Less than flattering review of potential school

[rathlin]

This is a school we are considering for our DS. It's been hard to find any reviews on the web and I don't know of anyone who has kids there. I haven't been to visit it yet but this one review has put me off a bit. I know I shouldn't be swayed by one review and there is no context to it but would be interested in opinions. Would you be concerned by this? The school does have an excellent inspection report......

This school flatters to deceive.It is not what it seems.Don't be fooled by the glossy marketing.The school is unbelievably cliquey.If you fit the clique your child will prosper.If you don't your child will just be an add on.Apart from two gifted teachers in the lower school the rest of the staff are mediocre-check out the recent 2011 results-down 33% in Maths.The behaviour of some of the pupils at the school is something again that the school doesn't want you to know about.There have been a lot of suspensions and expulsions this year.The school does not have a coherent anti-bullying procedure.The school is run by two heads as a business first and a school second.

The only people who post reviews of schools on Internet are generally those with an axe to grind. You would do better to try and talk to local parents who have children there. I also found that I got an instant good vibe from one particular school when I was looking for dd who has sen. I tuned out all the film flam and actually went for the school on the basis of the way the head and reception teacher were keen to discuss my dd needs and were welcoming and encouraging. I saw at least five schools and whilst they all said the right things it was obvious which one actually had a good caring ethos. Go with your gut feeling. If you were happy before you read this I would not pay it any attention. if you already had misgivings then maybe.

:) I read that as it has been written by a parent who has a grudge. My DS goes to a lovely little village school. Yes it has a few minor niggles - nowhere's absolutely perfect, but I can only think of 2 out of a couple of hundred parents who would be happy to write a derogatory review of it.
Go and visit and see what you think.