Newstead Wood School: a warning

[AnonymousBeing]

I'm writing this largely because I don't know how else to protect girls from this school. In my seven years there I and my friends never encountered anything remotely resembling competent pastoral care, and I've been left with the impression that this school cares about its grades, and not about its students.

Due, I believe, to the high pressure environment and lack of support, this school is a breeding ground for anorexia, depression, anxiety and self harm. No support is given for students who suffer from these, and whilst I cannot say for certain there were rumours that such students were asked to leave the school if teachers felt their grades were affected.

Students are made to feel that anything below an A grade is a fail, and below an A is inadequate. Reward ceremonies after big exams are used to enforce this, for example at GCSE only students who get 7 A grades or more are recognised as having made a notable achievement.

Bullying is also badly tackled at this school. The school will do next to nothing to combat bullying, and students often give up and suffer in silence when their complaints are not listened to. Attempts to stop bullying largely consist of team building activities in the classroom, which are deeply ineffective. The school is unwilling to allow students to move class no matter how bad the bullying gets.

They are also generally unobservant; because they only notice students when concerned about their grades, if a student is high performing then learning difficulties such as dyslexia can go unnoticed until university if they weren't diagnosed in primary school. This can be an issue because a lack of diagnosis can mean a lack of support and a lot of confusion for both the child and their parents when there are things the child inexplicably seems to struggle with or cannot manage. As someone diagnosed with dyspraxia and dyslexia at university, this is something I have first hand experience of. Instead of help, my struggles were met with perplexed teachers and the suggestion that I change subjects so as to get better grades.

And certainly don't send your child here if they might want to consider anything other than university afterwards; Newstead will force them to apply to university in hopes that they will change their mind and will be entirely unsupportive of their plans.

I'm sure there are some people who have enjoyed their time at Newstead, unfortunately there are far more who have been left damaged by it. So this is just a warning; I have experienced Newstead and would 100% NOT recommend it.

Taffeta: it is a nasty post. Be careful you are not slandering the school by suggesting such a person works there!

Not sure why the op would face legal action if what she is saying is true (and no suggestion that it isn't).

What she has said seems to be fair comment and her opinion which she is free to express.

Bearleft, a friend or her DC could have written a very similar post to OPs about five years ago. Sadly subsequent events have provided wider evidence for her concerns.

There needs to be room for debate around the pressure on children. And a most obvious example are super-selectives. It's not all the schools fault, as the tutoring frenzy and the school gate competition starts well before kids actually enter a school. But schools need to recognise a problem and support their pupils. Not compete amongst themselves for places on a results table at the expense of their pupils.

The end effect will be parents of able children opting out of trying for super-selectives because the tutoring required seems daunting and the culture within a school too single focussed.

I have a DD who has just started her 2nd term at NW. It's very early days but she is really happy - all we wanted for her at this stage really. There are a couple of things I am not thrilled about, but not the pastoral side of things, that seems fine in our short experience so far.

NW has been very explicit in telling parents at various meetings that we should allow our daughters to fail, to make mistakes; that high achievening girls are often their own harshest critics, and perfectionists so we should be striving to help them get a school/ life balance, and there is more to life than academic achievement. Which a lot of us know, but very helpful to hear it expressed by the SMT.

DS is older and at a boys' grammar school. It goes against the general perception of the school, but he had great pastoral support there when he needed it in Y7.

Where the pressure seems to come from, both my kids have said, is from other parents. Both my older two come home with tales of peers crying because their parents will be angry when they come home with 'only' 85% in a test. Or that they have revision schedules of 4-5 hours every day over the weekend, weeks before any assessments. And this is just in Y7 or 8.

I think what I am inarticulately struggling to say is: it seems all schools often get the blame for any issues. And of course the schools should be vigilant, they have a duty of care, and it's a careful balance between striving for excellence, and being the best you can be etc, versus a HT's constant Oxbridge tally . But in our experience, and I know everyone has different experiences, the pressure doesn't always come from school.

Absolutely correct, sydenham. This is what stood out to me about the original OP. Her parents could have removed her and she could have gone to school elsewhere. This did not seem to be on anyone's agenda. It is never likely to be the case that an academic grammar school will expect pupils not to go to university. If you do not want to, then it will be up to you to do something different and possibly change schools to access a different regime that helps with this goal. That's fine. However, when parents do not agree, and the pupil cannot be allowed to change and is forced into a certain style of education, then it is a problem for the child. Blaming the school for everything is clearly not sensible. There is a partnership at work in education and it is the school, the parents and the pupil. Not just the school.

