Firstly, I'd like to start by saying that I had looked at multiple schools before enrolling my child at COLPAI, but chose (regrettably) this school due to its location more than anything. We can walk to school and its easy enough to get to. The building is modern and learning does happen.
To start with, I have already seen the post about COLPAI being a PR vs Reality concern. This is something that has been true for me as an experience at this school.
Firstly, in the time that I have been here, I have felt wholly unsupported or listened to by members of SLT who, it seems, are far more concerned with the 'image' of the school as opposed to the community engagement aspects. There have been times where communicating with the headteacher has proved difficult, and it feels as though she is trying to dismiss you.
Across the years, I have seen multiple teachers leave half way through the year, and there is quite a substantial staff turnover, with allegations of unfair behaviour made against SLT towards their staff. I was also made aware by my child that when the previous deputy head departed, they had a special 'tea party' for her and only certain children and select teachers were invited to join (during school hours mind you). I don't know how they are hand-selecting which children and which teachers get to join this 'tea party' and which children and teachers have to continue working, but it seems very unfair and my child was rightfully confused and upset that they were not a part of it. In regards to the conversation on a sense of favouritism from the previous COLPAI thread, this seems to check out.
As for my child's education, they seem to be doing fine at school; the lessons from the sounds of things are being taught (great), although I've heard from multiple children and families that a few teachers can be quite aggressive and may shout at the children. My child frequently explains how certain teachers will shout very loudly on the playground and in the classroom (I won't name any names). As well as this, my child also expressed that a TA is known to yell at children in their face, and they have come home to tell me how much this scares them and makes them never want to go near this TA. This worry has been shared with other families who have expressed a similar concern for how their children are being spoken to at home.
SLT have shown themselves to be inconsistent, wobbly, and unaware. I have seen the headteacher on occasion say the names of children incorrectly, or outright forget the names of children altogether. As one of my older children goes into Year 9, their secondary school headteacher (and she has a lot more children's names to remember) always approaches my child, knows their name, and is pleasant and informative. The headteacher at COLPAI seems unsure of what she's doing, and really acts more as a business manager than a headteacher involved in any of their learning, so much so that my child actually doesn't even know her name or who she is! She is known as the lady in assembly!
The deputy head is new, and has made some drastic changes to the school since she has been there; in that time, multiple teachers have left part way through the year. Cases of targeted and unfair behaviour as forementioned discuss how teachers are treated unfairly and differently, and not given enough support, creating a lack of community which we as parents notice. Speaking to my sister, I hear all about her child's primary school and how involved and positive and community-driven the teachers and parents are, collaborating as one big unit to support these children and give them the best experiences possible - all lead by the head teacher who sounds fantastic. At COLPAI, the head teacher either doesn't have the charisma, or doesn't seem to care, that there is such a lack of community at this school, which is a really big shame given there could be so much more opportunity for collaboration.
Overall, the school looks pretty and they put on a good show, but the conversations around shouting teachers and TA's, unfair treatment of staff, and a culture that lacks any spirit, has really turned me off this school. My child does not particularly enjoy school in the same way they did, as they start, as do I, to notice some of the cracks in the perfectly painted walls, and that is my biggest concern, because they used to love school, but are now hating it because they are feeling nervous around teachers who yell!
I also feel exasperated talking to members of SLT who contradict themselves and a head who has no real answers to anything. Anybody else feeling the same?