Perse girls.

[Bug2804]

Spf fees now £5700; highly spirited girls ... often incredibly arrogant and insensitive ...the more dramatic ... the more the teachers like it! Most girls here have a lack of basic manners. Pastoral care is not as good as believed ... some teachers referred to my bright but quietly confident girl as a liar after being called names, pushed, scratched and written on and had stuff taken as the well known bullies from prep were her favourites for her own personal reasons. Calmed down now as daughter avoids these girls... Schools attitude is we can't change their personalities! They take in new girls on financial support but do not support existing girls when assistance needed! Student is a mostly A student with some B's. The school is pushy ...not least some of the girls ... but there are many good things at the school to stretch their imaginations. Inconsistent delivery methods for homework. Email students on their pads at all times icluding midnight and 07:00 with work! On many, many occasions there are cover teachers, and sometimes no teachers at all...girls in daughter,
'S class run riot ... CERTAINLY ST TRINIANS. D taunted by girls when she went to find a teacher; on another time teacher was 20 mins late and told D off for going to find a teacher! Teachers often inflexible even tho caught out by their own lies and runs to principal who supports staff regardless of conduct. Couple of teachers are bullies. But stay away from them and stay quiet ... which is a shame if they are your form tutor. Teachers often take exercise books for weeks for marking, and hand out single sheets of paper for work. Occ homework marked and returned weeks later. Not enough support. Quite incredible. Think they retain students on back of name and name on CV opens doors? Give most support to those who are v high achievers where parents have spent extra money on musical, drama or sport opportunities, but school publish in their name ... documented elsewhere on mums net too.

I'm late to this bunfight thread. I don't have children at the SPF and never had. However, some of the criticism Bug makes does resonate with me regarding another independent school which our children have attended for a short period of time: generally poor standards of behaviour, teachers not acting professionally, senior teachers not responsive to negative feedback, etc.
Bug I think the problem is simply that the SPF doesn't suit your DD and does not appear to be, by your account, good value for money. I think you need to move her to a State school and put this behind you. Posting on MN in a ranty way like this is not going to help you and will just increase your frustration.
I wish you and your DD all the best.

I'm rather late arriving at this thread, but don't recognise the negativity at all! My humble but bright daughter thrived throughout her time at SPF. The girls were spirited and engaged and her friends were delightful. I knew many in her year through sports teams and previous schools (admittedly, they were recognised as being a particularly pleasant year group). Students come from diverse backgrounds and the girls accept - even embrace - each others' quirks/eccentricities. Our experience of pastoral care was exceptional. There were few petty rules, but a high and achievable expectation of standards. As for pressure, my daughter experienced FAR less pressure there than she did up to the age of 11 at her prep school! There is a policy of no homework during the holidays and they are constantly reminded of the importance of resting and doing other activities. My daughter worked sensibly, but was never overwhelmed (even doing IB). No school has 100% satisfaction among its pupils/parents and it clearly wouldn't be for everyone; maybe you just made the wrong choice for your daughter. Of the few people I've come across who have criticised SPF, it's always been clear why they didn't fit in!