Kingsdale Foundation school - honest opinions please

[crybabybunting]

Hi, our son has been given a 'half scholarship' in sports to this school. We are dithering about whether to put it first on our CAF and would appreciate any information from parents with children at the school.

My main questions are, is the sports provision any good and does the scholarship place amount to much if he does go to Kingsdale?

Is the SEN provision any good? He is dyslexic and in danger of falling behind in English despite being a bright kid in other areas.

How do they deal with bullying? Is it taken seriously / nipped in the bud quickly? Is there a culture of kindness at the school?

Any other honest info good or bad would be really helpful. Thanks in advance.

You'll struggle to get answers I'm afraid as Kingsdale get threads on here deleted PDQ.

Is it possible to send me a PM on here? If anyone has anything to share I'd be very grateful.

I’m not sure why Kingsdale is always accused of deleting posts, because I’ve never seen it happen.

Anyway, I’m still going to put my head above the parapet here and provide some answers.

There is a lot of sport on offer, in PE lessons and definitely a wide variety in the after school clubs - fencing, archery, and even horse riding (year 7s only, I think)

My DD also got a half sports scholarship, but to be honest I only put her forward for it as a way to increase her chance of getting a place at the school. Because according to the over subscription criteria at the time, children on the scholarship waiting list were 2nd to get offered any available places. This is how it actually worked out for my DD in the end, wasn’t offered a place on offer day but got a place a week later.

I don’t know anything about the SEN provision.

The heads of year or any other teacher that I’ve dealt with on bullying type issues, have been quick to get involved and provide solutions.

A culture of kindness? Kids are kids... sometimes just unkind for no reason... in any school...!

It’s not a perfect school, but it’s not a bad school either.

Some additional info:

• Class size for core subject lessons are kept to 22-24; some MFL classes have ended up with less than 15 this year
• School open to input from parents - parent forum held every month
• loads of school trips available
• maths, English & science set from year 7

We're can i buy a thick fur on the hood coat

My ds has just left Kingsdale for a good university having gone in on a half sports scholarship. We were v pleased with it. It's not perfect and the admin can be chaotic but any concerns were dealt with quickly and effectively.

Maz 99 you are right. It is ok but I am having issues as D changed since being there. I think too big. Get a smaller school if poss. Not good for disability, large parents eve. I think diff for everyone.

Totally agree too large looking to move my dd struggling with options. Awful for Sen no proper structures . If your DC is very bright or sporty or artistic it’s a good school otherwise look else where there are 2 sides to the school and the brightest side has more opportunities

I have one child in Year 11 and one in Year 9, both very different. The eldest is very able and has benefited from additional maths provision, the younger has SEND and has received excellent support from her heads of year. I don't think the size of the school is a problem as my kids mix with the people they have classes with and are largely oblivious to everyone else. Their own grumble is the lunch queues so both take packed lunch.