Squirrels Wimbledon

[chinni]

I would like to know if there are any problems as mentioned in the 2009 Ofsted review. I would like to know from mums who already have children in the school if any of the stuff mentioned is true and it is truly affecting their child's development.

I have a son who is on the wait list for 2013 and hence would like to know if we should pursue this school for him. We would like the school to be academic which we presume Squirrels is...but worries are about being uni directional, bullying etc. We would like to know if its is true. Any comments and opinions would be extremely helpful.

Also any comments or statistics in the last 3 years on Squirrels students (52 of them) getting into Kings college school would also be helpful.

I am not a parent but know there is a new head-perhaps she will make a difference.

HAve just looked at the Ofsted and would really be concerned.

You are right to be concerned. Have read the ofsted report and I would ask serious questions of the school, ie new head teacher, about whether improvements have been made, especially to the way teaching is not meeting the needs of all pupils. It reads like the report about a school that is almost taking advantage of the ability of its pupils rather than building on their strengths. If nothing has changed, one would have to question what you are really getting for an outlay of nearly £3000 per term. A real eye opener. The disclaimer on this is that a new head can have an immediate and dramatic effect on a school and ofsted reports aren't always what they seem.

Yes new head may have uncovered a can of worms, so to speak, and be taking immediate action.
The staff appear to have been there donkeys years which is not ale ays a good thing.
As littlebylittle says, ofsted reports are not always what they seem- but I still find it disturbing.
Don't think I 'd fancy ds there.
Maybe post on the local Wimbledon site.

I don't live in the area but know a few people who had/have kids there. Their view is that you get what it says on the tin, and they would not necessarily have sent their sons there if they had been different types of boys (all lovely boys for what it's worth) - the school is pretty open about what it is offering. I think there was a lot of chagrin about the report - like the school was being judged for not being a good pear when it has only ever claimed to be an apple. Obviously whether it is appropriate for a school catering for that age range to be what squirrels claims to be is another question. And no doubt one the new head will have to consider.

Dont think it is purely academically focussed - also lots of sport. Dont think there is much arts and crafts etc though.

Boys seem to go on to either kings or Shrewsbury house. Not sure how many to each though.

I too don't have boys there, but anecdotally have not heard great things about the school. It is definitely not a feeder for KCS by all accounts, and not advice is given on other schools after 7. I have met quite a few mums who have bad things to say about the school, and also a few who are panicking about where there boys will go after 7.
It's the private schools trap reallly, where I think parents feel once in the private system you have to stay in it. arguably, a good state school should be fine up to seven anyway. Mind you I am about the move my son into a prep for year 1, but that's because I am hoping to avoid the scramble at 7 that way!
In your case, I would definitely say shop around while you have the time. Try Donhead, Rokeby etc. Otherwise, why not try the state outstanding ofsted schools such as Merton Park, Dundonald or Bishops Gilpin? It is really about having fun at this age: most reception kids do 50% play and 50% learning, and they can do that at a good state school!

I don't have a son there and haven't read the Ofsted report, but the grapevine feedback at nursery was not good; several boys who had gone there from my DCs' nursery were very unhappy.

Hi I'm mum of 2 squirrels boys, elder one off to KCJS in September.
Ofsted report I would take with a pinch of salt! It's a great little old fashioned school, totally geared to small boys. Its fairly strict - they expect & encourage good behaviour, & focus on the academics.

OK Sport, not great for Art or Music, but very good at basics.
New head is previous deputy head & is lovely, very experienced & hands-on. She has made some good changes in her first year as head, brought in new staff for example & extended the provision of extra curriculam classes. Previous head was rather wet TBH.
Plenty of advice on next school choices - they're holding a future schools open evening with a number of schools coming this September, for the year 1 parents for example.
V good KCJS entrance record - I think 12 or 14 out of 25 ish applicants this year for example. (That is stil better than anywhere else I believe)
Both my boys have loved it, & have enjoyed going to school every day. The only downside IMO is that it only goes up to Yr 3.

chinni - SofaQueen provided some good statistics on WCPS on another thread, Squirrels Wimbledon, Fri 26th Nov 2010.

Last year WCPS put 24 boys forward for KCJS and 18 got through, a 75% success rate. As there were just over fifty places in total and nearly two thousand applicants, they took over a third of the available places.

Deaddei - you are correct, I was told that the new Head was Acting Head and was put through the standard interview process before being appointed Head Teacher in Sept 2010. She certainly did uncover a 'can of worms' and took swift and decisive actions. The premises have been overhauled, new assembly hall, building refurbishments. on-site library etc. Staff turnover has been very high as older staff retired or were replaced and modern educational practices such as website, policies, senior management team, greater integration with Kings College etc introduced.

Maarias - Are you sure there is not any advice about the other schools after the age of seven? An inaugural "Future Schools Evening" was held on September 22nd, 2011 at Squirrels and attended by the likes of KCJS, Shrewsbury House, Milboburne Lodge, Rokeby, Donhead etc. According to a colleague who attended, it went very well and is scheduled to become an annual event.

I think the last poster meant to say 200 not 2,000 applicants! That would be a seriously oversubscribed school. This year the numbers are slightly down for KCJS applications - 189 for 56 places.

slummymomma - Thank you for the correction, you certainly have a better knowledge than me about Squirrels, mine is based on information provided by a college who is looking at the school for his sons. Both he and his wife are not from the UK and are trying to make sense of the sometimes strange practices involved in school selection, application and entry!

Out of interest, what are the stages to apply for somewhere like KCJS? He understood a written application could be made but that would have to be accompanied by a substantial fee in order to secure a place on the waiting list.

This would\could be followed by an interview and then finally an exam, after which the school may offer a place.

How many boys would normally apply to a place like WCPS and how large a fee would be required to secure place on the waiting list?

I think the information you have received is a bit confused.

To apply for KCJS you:

1. Complete an apllication form and pay a registration fee (I think tghis is £75)
2. Your son sits an exam, has an interview and does an activity morning
3. If your son is offered a place you pay a deposit (a terms fees)
4. If your son is not offered a place but only just missed out he can go on the waiting list. You may get offered a place if some of those initally offered a place turn it down.

All the information is on the website. HTH.

slummymomma - Your response certainly did help, I looked at the website where, use as you stated, the information is presented and sent the link to my colleague.

He and his wife have looked at WCPS and several similar schools and I have tried to help them out by sourcing information wherever possible and this site and your comments are much appreciated!

Pastoral Care at Squirrels/WCPS;

wimbledoncommonprep.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=section&id=32&Itemid=252

This page may give some insight into the concerns raised in the posts above?

But is the school not the primary source of boys of that age to King's College school?

Squirrels is the biggest chunk of boys that go to KCJS but I think because no other school sits so many boys. I think about 40 boys are sitting from Squirrels this year so if it gets 18 in that's not such a good percentage but is far more than other schools as they don't sit as many candidates.

I had two boys at the school during the last Ofsted report and they were really happy there. The school was marked down because it concentrated on reading, writing and maths and not playing outdoors in sand and water! Apparently the Ofsted inspector was not interested in the fact that all the boys could read well above their age and was more concerned about ticking boxes. Parents were pretty annoyed that they had chosen the school to prepare boys for 7+ and Ofsted did not inspect on this basis.

Maybe look at more recent inspection report. The new Head has turned the place around. Old staff gone and new, effective team in place. A breath of fresh air..