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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

Lady Margaret CofE or Twyford CofE Secondary

16 replies

BloemS · 04/10/2019 19:06

Hi all!
Does anyone have a daughter that attends either school?
I am applying for secondary schools at the moment and like both as they are faith schools. However, Lady Margaret has a few bad reviews online.
I would appreciate if you could tell me your experiences of either school.

OP posts:

Linneasweet · 04/10/2019 19:29

DD have friends in both, would say that lady M is very white middle class type school which is why we never considered it. Twyford is slightly better in regards to that but we never liked the vibe so not for us . I think it really depends whether you want single or mixed school.

Utility · 04/10/2019 20:42

Where do you live? Vitally important. LMS and Twyford are (in London terms) a long way away from each other. Where friends live will dictate weekend lifts / travel etc.

Original poster

BloemS · 04/10/2019 21:43

Thank you @Linneasweet.

OP posts:

Original poster

BloemS · 04/10/2019 21:44

@Utility, I live in Brook Green.

OP posts:

Utility · 04/10/2019 22:58

Tube Hammersmith to Acton Town probably slightly easier. Though no problem getting to Parson's Green either.
So single sex or mixed?
LMS may get mixed write ups but it's a terrific school. As is Twyford...!

Original poster

BloemS · 05/10/2019 06:46

@Utility, I don't mind either mixed or girls only school. I am a little worried about bullying.

OP posts:

Paddington68 · 05/10/2019 23:18

Twyford, William Perkin, Ada Lovelace and Ealing Fields are all in the Twyford Trust.

OhTheRoses · 05/10/2019 23:26

Marking place

Original poster

BloemS · 06/10/2019 06:51

OP posts:

Original poster

BloemS · 06/10/2019 06:56

Paddington68, I only want to apply for Twyford as the other schools are too far.

OP posts:

OhTheRoses · 06/10/2019 09:13

If you are only going to apply for Twyford, why do you need to hear about LMS? I was going to reply at length but am now thinking through the object of your post.

FWIW my dd went there under the old regime and we moved her after two years. I understand from the parents I stayed in touch with that the school improved dramatically when the new head arrived. The poor reviews may link to the fact that the behaviour policy started to be applied consistently. They may also be malicious in response to the school's leadership getting a grip again on the difference between right and wrong.

Original poster

BloemS · 06/10/2019 09:52

Sorry, I was replying to @Paddington68.
She mentioned the other Twyford schools and I replied, they were too far.
I am applying for Lady Margaret, Twford, Grey Coats, The Green School and West London Free school.
I wanted some more information on LMS and Twyford as they are my top two.

OP posts:

Original poster

BloemS · 06/10/2019 09:54

@OhTheRoses, why did you move your daughter from LMS?

OP posts:

OhTheRoses · 06/10/2019 10:02

My advice would be to look carefully at the results My dd was there 2009 to 2011 and they were on a downward trajectory. The 2017 A'Level cohort did not achieve an oxbridge or medicine place. That cohort of girls took the biggest hit vis poor leadership after Joan Olivier left.

Carefully review the results and focus on trajectory more than open day promises. Try to get a feel for openness of communication and whether the school office vibe is helpful and welcoming. Speaks volumes. I'd also recommend you check out the conduct of the girls just out of sight if the school and chat to the owners/managers of small supermarkets about how helpful and understanding the school is re anti-social behaviour.

FWIW we rated Greycoat slightly higher back then but were swayed by the journey. We made a grave error. I do know that Gove and Cameron viewed LMS and opted Greycoat.

OhTheRoses · 06/10/2019 10:10

Behaviour and the fact that there were two codes of conduct - one for pupils whose parents valued education and one for those who didn't- the latter being alliwed to get away with violence; theft, telling staff to fuck off, etc, without proportionate sanction. If a well behaved girl misbehaved the sanction was entirely disproportionate.

All the good staff left and as the quality of ethos declined so did the quality of teaching and achievement. Teaching in many depts was variable and in one or two just poor. Music and Art were outstanding.

How the school got an Ofsted outstanding in 2011 defies rational understanding.

As I say, there has been a new head for 3/4 years and I believe she is turning things around but she should never, ever have had to.

help007 · 06/10/2019 10:19

OP- I don't have a DD at LMS but know lots of girls there in years 7 and 8 and a few higher up the school. All very nice girls and all pretty happy at the school. Almost all of them had offers from Independent schools as well but chose to go to LMS.
They seem to get a lot of homework- definitely more than my DC do- and I don't think there are huge opportunities at sport etc unless you are in the A Teams but generally, as I said, they are all pretty happy. I live fairly nearby and they all seem to be behaving fine in the buses, in the streets etc.

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