Radnor House Twickenham

[user1467280347]

Has anyone any experience of RH Twickenham? We have an academic DS who has offers from other schools with higher academic results, but we like the 'feel' of RH. In particular does anyone know if they offer extension classes for scholarship children? Many thanks for your help

user1467280347 I really loved the feel of Radnor House, I felt dcs would be very happy there but it wouldn't be my first choice for an academic dc. The 11+ is 50% exam & 50% interview so it's not all about academics (iykwim). I would be worried that dc would not be sufficiently challenged. That's just my personal take though. Where else do you have offers?

user1467280347 I have first hand experience of the school with having kids there and highly recommend it. It is a school that allows a child to be themselves so if your child is academic they will stretch them to the maximum but it is also about that child learning to want to self motivate to build strength in future life.
It is a newish school and is under a new head so of course there are unknowns and it is still growing and changing. It is not getting the exam results yet like other established places but that is more to do with the level of intake when the school opened and does not reflect on where it is going and the new head is very focussed on raising the bar academically whilst maintaining the school ethos, and has already implemented some great new initiatives.
Because it is a nurturing school it gets a bad rap for not being academic, but what it isn’t is a hot house for robotic academic learning. They do have an EPP (excellent pupil program) for those who excel to stretch them, plus a strong merit system. They have some very enthusiastic and dynamic teachers who all share the same vision that striking a balance between academics and a child growing up mentally strong and ready for the world.
It has its negatives like lack of space, but it makes the most of great spaces nearby like St Mary’s university. This lack of space in fact will mean academics which require less space will be their focus and success I imagine.
The other reason it isn’t seen as academic is because it accepts children with learning needs without discrimination so it can help support and give opportunity in a private system to bright children that have challenges such as dyslexia etc, very, very few schools do this ( even when they say they do).
It all depends on what you feel would bring the best out in your child and what you think their personality would respond well to.
It’s a small, nurturing school that is also challenging and aiming for children to reach their full all round potential and prepare them for life. The founder and new head both are ambitious for the school, so hopefully it will sit next to the others in the area soon on a reputation level.
Sorry long post just thought if deliberating you’d want an honest answer from parents there. Hope it helped?

Thanks for your comments, agree it does seem a friendly place! Are there any Radnor parents out there?

Sorry, last message was for Roseredvelvet. Thank you keepingmynerve. That is just the kind of information we were hoping to hear. Would you be able to give any more information on the epp scheme?

user1467280347 Yes in every subject/ class teachers nominate top two children who are awarded an epp for that subject for 6 months, if they gain 3 or more they become part of an aspire program which is a group that meet regularly to explore things further on general topics and go on trips. Each nomination means that child is set extensions in class and in homework to make sure they stay stretched and interested in the subject.

A friend of mine teaches there. She's extremely dedicated, sent her own son there and loves the school.

user1467280347 I should add on a scholarship level this intake is the first year they have offered them so there is no precedence to how that will be managed, sorry should have said, so epp is for all kids because children then can reach for what they want wherever they were at before rather than being judged at one age and unable to change or grow.

I looked round it for 6th form and liked it a lot. Everyone we met was enthusiastic and also really nice.

Thanks for all the information - it all looks very positive!

Frankly I wouldn’t touch this school with a barge pole for an adequately intelligent DC. Very high staff turnover and no established results so far.

Thanks OhHappyDayz. Do you have children at the school?

I have an academic dd, who flies highest in a nurturing unpressured environment: Radnor definitely would have fit the bill. I know of all A* kids who’ve done extremely well there - they won’t hold back an academic.

In the end, dd had a choice of somewhere closer and a little bigger (my one concern was size, but only mild concern - had one for all schools!) so turned it down but honestly, I think trusting your gut - and your child’s - is the way to go.

Good luck deciding!

