Eaton Square School

[Sheilamay]

I just got an acceptance for the Eaton Square School for my boy to start reception next year. He's on the waitlist for Knightsbridge as well. Does anyone have any inside knowledge of this school? It's good points and not so good points? Does it have a good reputation? There is a newish head, Sebastian Hepher who I heard good things. We're new to London and need help!

[Mumoftwokids1234]

Oh my we were considering here for our son! Is it still like this? Any up to date reviews?

[greenspaces4peace]

@YuChuz London Park School is part of another school rebranding and expanding.
LPS is loosely affiliated to EATON HOUSE not Eaton Square.
the proposed location is Clapham.

[YuChuz]

Eaton Square Senior School in Mayfair: I took my son out as his behaviour deteriorated. His timetable and classrooms changed when the teachers left in the middle of the year. It is a small school but the staff turnover is very bad at this school. My son was not supported when I made complaints. I wanted a more established school for my son and not a forever trial school. I did not know that the school has changed its name three times already. Recently I came to know that it is changing its name again to London Park School.

[pkim123]

Eaton Square has such a regal name, I think a lot of wealthy parents send their kids there just because the name sounds so good. It sounds really exclusive.

[Hparker21]

I stumbled on this thread while looking for someone else and I’m so pleased that parents are seeing it for what it is.
I am a former member of staff, reasonably long term. I left shortly after the move to the new building and the new head, Trish Watt took over. If ESS was the last school in the world, I wouldn’t send my girl there. It did use to be a lovely, nurturing school and all that changed when Minerva, then Dukes took over.

The new teachers are fresh out of university and half of them just don’t have a clue about methods or discipline. All the ones who were any good have left in despair/disgust. The pay is an insult considering the fees, the facilities are rubbish and the teachers’ morale is at rock bottom. It’s all about profit, it’s essentially a child minding service for rich foreign parents who can’t get their child in anywhere else. The principal, Mr Hepher is lovely-to the parents. A seriously ill colleague of mine was given absolutely no support or accommodation. Any concerns raised by the teachers are totally ignored so most of them don’t bother any more. I raised some serious safeguarding concerns and was taken absolutely no notice of.

Seriously, don’t waste your money, I would go state over this school, any day. And as for ESS Mayfair….there are just so many horror stories about assaults/safeguarding red flags. It’s an appalling organization, save your money. And all those glowing reviews in Tatler etc? All paid for.

[phonez]

JJMoney why don't you pm the posters here? I think it sounds like a school with issues though.

[JJMoney]

I was wondering as well if anyone has had a good experience with Eaton Square Mayfair. When I attended the open day I was actually very impressed. Is there any feedback on SEN in particular?

[ChickSU]

I say we all should do something jointly together so ESM can not get away with stealing so many people’s great amount of money and where principles are concerned, they should be held accountable or charged for giving poor child protection and for playing with so many lives. Please reply to me if you are interested in getting justice and what rightly is yours and to prevent mire children from becoming victims.

[ChickSU]

Tfarah,

ESM are not giving back our deposit and are holding 1 term’s fees unfairly. Please could I ask you to contact me. If you are interested, we are going to take legal action against ESM for what they did to my child as well as for holding the money. It would help immensely if more parents come forward to give statements to make our cases stronger. ESM will have great protection no matter what they do unless we all come together.

[ChickSU]

You may think there is no way out and so you leave when things are quite late. We left last week in the mid of year 10 and already found a decent state school where they have fantastic GCSE results and have sent many to Oxbridge.

Where there’s a will, there usually is a way.

If you feel trapped in ESM, get out! The longer you stay, the more damage your child will face. Comparing standards to other schools of all types, ESM is well below standard. It is all your money down the drain for no good education.

I wish all parents and students that God helps them to leave ESM before it is too late.

The first set of GCSE results will be published this summer and I can tell you if the students do not do well, the school will put the blame on them. Please listen to your child and look for the truth, not the false things uttered by the ESM staff.

[ChickSU]

This is a school that gives no child protection to victims of school bullies. Instead they will say that they have not seen anything, that there is no evidence. Even will go far enough to imply that the child has psychological problem or is creating stories. We have left from stress and physical harm and we feel great now. They are holding our money but we are not giving up without a fight.

[ChickSU]

One word that sums up Eaton Square Mayfair school: SHIT

[tfarah]

Hello,

The Secondary Mayfair school is a disgrace. I agree with the posts above. We took our child out mid way last year. Sub standard teaching, unqualified teachers, they sacked about 20 of them, so half way through term their classes were “without teacher” and I believe half of Year 9 left last year. They dont return your deposit too! I heard bullying is rife and if you make a fuss they turn against the child and the family. You just need to spend a few hours there to get a glimpse. The children are undisciplined and left to their own devices, a little like Animal Farm. The Heads are atrocious. I would absolutely not consider this school. The junior school I believe has a good reputation. I do know that they have received a ton of complaints (Mayfair school) which they try to keep hush hush. Steer clear of this school. Run with lots of money, and thats all it is.

