short lived. Describing wrong children. Dismissing and ignoring parental concerns. And those still in the school (because moving schools isn’t easy/ an option/ possible for a variety of reasons) not having their needs met, being punished for their SEND, being isolated and excluded within the school environment. If it wasn’t for their parents continually advocating for their child/ children, I hate to think how much worse off they’d be. And parents can only act on what they know so it’s harder when school and child clam up.

Unless you have a child with different/ additional needs, you can never truly understand how hard life can be. Having to fight with school for the basics. Dealing with school refusal, dysregulation, heightened anxiety, sleep issues, sensory issues, communication issues, the long CAMHS and NHS waitlists - the list goes on. And school just DO. NOT. HELP.

The system is absolutely broken. COLPAI is data driven forever trying to maintain OUTSTANDING rating to secure Trust reputation and personal bonuses. Parents understand the Head has to answer to higher powers but the lack of personal connection and communication from senior staff to families is gobsmacking. The lack of transparency is worrying.

The claims that COLPAIs behaviour policy and practices are ‘good for kids who like structure and routine’ and for parents who don’t buy into permissive parenting is a nonsense. Take a look at the new behaviour policy for yourself and while you’re at it , the attendance policy too. Be prepared to send photo evidence of your ill child to school to prove that they are ill - or get a doctors note. Yes, COLA would prefer to break the NHS in pursuit of perfect attendance than trust parental judgement of primary aged children. One can only assume that they have a medically qualified person on staff to diagnose through photos or override known parents judgements. Also, no, the senco won’t work with you if your child struggles to get to school or school refuses. He’s part time, very busy and often off sick. But they have to say they’ll help because that’s what they’re meant to say.

COLPAI send SEND children to detention or the Heads office for a scolding for age appropriate dysregulated or impulsive behaviours (without having implemented their support plan or identified and managed the low level triggers first) or better yet, send them home/ suspend them. The ‘punish first, discuss later’ approach is all about conformity. Not about developing the child.

Should you choose COLPAI, I wish you the very best and hope that it’s a good fit for your child and family. It is for some. But I wouldn’t recommend the school to anyone with a child with SEND or suspected SEND including dual or multiple exceptionality. COLPAI also do not stretch or challenge the more able or gifted. Not academically or in the arts or in sports. In fact, the sports provision in school is basic and participation in borough comps is negligible. The school leaves it to families. Even having said “tell us what sports your child is good at and we’ll enter them into the Islington galas” hasnt increased opportunity or participation. Forget getting girls into sports or improving the exercise habits and skills of inner city kids or helping children shine at something their great at.

COLPAI demographics are changing. It’s different in different year groups and lower school is different to upper school. The lack of ASC will also impact on the demographics now parents with incoming reception children, particularly if it’s their first child entering school, are aware. Cost of living crisis won’t help either as families weigh up location, education, childcare etc.

Anyone else relieved about the end of term tomorrow? What a rollercoaster of a year it’s been at COLPAI…maybe it’s just what primary school is like these days. So much drama! And disappointingly, to the detriment of the children. Feels like a non-stop battle.

I'm so relieved, mainly for the purely selfish reason that I detest school runs
This year has been pretty calm at COLPAI I thought, what am I missing?

Ps. Does anyone know if the new entrance will be open by September?

@giantinflatabledinosaur calm?! Ha ha ha! …sorry shouldn’t laugh but if I don’t I’ll cry.

What has happened this year…let’s start with the whole school assembly that the deputy head led, closely supported by the head and her very own mother, the chair of governors. Remember that one? It was the talk of the school. In case you missed it…

A child/ren had scribbled in a toilet cubicle with pencil and a blue pen. Nothing major and easily cleaned off with rubbing alcohol and elbow grease. To address this ‘serious act of vandalism’ the senior leaders thought it apt to hold a whole school assembly y1-6 and scare the life out of the entire school. They told the children that the police were coming in ti school the following day to question and fingerprint suspects. And that, yes, they did indeed have a list of suspects. They told the children that they could be arrested. They asked the children to come forward with names of peers they thought likely to have carried out this vile act. They named and shamed three boys in year 4 who had already received ‘too many reflections this half term’ (note one boy has special needs, needs that are reportedly not met properly in school and as such struggles with his behaviour). And in the same breath made up a new rule that ’if you get too many reflections you will be banned from the playground until senior leaders decide you’re allowed to access it again’.

There were raised voices (shouting was the word the children used to describe it) from the school leaders. The deputy took the lead. The head chipped in. The COG stood to the side glaring at the children, scanning for suspects. At the end of the assembly, the COG was overheard telling her daughter that she ‘thinks she knows who the suspect is’.

