Teddington, Waldegrave, or Turing House

[tw11]

Hi, my daughter is currently in year 5 and we have been living in a rental in Teddington for several years now. However, we are planning to buy a property soon. Obviously, we need to be very careful with property location and timing, because we'll have to register for secondary school in October 2018. Assuming budget isn't a concern (I wish!), which of these schools would you go for and why?

My daughter likes reading and arts, but wants to become a vet or work for Nat Geographic - loves animals :). Obvs that might change but she's always loved animals, can endlessly watch documentaries. She is in top sets for English, is average/slightly above in Maths - she's the youngest in her class and I believe that shows a bit. She's sporty, but not playing anything at a competitive level. She does have a good voice and takes piano lessons but wouldn't say she's very musical either. She is sociable and friendly, although sometimes "too nice" - I'm worried about bullying and girls cliques.

I don't particularly like the idea of a girls school, it feels very foreign to me, but I'm open to considering it. I like Waldegrave for its academic results, but when I look at the girls results of Teddington, they look similar. We're not religious at all and so faith schools are out of the question.

We're planning on visiting Waldegrave at one of their open mornings, and will also go to Turing House open evening. Re: Teddington - we know a bit more about it from parents, and we've visited the school a couple of times, not for open days though.

Any thoughts? Thanks in advance for any comments.


PS. We are in the catchment for Teddington & (I believe for) Turing, at the moment. So the choice is either stay in this area of Tedd (smaller house) OR move to be in the Waldegrave catchment area (poss bigger house).

[TwickersW12]

Probably an old thread now , but I assume everyone now knows that Teddington got a "requires improvement" in the latest Ofsted report.

And it does have a significant problem with staff turnover - OH works there , and after 2 and a bit years found themselves longest serving member of their department.

Have you considered Orleans ?

[LottieProsser]

I think all the 6th forms are saying that students need to pass their end of year exams at the end of Year 12 to carry on to A-levels even if they are not doing AS. Not sure which 6th forms are still doing AS. Esher isn't.

[Twick13]

That will be interesting. There hadn’t,t been an ofsted inspection sine the new head took over or opening the sixth form. We found it ok but nothing special . Ds always said there was a lot of low level disruption in classes and they never seemed bothered if kids weren’t,t meeting their targets.

[ribcagetickling]

Orleans had an Ofsted inspection last week, so the report for that should cover the 6th form too when it comes out.

[2B1Gmum]

I work alongside some lovely Orleans 6th form students (in their part time job), sensible, bright and hardworking and a lovely relative in 6th form at Grey Court. I think all the new 6th forms are on a learning curve, but determined to do well for the students, all offer DoE throughout school but not sure how much other extra curricula is generally available. Differing 6th form uniform policies, but stricter than Esher and other colleges. I think they are all strict above timetables and registration too - some are desperate for more freedom afforded at Esher, but not all cope with freedom. I think all 6th forms, Esher included will have a clear out at end of lower sixth, but with new liner A Levels this could prove problematic - which ever way you look at it.

[Ancienchateau]

I too only have experience of Waldegrave and we are very pleased with it and have two happy DDs there.

Does anyone know what the 6th form is like at Orleans Park? Or Grey Court? Apart from just the results?

[MrsGuyOfGisbo]

If you genuinely have a choice, go for Grey Court all the time.
I have worked in all the Richmond schools ( on supply and as a FT teacher). If I had to choose a state school then Grey Court is the only one I would send my own DC to. Definitely above Waldegrave which has coasted on its geography and having only girls and never to Teddington which has also coasted and where behaviour is appalling. OK if your child is feisty and can shrug it off, but not if they actually want to work in a calm environment.
( re Waldegrave - Philippa Nunn is baling out while the school is still riding high.)

[2B1Gmum]

Mrs Nunn has announced her plans to resign from headship but not for another year. I don't think she would send her own DC to the school she was head at, teachers in my family try to avoid having their own children in their school too. Will be interesting to see who gets appointed in her place, although my DD will have left by then. Head of sixth form has a great reputation, a contact in education says she was very sought after. I still think they are babied a bit, but results are great so maybe they justify it.

[LottieProsser]

Yes, Mrs Nunn lives in Teddington very close to Collis and her daughters have been at Collis and Teddington.

[rooodawakening]

She was also spotted at the Esher College Open Evening.

[mrsmuddlepies]

Pretty certain the Head Teacher of Waldegrave Girls sends her daughter to Teddington School.

[2B1Gmum]

I only have experience of Waldegrave and my D has stayed for sixth form which she is enjoying more than previous years, having two brothers she said she did miss having boys around and would not have stayed if it were girls only. It can be cliquey, and it is true that unless you are really sporty you will quickly get dropped from teams which is a shame because being fit is so important and good for stress relief etc. Extra curricula could be better in my opinion too. Having said that my D got same results as relatives in independent and selective schools, if you are bright and prepared to work you can achieve well. Slightly odd hours, the two early finishes would be an issue if you are working long hours yourself, I would not be keen for an 11 year old to be home alone for 3 or 4 hours twice a week - but they are encouraged to stay and do work at school and the facilities are there to do so. They baby them a bit in sixth form, but the school is determined to do the best for their students - like all schools there are the odd poor teachers but also some really good and very approachable ones too. We are walking distance so it made sense to stay and since being in mixed sixth form my D's social life has taken off with a lovely bunch, mostly boys from old primary who moved from Teddington (due to Teddingtons not great sixth from results!) and one or two from independents wanting a change of scene. Sixth from building is much more impressive than the rest of the school that is looking a bit tired. I also know two of the governors and they are really committed and very supportive.