[Becs12345]

Hello, just a local and an ex parent. Not an employee. Sorry Sami we just liked ES and have fond memories as do many of our friends and neighbours. Sorry your experience was different but I hope you can now move on and that things work out better for your family at your new school.

People get very excited. Leaving this thread now.

[Sammy8]

Becs12345 is clearly affiliated with the school!

[Sammy8]

Sorry I haven’t logged in for a while. In reply to user 14932... yes for long enough for one boy to have concussion. Boys messing around on this occasion, not meaning any harm but no teacher was present!

[Sammy8]

I cannot speak for others but in the 2-3 years my children were there, I witnessed small kids age no more than 6 being shouted at so loudly it scared me as an adult. I didn’t chose the school for its academic reputation as everyone knows that it isn’t what they are.
It was sold to me as a kind and nurturing environment. It turned out to be the opposite! Bullying is ripe and goes unpunished, and parents are treated like the enemy if any issues are raised. They are a business mainly, expanding rapidly. Teachers are innocent here as they also lack support and training which is not provided by the school. Many others have moved their children. It serves its purpose as a school for wealthy foreign families who move to London and cannot find an alternative.
My children are all in a different school now and we are all much happier even though it has taken them some time to catch up to their year group academically.

[ChickSU]

I would not send my child to their sixth form. They can not even run the secondary school so why are they opening a sixth form?

[ChickSU]

I agree with you. This is just a business and the school does not look at the best interest of the child.

[ChickSU]

We have gone through a hellish nightmare at this school last term and are trying to find a decent school as soon as possible. If you are left in too long, it is hard to get out and you are trapped by the whole term’s notice once you are in. If you stay, there is little guarantee thst your child will pass with decent grades or even have a chance to move to a decent sixthform.

[Becs12345]

I just googled the school out of curiosity what people where saying about their new building because it’s in my neighbourhood but I haven’t been inside as no longer have a child there. The above story doesn’t correspond with our experience. The staff certainly don’t deserve this sort of lashing out. We thought it was a very nurturing environment. I am not affiliated to the school but my daughter went until not long ago. She is now at our first school of choice (JAGS) as are many of her classmates. Yes with a bit of tutoring in last years but good luck finding anyone in London nowadays that doesn’t tutor towards the end. From current parents I have learned that, if anything, academic focus is increasing further from a level that was good in the first place.

I would say don’t rely on ‘disgruntled mumsnet’ because there are some rather sour grapes out there. If you can, I’d just go round to see the staff at work, to see how the children come across (happy, confident, polite?) and to ask all your questions in person when making your pick for a school.

[Iepie]

Clearly communication has broken down between this school and some parents on this forum. I have two children in Y1 and Y4 at ESS (now together in new building) and they are very happy and learning lots without exaggerated amounts of pressure. Head has been there for years. Dedicated teachers and caring staff have surrounded my kids so far. We have been happy from nursery through to now Y4 and so are the children. Except indeed for the price tag which is like a punch in the gut each term.

[tfarah]

Eaton Square Mayfair has been a nightmare of a school and subsequently we didn't have an option but to remove our daughter from the school. They have lost approx 30 teachers in the last 2 years, the children are unhappy, parents are distraught, it has been a hellish experience and we would not recommend it whatsoever. The management of the school is below average, the children are out of control, the level of teaching has been one of embarrassment for a school which charges £7500+ fees per term, and many complaints have been made by a large number of parents which have gone unanswered, they will ofcourse not disclose this. In spite of their Ofsted report, this is a school that needs years of work and proper management. It is a scam, if there is a better way of putting it. Don't believe a word they tell you in the interview, perhaps ask the right questions ie. have any teachers been fired in the last 3 terms and why. How many teachers have left, how many headmasters have left, how many email complaints have been made in the last year by parents (as a private school they have no duty to divulge). More importantly, how many students are leaving the school this year, how many left last year. Good luck. My daughter is since at a lovely state school and she is thriving.

[user1493242132]

Sammy sorry but what do you mean by unsupervised for long periods of time? Is it a safety issue? Just trying to clarify as I am going to be sending my DD there this September.

[Sammy8]

I couldn’t agree more primarykids. I have kids there too.
Teacher selection and quality of teaching is not great! Kids are left unsupervised for long periods of time. Food is terrible too.
Be prepared to spend a lot more money on additional private tutors after school!