Caterham School Vs City of London Freeman's

[grummpyMum]

Girls, we need some opinions on Caterham vs Freemans. Location wise they are similar, and both are mixed. What about pastoral care, general atmosphere, and teaching quality? Any previous experiences? Thanks a lot!

I meant Freemen's

I can't comment on Caterham but I can tell you about Freemen's. Pastoral care is very poor. There is a huge amount of bullying there - I know of at least 3 children who have left because of bullying in the last few years. My own DC was bullied there, by boys and girls - physically (pushed over, hit, rugby tackled to the ground, shoulder barged, tripped up, water bottles thrown etc etc) and verbally, and Freemen's did nothing, despite numerous visits from us to assorted teachers, heads of year, head etc. Their solution was to suggest to us, repeatedly, that our DC should leave. General atmosphere is pretty brutal and there is little or no supervision of the children at break times. Sport is poor. The girls get a bad deal - fewer squad sessions, fewer matches, poorer and fewer facilities than the boys. Sports coaching is focussed almost entirely on the A teams, anything lower than that you can forget about it. Very poor too at care of children with allergies. I never met a teacher who knew what the school's allergy policy actually was. Procedures are non existent, paperwork goes missing, epipens go missing. My DC was regularly given food to which they are allergic, I complained every time but nothing ever changed. I think it is a pretty awful, uncaring school and I am amazed that it has the reputation it does. I think of it as a sink or swim school - if you swim, great, if you sink, then god help you, because the school certainly won't.

@Epwell Thanks a lot for reply. Shocking to know all these .