I can see why some parents get paranoid about education. They have invested time and money into this goal of the ultra competitive grammar school. When there "you shall not fail" (or even be mid division) becomes a ludicrous mantra. Clearly someone has to be in the bottom 10% at the school. Often the pressure to succeed is too much and sometimes children that succeed effortlessly and juggle lots of hobbies are the ones who do well in the end: not the ones who are forced. Sadly some parents cause these problems and are not willing to see that their child needs a different style of education.

Well said BubblesBuddy and Sydenhamhiller!!! I hate to see parents blaming the school for everything.

Sorry my first sentence should have read:

"a friend or her DC could have written a very similar post to OPs about five years ago about St Olaves."

I don't know much about NW except a perfectionist culture seems to have left a damaging mark on someone I know. This was obviously years ago but the schooling we have does have a long term impact. Which is why it is so important for parents to reassure themselves that any school is the right school for their child.

The problem, Bubbles, is that in a grammar school area with a bright child you may not have much of a choice as it might be grammar or secondary modern. Unless you have money, in which case private is an option. And children may be reluctant to tell their parents they are unhappy, especially if parents have invested large sums in tutoring to get them into the school in the first place.

The problem, Bubbles, is that in a grammar school area with a bright child you may not have much of a choice as it might be grammar or secondary modern. Unless you have money, in which case private is an option.

This is absolutely true for the Kent education system, but NW falls outside that, and is a super selective rather than a “normal” grammar

I live in Bucks. We have grammars all over the County. Many secondary moderns are fine for children who do not fit in at the grammars. Lots can change over the years and I assume not all secondary moderns are useless in Bomley or Kent. Lets face it, other people's children go to them!!!

Bucks grammars are not super-selective and many parents are very happy with the secondary options and children can, and do, transfer to the secondary moderns from the grammars for 6th form. Very many well educated professional parents have children in the secondary modern schools. It is an outdated view that secondary moderns are crap. In Bucks, they have excellent pupils who also go to university and do very well in society. Most of all, they are largely happy!

What matters most? Health and happiness or a grammar school? Most parents really do know how their child is feeling. They just will not admit it and do anything about it because it is losing "face" as we call it. It is all about them and their social standing, not about the children. I see this in primary children in my village. Several children have been pushed beyond endurance and start bed wetting and school refusing and their behaviour gets worse and worse. All because the parents will not accept the local secondary modern, which is very good, and go all out for the grammar. They keep going at the 12 plus and 13 plus until their child gets a place. The tutors make a fortune. In the meantime they slag off the local secondary school because they are "above" going there! None of these children got good results at the grammar school. None were happy. All had extra tuition to keep their heads above water. None has ever had a good job. What is the point of all this misery just because the parents believe it is their social standing which demands their child goes to a grammar school? Luckily other sensible parents think differently.

Which did you choose to send your children to and why.

Or is the statement about other people's children? I don't know about Bromley, but in other parts of London there is often not a wide choice of schools for academic children.

the parents will not accept the local secondary modern, which is very good

www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/school/110488

www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/school/110497

www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/school/135879

www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/school/137372

www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/school/137256

www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/school/139367

You could also have looked at Waddesdon and others which are Outstanding and Good. The John Colet has a very high reputation and I know absolutely loads of children who went there and are now at Russell Group universitites. Many parents are more than happy with Great Marlow, The Misbourne, The Amersham School and others. As so many people say on MN, you cannot necessarily trust Ofsted and JC suffered a blip. The other schools listed have stuggled ever since Ofsted was introduced. In Aylesbury, few children pass to go to the grammar schools. Around Aylesbury there are several good secondary moderns. Parents pick where they live regarding catchment area for these schools. Few parents would say they do not want JC if they do not get into the grammar schools. In fact parents appeal to get JC in large numbers. As you do not live in the area, you just do not understand how it works around here! There are nuances with everything and what parents like, and support, are the good secondary schools.

My children did not go to a Bucks school.

You could also have looked at Waddesdon and others which are Outstanding and Good.

