Brentford school for girls

[Tigersarebetterlooking]

Does anyone know what this school is like? It has a bad reputation but seems to be the only girls school that my daughter could get a place at as others exclude us on religion or catchment area.

We visited last year with our Yr 6 DD2 and got a very favourable impression. It was by far the best welcome and presentation of any of the schools we've looked at both this year and 3 yrs ago with DD1. We were really impressed with the staff we spoke to and the girls who we met. We were concerned about results and attainment as it didn't look that strong on paper. We spoke to some friends of friends who said they were very happy with how their girls had got on. The presentation featured a leaver who had gone to Oxford so that does suggest that the school is ambitious. I think there is a new head who also talked about the school aiming high and she was very convincing in her message of ambition for the school.
We ended up choosing a mixed school in preference but it was quite high on our list and I think DD2 would have been very happy there. It certainly felt much more approachable and parent friendly than DD1's high school.

Thanks that sounds hopeful.

Does anyone know why this school isn't popular? Everything seems ok at open day and in ofsted report but compared to other girls schools in area seems like much easier to get a place from any distance. It might suit my daughter in any case but it would be great if anyone knows a bit more??? Thanks

One of the admission criteria is a statement of preference for a girls' school. This comes above distance from the school so it means that the catchment area is very wide. So the large catchment area isn't necessarily an indication that it's unpopular- as would be the case for a lot of schools. It just means that distance isn't the main issue for getting a place. At least, that's my interpretation of the statistics.

It is good according to ofsted and results are good. Never heard of bad reputation. Go and have another look around.

I know people whose dds go there - one is very happy with it, the other isn't and has moved her dd to RPA.

So not much use to anyone

I would guess that the unhappy ones have been unlucky with friendship groups/peer groups, and the school hasn't dealt with the problem to the parent's satisfaction.

Thanks everyone for your help. I will go on a daytime tour because might get more of a picture than open evening.

Good idea! I'd definitely go when the girls are there, and preferably include a playtime...and try and chat to some of them...

Let us know how it goes?

I'm new here but saw the thread and don't think the school is so bad. My daughter finished the school last year with excellent GCSE results. She had really good teachers who moved her from top set to top -top set and she had A A at most subjects and only Bs at English. English is our second language and I was very proud when she got her grades.I'm very greatful to her maths, science and French teachers as they did an amazing job. With her English teacher my daughter managed to move up from D to B grades. I think that's an achievement for a girl who came to the UK in 2008 and started her education here from Year8. She was also one of the youngest in her class as born in July. And also I need to mension her lovely Performing Arts teacher - my DD misses her a lot. DD got Distinction at Performing Arts Bitec. If your daughter OP is a hard working child she will do well at the school.

We have just moved here for my work and are looking for a school. DD is 13. English is her second language, and she is really just a beginner. (English is my first langauge, but English wasn't the language we used at home before coming here, so she has only had as much exposure as a normal 13 year old who has been learning English as a foreign language in school back home for a year ). So we are looking for a school with experience in supporting kids in this area. Am really interested in the EAL course that Brentford offer.