Raynes Park High

[Samnella]

I have heard this school is on the up and everything on their website looks good.But the Ofsted and GCSE results are not good. Has anyone got any recent personal experience?

I don't have direct experience of this school but know people who do and have a secondary school aged DS with former school friends there.

The new Head started a couple of years ago (possibly three?) and I think the implication was that it was the Year 7 cohort the year after he started who would really be the group to watch - in terms of much improved grades etc....If my reckonings are correct, they are the current Yr 8 or Yr 9s so there will be a couple more years to wait to see the 'proof of the pudding'

What I do know is that he's a young, dynamic and ambitious Head who has now got a good SMT behind him.

When is RPHS's next Ofsted due? Presumably it might be quite out-of-date and pre-date the arrival of Mr Wheatley?

Thank you. The last Ofsted was a few months ago and was a 3 which is off putting. Good to hear its on the up though.

The most recent Ofsted report: www.rphs.org.uk/29/ofsted

Achieving a marvellous Ofsted report when you are a new Head Teacher at a secondary school which needs to up its game is near on impossible.
I think the Ofsted report acknowledged some of the positive changes so far and helped to identify other areas where changes could be made ( but these had already identified by the Head before the Ofsted visit as this Head has a plan).
My suggestion would be visit the school and other schools and get a feel. Ofsted is just a very small part of a very big picture and does not convey the atmosphere and daily school life. My friends DS got 10 GCSEs there last year all A*-B. And no he didn't have a private tutor. And yes some pupils have probably come out with sub- standard qualifications.
I have visited and worked in outstanding schools where the general feeling was not very nice.
I hope this helps.

Thankyou Inneedofstrongblackcoffee. That's interesting to hear your side especially as you have worked in secondary schools. I have seen some, erm, interesting behavior from students from there when doing the school run over the years but have noticed a general improvement recently. It would be great if this school upped it's game. We are in desperate need of a good co-ed secondary in this area.