We could also look at the Bucks Grammar Schools which are RI or Inadequate. Oh wait, there are none.

Interesting to know that large numbers of parents in Bucks are choosing the sec.mods over the Grammar schools though. I personally don't know anyone who has done that.

This is not the Newstead School that I know. Yes, they had a problem with a head a few years back and she was removed from post. In my experience it has a very nurturing environment and far removed from the culture at Olaves.

As you do not live in the area, you just do not understand how it works around here!

That was not a comment aimed at you Mum! So less of the snide remarks please. However, you may be entirely immersed in the chattering classes who all go to grammar schools and see that as a birth right. My friendship group is very wide and yes, some parents do like the secondary 6th forms. They also do not appeal for a grammar school place when their child just misses out at 11. Just because you do not know any, it does not mean they do not exist!

So less of the snide remarks please. - you may be entirely immersed in the chattering classes who all go to grammar schools and see that as a birth right.

I see, only you can make snide remarks.

Bubbles, you have me confused ow.

You live in Bucks, where everyone is skippingly happy with the Sec Mods, but you declined to send your child to a Bucks school?

And if everyone is as happy with the Sec Mods as they are with the Grammars, and the sec Mods are sending students to RG UNis etc....then why is it necessary to have two tiers of school and select in the first place?

As for it being all the parents fault...well perhaps the competitive super-selective schools could help emphasis that stats and league tables aren't everything and stop behaving and marketing themselves as if it is!

It is good to hear the SMT speech about perfectionists etc and the importance of extra-curricular etc.

You live in Bucks, where everyone is skippingly happy with the Sec Mods, but you declined to send your child to a Bucks school?

Perhaps all the sec.mods were heavily oversubscribed and they lost their appeal for a place so were forced to opt for a comp. across the border

And if everyone is as happy with the Sec Mods as they are with the Grammars, and the sec Mods are sending students to RG UNis etc....then why is it necessary to have two tiers of school and select in the first place?

Well, it's never necessary to have the selective two tier system, the rest of the country manages without. It's considered desirable in those areas. It's not necessary.

Mum:
Accrual: Maybe. I wonder if some find it more desirable than others? Bubble doesn’t seem to have found it desirable at all and has gone out of county! . My MK-environs friend was horrified by the non-Grammar options and felt hugely pressured by the 11+ process for her Dc.

She did the maths on private schools for the Dc not guaranteed to pass, and moved to more expensive housing (but saving commuting costs) iin London with access to good comps.

All Dc doing very well.

I’m in Kent and I know lots of people.

Lots of parents with DC in grammars, lots of parents with DC in secondary moderns.

I don’t know any parents with DC in secondary moderns that are swimmingly happy with the school. Lots that are sucking it up and making the best of a shitty situation.

As an ex sixth form pupil I second everything the OP said although my experience was limited to two years there. The worst decision I ever made was to leave a supportive, nurturing comprehensive school and go to Newstead Wood for my A levels.

They very effectively bred a culture of extreme intellectual competitiveness between the girls and the pressure to produce top marks was immense. Eating disorders were rife and as far as I could see the school did nothing to support these vulnerable girls.

I still live in the area and not for one second did I consider this school for either of my children.

It's alarming that any leaver should have this to say about their school after 7 years? Alarming that the school and their parents did not pick up on their unhappiness earlier.

NW has had a touch patch recently (surely a girl with MH issues was worthy of better pastoral care than she received regardless of her own history?) and I know of parents who are giving it a wide berth. However for others it continues to be the holy grail -the super selective ultimate prize.

The reality is that no school is perfect for all its kids. NW looks like it needs a period of stability to get things back under control.

Hi there, My daughter started in September 2017 and although its early days, she loves the school. I have had no issues with pastoral care. The school seems to be very nurturing. They themselves opted out of the sunday times league tables this year. Regarding the absence rates- I know a lot of the girls sometimes can be late to school (including mine due to the coaches not being punctual last term) They are not so strict on that issue. My daughter has a special need and they support her with a mentor and learning support classes. There are also classes on offer by learning support after school if needed. She feels well supported by the other students and staff. So far we are pleased. The school is not pressurized however students themselves and other parents may be pressurizing them. Hope this helps. I am sorry about the experience of some students at NW- maybe the culture of the school has changed now?