Forest Hill School - how good at supporting all boys to flourish?

[Itsgettingbetter]

Have been offered FHS our second choice.

DS had quite a mix of experiences of primary school - he's attended three different ones - and so I really hope this is the right choice for him.

We received a letter about an assessment for streaming today. DS is bright but doesn't seem to perform as well as he could in tests. Was wondering if there is the chance the move streams once lessons begin if there is a mistake for any reason?

Also do the school's high achieving boys reflect the diversity of the school?

Would be interested in other people's general experiences of the school too.

My son is in Y7 at FHS. It was our first choice - as a former teacher I liked the staff retention and commitment, the handle they've got on behaviour and the performing arts element. I have to say Ive been very impressed so far, even with relatively high expectations.

The tests they do are CATs (most secondary schools I've had dealings with use them) so supposedly assessing their underlying ability, but there is room for movement once the boys start. Individual subjects regularly do their own assessments, so teachers have a good idea of who should be in which sets. Maths is set separately, then history, geography, languages, science and I think PE and /or DT are grouped together in sets. English is taught in form groups, so mixed ability.

On a side note, I don't know if you seen anything about the funding crisis the school is facing - we need all the support we can get to fight for our wonderful school! Please join the Facebook parents' action group, if you're one Facebook.

Am a FHB parent but my son is only in Year 8. I really did warm to the school when visiting the secondaries, it was my first choice too. My son is more ambivalent about it but that's unfortunately because he's swallowed the lie touted so loudly at another nearby school where they insist "they are best school in the Universe" or whatever nonsense it is they claim, and he didn't get a place there while many of his friends did on their absurd sibling policy.

Anyway, still happy with FHB overall.

What does your question "do the school's high achieving boys reflect the diversity of the school" mean?

Thanks for your responses.

Bibbity when we visited, I noticed the boys in the top set Maths class we visited as well as the boys chosen to guide and give talks to visitors about their experiences were mostly white middle class students. Read a newsletter online about Brilliant Club scholars and from the photo it seemed again this group was mostly white. Same with those featured in the prospectus. This does not reflect the diversity of the intake or the local area.

Obviously I've only had a very small insight into life at the school but my DS is not WMC and I want to feel confident that he will be valued, challenged and supported as much as others.

Ah, I don't feel qualified to answer, I'm sorry. I can only go on the glimpses of school I've seen on parents evenings and what my son tells me.

Watching this thread with interest as this is where most of the boys from my DCs school go to!

bibbitybobbityyhat funny how I know exactly which other school you are referring to just from that description

I would strongly advice you do not send your son to forest hill school. The enormous 1 million deficit is not lewisham councils fault you need to investigate further before sending your son. All is not what it aplears to be. Ask older students look on facebook a group has been formed by unions and parents. Wool.is being pued over parents eyes. Hope this helps

I have to disagree Furious.

The response from teachers and parents to cuts at the school has been incredible and demonstrates what a great school it is. DS will be joining his teachers on the picket line tomorrow. A fast lesson in industrial relations, democracy and why PFI is no way to finance our children's education.

I have a boy at the FH and while he's WMC he has quite a few friends who are not. These boys are extremely bright and doing very well at the school. Our experience of the school has been that if a boy comes and wants to work they will push him to be the best he can be. What his class, culture or ethnicity is doesn't come into it. That's why we choose the school for our son over the other schools in this area. Yes, at the moment they are having some difficulties with funding, but so are many schools around the country. They also have a new headteacher and a new broom etc...The teachers on a whole are extremely passionate, about the boys and about providing excellent education. Parents' evening was full of passion from the staff about the education they provide. The teachers at this school really do care about the boys. Starting secondary school is a big deal for you and your son and there will probably be wobbles along the way, but if your boy goes to FH and wants to learn then he'll have many teachers who will allow him to do just that. Good luck!