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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

West London Free School - up-to-date info?

51 replies

LetLoveWin · 21/06/2017 16:36

I'll be applying for secondary schools for my DS this October and am wondering what the current consensus is on this school?!

It has been alternately raved about and demonised on threads, but they are all rather old now, so am wondering how things are going now it has moved to its permanent home at Palingswick House.

I understand it has had issues with staff turnover and pupil absenteeism, yet is still the most oversubscribed school in the borough (10 applicants per place!), so guess it is doing something right? All thoughts/insider knowledge welcome!

OP posts:
Pixie67 · 07/11/2017 19:21

People seem to love to hate west London free school. My experience is very positive and it's a happy positive place -'it's not perfect but I think all schools seem to have positives and negatives and in my experience wlfs is no different from many state schools- has a mixed intake and a range of abilities and is reflective of the area it's in. Discipline I would say is strong and organisationally not bad.

coffeecup16 · 15/11/2017 13:23

Hi

My son is in a form.with at least 4 disruptive pupils (2 of whom have already been suspended) and this has influenced my impression. I have asked for him to move classes since my head is telling me it is a good school . I do find it a bit chaotic but I can only compare to my son's primary which was super organised. He seems happy and has made some nice friends and has no interest in mixing with the bad ones. For now we will stay put. I am.waiting to hear about him moving forms.

Original poster
LetLoveWin · 15/11/2017 14:05

@Teaonthelawn To clear up your confusion: I was applying for my DS - my son - for a 2018 place, but my DD - my daughter - got an in-year place in advance of this.

OP posts:
Ldnw · 06/12/2017 14:25

Hi,
Unfortunately, similar experience to CoffeeCup16 so far at WLFS with unusually high rate of disruptive behaviour in the form our child is in.
I think pupils might have very different experiences depending on which form they are in.
The school is aware but whatever they are doing does not seem to be having an effect so far.
Are there other families who experienced disruptive behaviour in their child's form in past years? Did this improve?
Do you know whether pupils stay in the same form when they move to the next school year? The person who tells me pupils are reallocated to new forms each school year will make my day.

Tomtom69 · 06/12/2017 15:18

I have a DC in an older year and have heard that this year's y7 are much more challenging behaviour wise than our year. I would keep raising the issues, write to the head teacher and copy the chair of governors? Classes stay predominantly the same but here are various children moved around if there are issues I think.. I would push and push school to respond and deal..

coffeecup16 · 31/12/2017 05:41

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

coffeecup16 · 31/12/2017 06:17

I want to say it does have a lot of positives

Choir is amazing / some good teachers /

Enforced repeat of bad work

Book clubs

They are suspending the bad ones repeatedly

chiswickgarden · 27/05/2018 16:31

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coffeecup16 · 27/05/2018 18:21

Firstly, I am very surprised to see such a defamatory post appearing on Mumsnet. Secondly, as a parent I would say that Mrs Wagner is just what the school needs. She has come in and considered every aspect of the school and giving it the shake up it needs. She has an excellent track record and came from North London collegiate. There are some very very good aspects of support ( revision booklets ) and mandatory clubs. Although the social mix of the school is varied and behaviour has been hard to stomach at times- I feel very fortunate that we got in. I think it gives most private schools a run for their money. Re dismissing teachers- there are bad and good staff everywhere and if Ms Wagner set some free, then maybe she did them a favour in the long term and new opportunities will arise where they will be better placed. Non of us are invincible .

chiswickgarden · 27/05/2018 18:42

You are quite right. As I said in the post, the experience of children attending the school is not the same as the experience of staff. It is a very positive experience for many children and there are great aspects to the school. "Shaking things up" is not always a positive thing for everyone and the inability for the school to retain staff or a head raises concerns. It may not be everyone's view that threatening workers is the best way to run a school.

coffeecup16 · 27/05/2018 19:06

As a Head Ms Wagner has to manage the expectations of parents, students and staff. Fundamentally, this school is being used as a benchmark of standards and she can acheive that with her background . Secondly, I have no interest in teachers being nice. I want them to be fantastic and committed and ruthless in getting our children to achieve what they are capable of achieving . If parents, staff and bystanders do not appreciate that , then it isn't the place for them.

TheSecondOfHerName · 27/05/2018 19:15

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

coffeecup16 · 27/05/2018 19:36

Hi

Was the school outstanding and were there good results?

Henry1000 · 27/05/2018 19:38

Yes, excellent- results improved especially at GCSE

chiswickgarden · 27/05/2018 19:43

CW resigned from her 1-year post at Watford to take care of a sick family member but they did not appoint an interim head. 9 weeks later, she is Head of WLFS.

TheSecondOfHerName · 27/05/2018 19:44

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chiswickgarden · 27/05/2018 19:57

kids who are beaten every evening may get better grades but at a certain point, one has to consider whether or not the results are worth the other costs.

coffeecup16 · 27/05/2018 20:06

It is up to parents to add perspective and balance to our children 's lives but we are dependent on schools to help our children acheive what they are capable of achieving. I knew when I met Ms Wagner she would do what was needed to bring the school up to scratch and I am delighted to see I am right about her.

chiswickgarden · 27/05/2018 22:56

Methinks the coffeecup doth protest too much.

coffeecup16 · 27/05/2018 23:37

Sorry ; I don't understand.All.i have said is I like Ms Wagner and what she is doing with the school. We depend on her ( as parents) to assess staff and make changes.

I have had some concerns about behaviour at the school and have been taken aback by the conduct of some pupils but maybe I have been too sheltered.

That said, whilst I agree you should express your opinion ( and have a right to) I think your comments were far from professional and not becoming of teaching staff, former or not

teacherdad · 09/02/2019 12:30

I taught at WLFS last year and left. I was shocked how poor the school is, particularly with quality of education, level of pupil attainment and teacher morale. Turnover is still very high and exam results are poor considering the school's diverse socioeconomic intake. The school's value added score of zero says it all. I would rate the quality of science and Latin instruction very good but the rest is mediocre or worse.

brainmelt · 15/02/2019 19:46

Founder Toby Young called the young people marching today "idiotic and self-important". He also said climate change was imaginary. Says it all really.

avakellard · 07/12/2021 14:12

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Abosman · 13/03/2022 20:57

Hi ,
Would be grateful to see what people think about the West London Secondary School?
My child is in Year 5 and looking for schools in the H&F Borough. We moved here recently but have kept our children in their Wandsworth school as didn't want to disrupt them but the daily trek is having its toll and we are looking to get them in a local Secondary school .
Any suggestions welcome on good schools in H&F .And admission policies .
Really looking for any information to help us make a decision.

Scarlet5299 · 10/11/2025 10:06

coffeecup16 · 27/05/2018 23:37

Sorry ; I don't understand.All.i have said is I like Ms Wagner and what she is doing with the school. We depend on her ( as parents) to assess staff and make changes.

I have had some concerns about behaviour at the school and have been taken aback by the conduct of some pupils but maybe I have been too sheltered.

That said, whilst I agree you should express your opinion ( and have a right to) I think your comments were far from professional and not becoming of teaching staff, former or not

It's not unprofessional at all. I have MASSIVE respect for former staff members speaking out. Shame on you for your comment. WLFS is a terrible school.