[tw11]

We've now visited all 4 schools - Grey Court, Teddington, Turing House, and Waldegrave. DD didn't think much of Turing House, she was worried about them moving away from Teddington. I did like it, I was impressed by the headteacher and students - and if it weren't for the site situation it would have been a much tougher choice. I believe they will do well.

Our (parents') preferences are for Grey Court and Teddington. We liked both schools and if we lived closer to Grey Court it would have probably been top of the list. Their headteacher is outstanding. I liked the building and grounds much better than Teddington's (much more space). However, we loved Teddington as well, the students and teachers I spoke with were great, and I'm very happy that we're in the catchment area. The HT is new, one week into the job. For me, Tedd wins purely on proximity, it's a 10-min walk (for now, at least), and on the social/familiarity aspect - many DD's friends will likely go there and she'll be familiar with many other faces. I really hope the new headteacher will do a good job going forward.

Regarding Waldegrave, I'm happy we visited. I doubt it's a good fit for DD, it seems a bit too rigid and too pushy, and personally I wouldn't want her to spend 5 years in a girls-only environment. I'm sure it's great academically, but for us grades aren't everything (and if W had boys, not sure exam results would have been the same). I also didn't particularly like the headteacher. She didn't make any effort to show she cared about prospective students, there was no Q&A - it would have been useful to spend 10 minutes responding to questions from parents, rather than reciting about exam results and ofsted greatness. (NB. by contrast, the Turing House open evening was much better with both HT and students answering children and parents questions).

Now, interestingly enough, DD's top 2 are Teddington and Waldegrave, and she has said she couldn't decide yet. We aren't in the catchment for Waldegrave, so if we decide to rank it first, we need to find a property and move in before October next year, which means we need to start looking... well pretty much now, as soon as we decide which school to rank first. I definitely don't want us to move to another rental, we've had enough of it.

Thanks all who contributed, this has been a v good discussion.


PS. Loved all schools' Drama and Art facilities and offerings. I wish I were an 11-yr old about to start school now :)

[LottieProsser]

OK - the figures for 2017 were 30% for Teddington www.teddington.richmond.sch.uk/Examination-Results and looking at other schools' websites 50% Waldegrave, 33% Orleans and Grey Court 43%. Would be interesting to see girls results separately!

[user1485813778]

Hi LottieProsser - sorry, my point wasn't addressing the boy/girl split, as info I've seen doesn't break down girls & boys at a grade/subject level. It refers to overall results by grade/subject - e.g. % of entries A*-A: Greycourt 34/Orleans 22/Teddington 14/Waldegrave 40 - found on random document (somewhere in public domain), so not sure what year it's from (at least 2 years old). Don't want to overstate the point; as as OP states, results aren't everything, but just referencing one aspect of the thread.

[bluesnowdog]

Hello, the current 3 years stay where they are in Livingstone House, the next 2 years (current year 6 and year 5) go to Clarendon, then they all shift over to Whitton, but of course Whitton still not at planning stage, but there does seem to be progress on it. Will only be 100 per year for those 2 year groups in a decent sized site, so no one leaves Livingstone, those who are there now will stay there.

[LottieProsser]

I've never seen a detailed breakdown by subject for girls at Teddington so interested to know where you saw it.

I see that Turing House is being moved to the Clarendon School site in Hampton just down the road from Hampton High and from the site near David Lloyd that the Council refused to consider. Wasn't quite clear from what I read whether the whole school was moving out of Livingston House or just part of it.

[user1485813778]

Sorry i meant 'site'!

[user1485813778]

tw11 - don't think the granular grade breakdown is on that sight (I might also be missing that)...just looked at the hand outs at the open evenings on past couple of years and what was said/not said in press releases when results came out....

[refusetobeasheep]

Grey Court is in lovely grounds and nowadays outstanding. They’re art and drama especially good.

[tw11]

@user1485813778: results aren't everything. Having said that, do you mind posting a link with the results, I might be reading things incorrectly on the DfE site.

[user1485813778]

When comparing GCSE results between Waldegrave and Teddington girls, I can see C grade and above is broadly similar, but I get the impression that A* & A grade results are a much lower % at Teddington - especially in English, which strikes me as very under-achieving given the intake over past few years. Possibly because there is a weakness in teaching English, other essay-based humanities don't seem to do well in terms of highest grades - with many scraping through with a C grade. Science has been strong, but they have lost around 5 teachers in the past year, and stopped streaming some years which may impact the quality of teaching. That said there are certainly many very bright, motivated kids at the school. I'm just not sure they are best-served by some of the teachers. Hopefully the new headteacher will really fulfill the potential of all the pupils.

[LottieProsser]

Just to say that they have already appointed a Teddington headteacher - see the main thread. She must have been appointed with the knowledge that Mr W was departing.

[tw11]

Thanks again. We're definitely in the catchment for Tedd, TH, and Grey Court and so we will be probably better off postpone purchasing a property until after we start school (although I'm fed up with living in a rental), so that's 2 years from now. More deposit saved I guess...

Well, unless DD falls in love with Waldegrave, case in which we need to find a property and move in before October next year. I can't stand the thought of moving to another rental.

@drumkit: thank you for that list! and @lottie for the news re: the Tedd school headteacher.

[LottieProsser]

Another factor that I heard about last night is that the current Teddington head, John Wilkinson, has been promoted to be overall head of the Richmond West Schools' Trust, which runs Waldegrave, Teddington, Twickenham and Hampton High. As both the deputies of Teddington and Waldegrave have moved to run Hampton and Twickenham recently there may be a brand new head of Teddington from an external source soon. Parents tend to like Mr W - he is perceived as a good manager and nice man but not necessarily as charismatic and good with the kids as the previous Head so it will be interesting to see who they find next.