Fulham Cross Girls: Did I just make a huge mistake moving my DD to a new secondary school! Brentford Girls to Fulham Cross - HELP!

[letsmakecupcakes]

Anyone know anything about Fulham Cross Girls School? I'm having a nervous breakdown right now - I moved DD from Brentford Girls were the teachers loved her to Fulham Cross Girls and first day a student swore at me but I let it go and three days in a girl threatened to beat DD up! Because apparently this girls best friend was walking with DD. DD is also struggling with aggressive behaviour and bad language students use amongst each other AND against teachers!

Academically, from what I have seen they are doing better than Brentford School for Girls and are much nearer to where we have moved to but I'm wondering if I did the right thing. We are very near Sacred Heart in Hammersmith but don't stand a chance of getting in there or Lady Margarets, and well Holland Park no chance not even if we moved on the door step will she get in on an in year admissions application.

Anybody got any good news about Fulham Cross Girls or know anything about this school?

Why did you move her? What were the issues with the original school?

Hi Tissunnyupnorth, we moved house so moved her to a school nearer to where we live now but also because some of the girls at her previous school were also very disruptive but the teachers were great and also because Fulham Cross had better results and facilities.

But I feel like maybe I moved her from a school with great teachers to a school with some seriously aggressive girls who doesn't care what their teachers say or ask them to do.

Did she want to move?

Hi BertrandRussell, DD didn't mind leaving Brentford Girls very much because the school wasn't great and she had experienced same bullying from a couple of girls, and the facilities and clubs at Fulham Cross are better and on our visit she felt that there were more clubs she could join and liked the larger library and book club.

4 days into her move she has found it really challenging and says that even though the girls at Brentford Girls were boisterous and she experienced bullying she felt safe because the teachers there are great and really enjoyed having her as a student. She feels the environment at Fulham Cross is more threatening because the teachers don't appear able to handle the trouble makers who just ignore the teachers, behaviour that would be unacceptable at Brentford Girls is overlooked at Fulham Cross. There's also a lot of pushing and shoving down the stairs and older girls pulling the lanyard cards from the year 7's and year 10's laying on their backs along the corridors obstructing the young one's getting to class on time.

Her first year at secondary school has been a nightmare and I feel I'm failing her because she is such a great and enthusiastic learner. She's also discovered that the art department at Brentford is much better and she loves art. The two schools are very similar and it doesn't help that their uniform is almost identical. I really don't know what to do and feel utterly helpless, I can't sleep I'm so worried and can't bare the thought of her getting hit, she really wouldn't know what to do. I don't know if its just a case of giving it time for her to settle in but I'm concerned about just how aggressive these girls are and keen to fight each other. Maybe it's just a particularly troubled cohort, I really feel so unsure. I feel Holland Park might be the only way to go because I know the head runs a tight ship and they have a great Art Dept.

Have you spoken to the school? Seen the form tutor/ made appointment?
If push came to shove, would she want to go back to her previous school? Is that possible?
This sounds worrying.
An example of changing back though...
A boy started my sons school in year 9 but was on the waiting list of the 'better' school across town. He got a place and was sent there. Hated it. After 6 weeks came back to our supposedly [on paper at least and by 'reputation' ] less desirable school and is thriving.
I wish you luck...

Thank you DinkyDaisy, I met her form tutor before I knew about the whole situation. The first couple of days I told DD to give it time to settle in but then when she told me about the prevalent poor behaviour of the students and the fighting she's seen and then the threat from a student in her class - I'm now worried.

When I meet her form tutor she did say they have quite a few boisterous students but she also said the school was very strict and didn't tolerate bad behaviour and always acted swiftly - my daughter says she has seen behaviour completely overlooked by teachers even if a student swears at them! My main concern is the fighting and aggression amongst girls and that this girl was so quick to raise her fists simply because her best friend walked with DD.

Am I over-reacting? Should I give it more time? The school results are much better than her previous school and their progress 8 is very high so maybe these girls behaviour and learning does get better over time.

I think you do need to contact the tutor again. Are you able to email directly? Explain all your worries and concerns. Perhaps ask about how the Behaviour Policy is implemented.
Your daughter needs support and these behaviours also sound unacceptable. The school needs to be aware of both.
Email is in writing.
As for Progress 8 etc, there can be lots of reasons why some schools do not do as well that are not linked to being a poor school. Conversely, some schools are more advantaged by the system.

My dd is at this school and absolutely thriving. I honestly don't recognise your accounts of it but obviously we all have different experiences. The pastoral care for her starting year 7 was very good and reassuring as I was so scared of her starting secondary school as she is a very sensitive, gentle girl. From what I can see some of the girls are very streetwise and as they leave they can sometimes be a bit shouty and sweary but isn't this the same with most secondary schools at the end of the day? Teachers and often the HT are always there on the gate and by the bus stops keeping an eye on things. It's now in the top 1% of state schools in the country for I believe so they're obviously doing something right. Please do PM me if you want to talk further

Thank you CarolDanvers! I was hoping to get some positive feedback to give me hope, I have PM you. And DinkyDaisy I will for sure email her form tutor just so there is a written record of events during her first week.