Bolingbroke Academy anyone?

[Misterphillips]

Does anyone know Battersea or Clapham parents who send their kids here? I know it's only been open a couple of years, but wondered if there was any local gossip about it. DS1 has got to make his choices soon.

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I'm pretty sure that you can only get a place from one of five feeder schools (Belleville, Honeywell, Falconbrook, Wix and Highview. No chance of getting in if you're not in one of those schools. If you are, ask around, you'll get info at the school gates from those with older siblings there.

I personally wouldn't recommend this school. It is far too strict and punitive (see the behaviour policy on the website) I couldn't make head or tail of it. Its strikes me as a business rather than a school. Its planning to have an intake of 600 students, a massive intake for a tiny premises. Imagine 600 students milling around Wandsworth Common after school!

It's an ARK school.

Its Ofsted report is mediocre and is not really coping well with mixed ability classes so brighter pupils may suffer as a result.

I have a ds who is in year 8 at Bolingbroke. Yes it is strict but it works, there is less disruption in the classrooms, and the kids get used it eventually. The focus is on education and less time spent on getting the kids to settle down.
As for the ofsted report, considering the school was only open for 2 years getting a good in the report is actually a good thing. A lot of schools take years to get an outstanding. Yes there are somethings that need improving but the school are working on it. the parents are also heavily involved in improving the school and we are always kept in the loop.
The classes are not mixed ability, the children are put in streams of which there are 4, and these are based on the SATs and an exam taken at the school.
There are a lot of extra curricular activities for the kids to choose. Music alsoplays a large part in the school and all the kids have to choose an instrumentin year 7.
Reports are sent home every 6 weeks so the parents are able to keep track of how they're DC are doing.
I can actually compare this school to another outstanding selective comp in the borough that my dad attends, and I would say that if Boling broke was open when she started yr7 I would have definitely sent her there.

I have friends who have sent they're DC to selective private schools in south London and I would say that the quality of the education and extracurricular activities on offer at bolingbroke are on a par with the private schools.

Glad to hear that it is working for your son, so how big are the classes if there are 4 streams? Must be a bit awkward for the children in'lower' streams, I do think children always know, I know that I was aware of it at school.

Would anybody know if Bolingbroke was a free school and does it get government funding?

There are 30 kids per class. As for the kids knowing,they would feel the same in any other school whether they are put in sets or streams.
The kids are put in the right stream for their academic ability,there's no point putting a low ability child in a high ability class as thrynjust would not be able to keep up.
I recommend that you go along to their openday. There will be plenty of children and parents who will give you an honest opinion of the school.
There are usually plenty of parents on hand to give your their honest opinions.
I can truly say that in comparison to my dd's high acheiving secondary school there is a lot more on offer at Bolingbroke.
Ip

It is an academy so it is state funded
www.gov.uk/types-of-school/academies

Unless you are at one of the feeder schools you are unlikely to get a place

Thanks for the information. It would be interesting to find out more. I am still wondering what advantages Bolingroke Academy offers over state schools. I am looking at studies done on academies, particularly one by the LSE and they all seem to suggest that new academies don't actually benefit disadvantaged children.cep.lse.ac.uk/pubs/download/cp325.pdf.

You sound like you have a personal axe to grind oprah. The op asked for views on the school not a discussion on academies.

It would be interesting to find out more. I am still wondering what advantages Bolingroke Academy offers over state schools.

It IS a state school.