The children were genuinely scared. Children were crying during the assembly. The deputy head told a few ‘don’t worry, you’re not in my suspect list’ and even cuddled some very visibly traumatised children at the end of assembly. Other teachers also comforted crying children as they exited the assembly. The message of ‘police action’ and ‘snitch on suspects’ was reinforced by teachers back in the classrooms. Children were pointing fingers at ‘the naughty kids’ and SEN kids because ‘they’re always in trouble so they probably did it’. This is the culture COLPAI breeds. Guilty until proven innocent.

As school ended, children reported this to their parents, many still very traumatised. Parents got to the chat to verify these reports and, sure enough, every single child’s account matched each others. So numerous parents then got in touch with the school to state categorically, that their child absolutely does not have permission to be spoken to or fingerprinted by the police. The school then scrambled to cover their arses and regain control of the narrative by emailing out a letter to all parents before school the next morning. A letter filled with lies and untruths about both the incident and the assembly. A letter that reminded parents how they should be so grateful, as should their children, for being able to attend school in ‘an architecturally designed building’. Now I could very well be wrong, but isn’t every building architecturally designed?? A letter that claimed that an entire cubicle panel would need replacing at a cost of over £1000 - and would need colour matching, if you don’t mind - and would now require the inconvenience of the school having to be accessed during the holiday. A letter that claimed the police would be in to run age appropriate workshops on graffiti, clearly insinuating that hundreds of children had gotten it wrong about police descending on the school the following day.

Children were absolutely terrified that they would be questioned by the police. And that they could be taken away to prison. This is the message the senior leaders drummed into these underage, vulnerable school children. Children went to bed crying that night. Children barely slept. Children didn’t want to go into school the following day. Children totally believed what they had been told by the powers to be because this was not out of character for senior leaders. It’s how they operate their system of behaviour control.

Numerous parents had individual meetings with the head teacher, during which she gaslit them, claiming their child’s account was wrong and their child was the only one feeling this way. Again, this is how COLPAI operate. Swat down each parent one at a time.

And this was but one of the dramas that occurred this year. One that really stands COLPAI out from the crowd. One that epitomises the way in which they operate and they pride themselves on.

Yes! @Sticksandstonesandcupsoftea this was horrendous! And I might just add that a formal complaint to the governors is moot because the COG is both actively running the school and complicit in its conduct.

It saddens me greatly that the COLPAI train is derailing and the school is in two very different camps for the educational experience and provision they receive. It seems the leadership team lack the capability to manage a whole school and all that it entails. This year they focused on year 6 at the expense of the rest of the school.

As is the COLPAI way, there’s been plenty of drama this year.

COLPAI kids stealing LIME bikes.

COLPAI kids aggressively “playing” knock and run, kicking in doors and terrorising residents and businesses on Exmouth Market.

SEN kids being pinned to the ground without cause by staff. No verbal warning or attempt to communicate with kids prior to using ‘positive handling’ as the school call it.

Overuse of TV/ screens. SEN kids being bribed with iPads, TV being watched throughout the day unrelated to the curriculum or earned rewards. From Cocomelon to Steve and Maggie to Garfield to Bluey to Pink Panther to films from Netflix and Disney+. YouTube is well used for PE lessons, brain breaks, music lessons and more. An aspect of COLPAI education many, many parents disprove of and school is not transparent about.

Meeting minutes being falsified by the school in an attempt to maintain all control, particularly with regards to their own “Outstanding”, “above and beyond” and “the most knowledgeable and skilful practitioners in the country” narrative.

The deputy head shouting at a mum that she should “go post on net mums” rather than remain professional and employ positive conflict resolution, especially when outside the school.

Not confined to this year, but the emails the head sends to parents reprimanding their private chats about the school and forbidding it.

The unsafe environment that is reception which resulted in a head injury within the first three days of school (a fraction of the cohort had just started). An injury that split a poor child’s head open, unseen by staff, needed hospital attention and then the surrounding circumstances fabricated by senior staff to cover themselves. It set the tone for a year of black eyes, multiple daily head injuries, aggressive physical behaviours, bullying, tormenting, biting, hair pulling, throwing of toys and objects, and pushing and shoving by numerous children. And many kids were let down academically with poor assessment, inconsistent teaching, punitive pastoral care and poor behaviour management.

The overpacked and poorly supervised playground which lends itself to numerous injuries and cases of teasing and bullying. Bullying that the head turns a blind eye too or tries to excuse.

A significant drop in the standards of educational provision and access to the SENCO becoming more scarce. There’s no accountability from the school and parents are regularly gaslit and lied to when concerns are raised. There’s also no consistency from year to year in terms of provision, standards and practices.

