Please tell me everything there is to know about Holland Park school (personal experience please rather than just hearsay)

[Whyisitallsostressful]

We have applied to a mix of state and private schools for our DC.
The most likely state we’ll be offered is Holland Park School and at the moment I’m trying to weight up pros & cons of taking up a private option given that HP gets good results.
Obviously we did the school tours everywhere we applied, but the very polished presentation of a school at its best doesn’t necessarily give a picture of the reality of going there.
I’d love to hear from parents who have children going there now. The good and the bad would be much appreciated!

Thank you Artbum

Why would this be an issue? Are you using an address to apply that you don't live at?

I have a lot of personal experience of this school and it’s really shocking to say the least. The staff and students are consistently bullied by a tyrannical head. Money is wasted. Many teachers are untrained or not subject specialists. If your face doesn’t ‘fit’ you will not be in favour which will result in your child being treated unfairly. The staff turnover is massive with a very inexperienced leadership team. Students feel unsafe. I would avoid at all costs. Just in the news lately:

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/holland-park-teacher-jailed-for-sex-abuse-of-pupil-in-grounds-of-school-a4281016.html%3famp

My DD goes there and frankly I second Hillbilly. Great school, very diverse. Good teaching although classes tend to be fairly big (30) , and to obtain top top marks( as in 9) children are expected to make it their own way.
Teachers are helpful and give extra advice out of class in the afternoon and there are Saturday interventions before exams.
Also, they start taking GCSEs from Y9 ( not on core subjects).
Overall, really happy with it.
I do not care how much the head earns so long as children are his priority.