Chalfont Valley Academy - Little Chalfont

[adiach]

Hi,

My daughter is due for school next year and we are currently in the catchment for Chalfont Valley Academy (formerly the bell lane).

I am hearing that the school is improving considerably with the new head. Does anyone have any direct experiences with the school?

Would appreciate any comments.

I was once told by a former Ofsted inspector that there's no such thing as a good or bad school, it's a good or bad school for your child. Meaning that as each child (and family) is different, what is the right school for one child will not be the right school for another. So the experiences of other MNers won't necessarily be yours.

You really need to have a look round Chalfont Valley, St Georges, Chenies and Little Chalfont. That way you've got a bench mark to compare it to. It will also help you to decide what's important for you in your DD's education and if Chalfont Valley can provide that. Based on what I've heard, I'd be asking quite carefully about the % of children with SEN, how they are supported and how the children without SEN are challenged and stretched. I'd also be asking about mixed age classes in KS1, if they still have them and if so how they manage them. And that's the limit of my knowledge!! Hopefully others with more direct experience will be along soon.

What is the catchment area like now? Years ago it was very - mixed - to be polite! I used to work in that area and heard some stories. High proportion of SEN likely. Presumably you cannot get into Little Chalfont School? The other schools suggested are definitely worth a look.

Gosh does Little Chalfont have a mixed catchment anywhere? I'm surprised anyone can afford to live there !!!! I have to say the Eact academy has a very impersonal website and their latest newsletter has 2 items that seem to demand money with menaces ... send in your cash or your child won't be able to see the baby chicks or join in with circus skills. Not very inclusive.

Yes it does! I won't name the roads or the properties or the types of problems we used to see there but lots of social services interventions and SEN was high. Bell Lane School was challenging as a result, hence avoided by lots of people. I cannot comment now it is an academy, but I would look closely at how it feels in comparison to other local schools. You can never assume "leafy lanes" do not have their problems, they do.