User, no I don’t (although we looked at it) but I do know families with children at the school who are reasonably happy but none of them are there by choice - two left other schools under a cloud and several others had no other choice.
I do know someone who used to teach there but left along with a number of other staff. It wouldn’t be my choice given alternatives but some children who have struggled elsewhere do seem to thrive there, so to each their own.

If you only want positive opinions from current parents that’s fine and I apologise for replying. I didn’t read your OP that way and like to think that I have at least some experience of the school, having looked at it for our own DC, plus knowing several families there and a (former) teacher. But feel free to ignore if you’re just after fuzzy feel-good feedback.

I agree with oh happy.dayz

It certainly has a reputation for taking 'anybody' and those children whose parents just want them privately educated as opposed to state . Not considered to be the place of choice for anyone remotely clever

I am a little shocked by the comments being so strongly expressed based only on here-say. Of course the school has had a bumpy ride and as a new school many changes of staff and policy. But to “write off” 400 children as not remotely clever in a public forum or parents who don’t care enough is perhaps an ill advised over generalisation that is completely untrue.
Those that are academic reach far, those that need more support get it.
It’s a school for parents who put their child’s mental well being before anything else, who want their kids to enjoy school and find their own potential. After all they can’t be pushed by their parents all their lives and there is a great deal more to life than academic success. Feeling happy and not in a pressure cooker for today’s social media fuelled mental health teens has for some become the biggest consideration. Radnor is a small listening school and is unfair to have it brandished a school for “underachievers” by parents who see league tables as the only mark of success.
But then as you say each to their opinion.

I agree with Keepingmynerve.

Sometimes there appears to be snobbery on these boards with posters looking down anything less than a “top tier school”. Other posters are incredibly helpful and share their genuine knowledge.

Its a new school so will need some time to find its feet. Its a good thing to have schools that aren't of the only A's in every subject will do. Kids can be clever at one subject, and not great in another - this insistence that if you aren't an A student in everything then you aren't clever is just wrong IMO. Too much pressure isn't a good thing.

If you like the school then that's what matters. I remember when everyone was snooty about Emanuel...now 1,000 sit for it.

Radnor parent here..

100% happy with the school - it's small and very nurturing. It's new and still finding it's feet but I have no doubt the results will go up and up as kids are now coming in at Y7 and the school is full. High standards seem the norm.

Yes and totally agree with comments above. I have two children there year 6 and 7, both thriving. I love the ethos and am pleased not to be part of the hot house system which seems inevitable in this area of London. The new head is bringing some needed structure and systems including better comms which the school has not been the best at but I love the school and more importantly so do my kids!

Just FYI to those who think Radnor will ‘take anybody’.....there were easily 400 kids applying for 40 places this year. It does take a few years for new ‘unproven’ schools to establish systems and a good rep, but they’re clearly on their way!

Radnor has been open for 7 years now. Their last GCSE results were 40% A*A compared to 43% at Grey Court the nearest comp. I don't want to sound rude but it is because I am sure that Radnor does add value that I think the results suggest that their intake has an average lower ability than Grey Court.
I am not sure that their results will improve. They took over the site from St James which provided an alternative to the many selective Indy schools in the area. With the opening of so many new state schools in Richmond I think a small, kind, friendly co-ed school providing lots of support for DCs to get decent results is the hole in the market. St James didn't close down, it expanded. I think it is important to have schools like Radnor but they must suit the DC and in OPs case I am not convinced.

I agree with Cake. This is a school for lower intake pupils. Lots expelled or made to leave other schools.

Elibean, there may have been a long wait list but children who were expelled from other schools easily got places at Radnor.

It doesn’t follow that 400 applicants for 40 places means it is sought after . I am not dissing Radnor but I would not sacrifice our lifestyle to put a child into it or St james or Haliwell. The fact is top tier schools are extremely hard to get into now and there have to be schools which are available less able children if you want your children to be privately educated. Does it add value ; is it likely your child will so better than the local comprehensive - probably not.

It is no longer a new school either so no point waving that umbrella about