The child that was injured (broken bone) on year 5 school journey and not given medical attention by school staff and parents not notified until the next day. In fact, the deputy advised staff to let the child sleep on it because a good night’s sleep would do them good.

There are many more instances demonstrating that COLPAI is not what they purport it to be. On the surface it is seemingly idyllic but scratch that surface and the chasms appear. Nobody really buys the “it’s a state school offering private school education” mantra. There are some wonderful teachers. There are some terrible ones too. Most telling is the high turnover of staff at COLPAI. Whatever spin COLPAI want to put on it, the fact remains that surrounding schools do not have the same turnover. Same can be said for pupil retention…

Let’s just be honest and manage expectations accordingly.

Just to add in my two pence, my child is not near secondary age yet but was curious about schools as moving to new catchment area. I walk past COLPAI often and would never consider sending my child there for the pure fact that the playground was very clearly visible to people walking through golden lane estate, and you’d just see hundreds of kids jam packed in a tiny playground with barely any supervision. Once those flats above the school are filled too, i’d really hate to know people have direct access to overlook my child playing in the playground. Very strange. I know you can’t avoid seeing children play in playgrounds in central london but honestly I could have stood there handing out candy through the gates and talking to the children and no one would have noticed. They’ve now put some random wooden twigs along the gates to cover (?) the playground from view of street but it’s very DIY and not sure what took so long. Maybe not a valid reason to some, but for me I always felt a bit weird about it. Also walk past school entrance often and have had parents ignore the fact I am trying to get past with a baby in a buggy and just stand there until I have to say excuse me. Just not positive vibes from the off unfortunately.

It’s a terrible school. There are so many truly awful stories and I’m shocked Ofsted have not taken action.

You’re right the playground is concerning. There are too many children and a lack of supervision. Our LO has come home with bruising on their shins, inner arms, bite marks on their back, marks around their neck. There are no accident forms provided. When I have raised this with the school they either pretend nothing has happened or they blame SEN kids.

Not to mention the name calling and bullying which had been constant. Each time we speak to the head she pretends it’s the first time we've raised it and of course it’s never included in the meeting minutes they provide.

Everyone on this thread seems very unhappy with COLPAI. With numbers falling dramatically in Primary schools in the borough due to changing demographics, I’m wondering why you don’t take your children elsewhere? There must be plenty of places available in other schools.

It’s not always straightforward to
move, especially if you have more than one child or an EHCP.

@Positivemama fear not. The word is out there whilst exodus is underway and true to the first rule of Colpai that you do not talk about Colpai unless it’s praise, the SLT spin doctors have their hands full trying to mitigate reputation damage by singing glory about how they go above and beyond by doing the things other schools simply do.
Received a newsletter? They have gone above and beyond.
Met the teacher? Another extra to rub in parents’ faces.

The list is endless, as is the constant flurry of emails about how we should behave and how grateful we should be for the first-class education that beats both independent and other state schools.
Parents are repeatedly reminded that it’s Colpai or nothing and their child’s educational prospects would be ruined if they left.
Colpai might have had it all in its early days, but it was rather short lived as the school expanded but failed to adapt and accommodate.

Current EYFS and KS1 are an absolute clown show, and the rest of the school just ticks over.
Present year one started off with multiple supply teachers, injuries, and poor safeguarding practices. After a year of chaos and zero academic progress in reception, children experienced even more upheaval, as if the subpar performance last year wasn’t enough.
And as it’s all falling apart and the cracks are starting to show, one has to wonder what motives the holy trinity have and if the whole project is a self-serving exercise to climb the leadership ladder faster to the detriment of our kids.

The good news is that there is life after Colpai. And it’s refreshingly simple. Life when your child wants to go to school and you don’t cringe every morning when you have to walk through the gates. Life when your child doesn’t come from school with bumps and bruises from dysregulated SEN kids discarded in KS1 classrooms. Life where your child is progressing academically because they are actually taught. Life when you can talk to your child’s teacher and know you won’t be lied to. Life when your kid is happy again.

So they can come and burn my condo down but I think it’s time we tell the uncomfortable truth about Colpai.

Copal has issues. I do plan to hold them accountable via https://www.cola.org.uk/

They seriously gaslighted me till i came on Mumsnet and realised I was not imagining it.

I am sure I am not the only one who has been PM’ed by the mysterious martin321 asking about any recent updates on Colpai.

Dear Martin,
The beauty of mumsnet is that it can remain anonymous should you wish for it to be, which I do.
I will therefore respectfully request you to follow the unspoken DM etiquette and ask if it’s okay to PM next time you decide to sneak into my inbox.

I guess Ofsted disagreed with you guys 😢

https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50276842and