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Original poster

Richmond Borough Schools Chat 9

580 replies

ChrisSquire2 · 26/09/2016 11:07

This thread follows on from Richmond Borough Schools Chat 8 starting February 2016.
News and opinions on all the changes to schools in Richmond borough.

See also:

Richmond Borough Schools Chat 7 starting May 2015

Links to earlier threads (1-6), starting in February 2011

OP posts:
deadlinedaisy · 22/03/2019 13:24

It's normally just before the Easter holidays isn't it?

manoella · 22/03/2019 13:50

Thanks for the reply. We got Waldegrave, but would love to have Grey Court. Let's see. We are number 5 on the waiting list.

AbsintheAndChips · 23/03/2019 00:17

At number 5, you have a good chance. But I would be very happy with Waldegrave. All the children I know there seem to love it.

manoella · 23/03/2019 12:21

Yes, no doubt. But we would prefer a sex-mix gender education. Also Grey Court is closer to us.

deadlinedaisy · 27/03/2019 11:04

I found an interesting link here (last question) about how the Livingstone Academy came to be selected for the Mortlake Brewery site (and reading between the lines there would be no technical possibility whatsoever of the dodgy faith school group getting a bid through to replace them) ... www.richmond.gov.uk/services/planning/stag_brewery/stag_brewery_questions

DancingbytheRiver · 31/03/2019 13:41

The Queen's School HM in Kew is leaving. Not surprising after the visit we had last year when we met her. Does anyone know what are the plans for a new HM?

deadlinedaisy · 03/04/2019 19:46

Great to see Stanley primary bouncing back and getting a Good Ofsted: www.stanley.richmond.sch.uk/ofsted/

SailAway123 · 03/04/2019 21:16

Great news for Stanley. They made this wonderful video - so much energy and passion in that school!

AbsintheAndChips · 04/04/2019 00:02

Well done, Stanley! Just looked at the video. I very much like that they give children a bit of choice with the uniform in terms of colour. Really nice to see a school trusting children to make their own choices.

deadlinedaisy · 04/04/2019 15:44

Hampton High just announced they got a Good too. Fantastic news! Hopefully Teddington will be next.

SmellTheGlove · 10/04/2019 19:24

I've been reading this fantastic thread over and over since my DS was offered Teddington for September. We live in Kingston and it was our third choice. I was initially really upset, not for any real dislike of the school but because it is quite far away and much larger than our first choice (DS has quite bad anxiety, he is on the SEN register for it at primary). We've now been for two visits and I was very impressed by the HT and the head of Year 7. I'm a teacher myself, and my school has just been through Ofsted, so I'm always slightly sceptical about inspections! If anyone would like to offer any further reassurances I would appreciate it!

AbsintheAndChips · 11/04/2019 23:29

I personally know only a couple of children at Teddington, but they seem very happy there (Y7). For further reassurance, my DD's primary teacher moved her child from Grey Court to Teddington following some quite severe bullying some years ago, and it has been a very happy move. Teddington has been great for this child, who is also anxious.

SmellTheGlove · 12/04/2019 08:02

Thank you absinthe. I have heard a lot of good things. This whole secondary school admissions is a nightmare. There seem to be a lot of people who have not got their first choice. The TKA catchment in particular has shrunk to 1.1km which is ridiculously small. An issue there is also that they are still prioritising siblings from when the school opened and the catchment was 18km!

AbsintheAndChips · 13/04/2019 22:26

It was the same last year. Some people got no offer at all initially, never mind a first choice offer.

Cardey · 16/04/2019 09:46

Are primary school admissions communicated today?

deadlinedaisy · 17/04/2019 11:05

Council press release about primary offer day is here: www.richmond.gov.uk/council/news/press_office/older_news/april_2019/high_number_of_first_choice_primary_school_offers

Looks like there were around 70 more applicants than last year when some people on here have said there was a bit of a dip.

PKenn · 23/04/2019 14:36

@SmelltheGlove - my son has been at Tedd for 5 years and is about to sit his GCSEs. He is dyslexic and, whilst he got offered additional study skills sessions etc, there wasn't much support on the ground from an overworked SEN dept. I would advise you to get close to the SENCO , Helen Crocker, once your child starts. They have tea and coffee sessions for SEN kids' parents. My son has largely been happy there and there has been no bullying that I've noticed at all (was bullied at Newland House where he was before). Kathy Pacey is amazing in terms of her energy and dedication and she is a really good listener. If you have any concerns you should first try head of year and then Kathy. I think RI as a rating was harsh and I would put them in the Good bracket (rather than Outstanding). Hopefully there will be another OFSTED soon which will reassure parents.

SmellTheGlove · 23/04/2019 19:25

Thank you so much PKenn. That's really helpful. I'm planning on calling them next week to arrange an appt with the SENCO to get my DS on the radar! I was very impressed with Kathy Pacey - she was good at giving concrete plans of how she's improving things rather than just 'spin'...

SailAway123 · 04/06/2019 16:17

What's the deal with Teddington joining Bourne Education Trust? Does anyone know anything about them? According to the website, it was were formed to turn around Jubilee High School in Addlestone and now has 10 schools (mix of primary and secondary).

muminL · 09/07/2019 07:33

Looks like Teddington can no longer offer any modern foreign languages at A-level. And it doesn’t share subjects with Waldegrave either. That’s such a shame.

coldcoldsnow · 09/07/2019 14:59

Teddington is offering French and German at A level for 2020 entry - see the recent presentation slides from link on the application page of the sixth form part of the school website

jimmyldn · 10/07/2019 11:43

Apparently the head and deputy head of RPA are stepping down. Anyone know the details? All I could find is www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/17683498.new-headteacher-to-take-over-at-richmond-park-academy/, which says the new head comes from Harris Academy Battersea. My child is year 5, and we're in the RPA catchment, so considering our options for next year.

Lovetobemummy · 13/07/2019 10:15

I’m relocating to the area and considering RPA for my daughter. I’ve just read they gonna have the new head - hopefully this is a good news!? She will be working closely with Dr David Moody, Executive Director of AET. I just wonder why the GcSE results are so poor for the last few years!? Any ideas?
As I understand the current head (who is now stepping down) was hired in 2016 to improve the school & results. Seems to me he didn’t manage? Anyone knows anything? :-)

deadlinedaisy · 13/07/2019 11:33

I read somewhere that the Head has moved to a school closer to where he lives with his young family (seems fair enough). It's another school in the same trust so they obviously have faith in him.

Not sure about the deputy, but fairly common for both to go at same time either because the deputy went for the headship and didn't get it or because the change at the top triggers itchy feet.

Watch out here on Mnet as there have been a few sock-puppet accounts set up with a grudge against RPA over the years - possibly disgruntled ex-staff from when they had a clear-out and parents angry about a bullying issue. Lots of schools have that sort of thing going on though, so don't let it put you off. I don't know the school personally but it's popular in the area.

deadlinedaisy · 13/07/2019 17:27

Some sad news here about RPA's former headteacher Lesley Kirby: sites.google.com/aetinet.org/richmond-park-academy/news

She moved to another AET school too.