Woodcote or Riddlesdown?

[labs13]

Has anyone had recent personal experiences of these two schools? My son has passed the Riddlesdown test but we live in Coulsdon so he will have to get a bus to Purley and then another bus up to the school. We are trying to decide if the travel is worth it and have heard good and bad things about both schools! Thanks

www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/find-a-school-in-england

Riddlesdown has a long standing history of pupils making very good progress whereas Woodcote is average. Riddlesdown also has more able pupils so I’d go with them if your son got an ability place. Statistically, he should leave with considerably higher GCSEs than if he went to Woodcote.

I know of two people who removed their kids from Riddlesdown (one from Coulsdon who had an ability place) due to severe bullying that was not dealt with. The police were involved in one case. There will be bullying anywhere of course, but in these cases the parents were not happy at all with the pastoral care/behaviour management at Riddlesdown. It is such a huge school that it may just be harder to have a grip on these things. I can't comment about Woodcote, but I thought their results are normally very similar at GCSE to Riddlesdown, don't think they have such a big sixth form doubt their A levels are good as most head off to Reigate College.

GoldenRuby I have heard that elsewhere as well. Do you know whether it was recent? I thought they had strong policies on bullying but it doesn't sound like they were followed in those case.

I think the year before last (not at the same time in the year, and different year groups). Wouldn't like to say it means there is definitely a problem, but I would want to really look at their pastoral support and behaviour policies I think.

My third child just started Riddlesdown this year. It’s an excellent school. It’s one of 60 super schools in the UK and has an outstanding ofsted. I have personally never had any issues there and from what I know they have a bullying policy and implement it when needed. It’s a bit of a pain to get to but I think it’s worth it for the standard of education. My son is about to his GCSE’s this year and is predicted top grades. He didn’t pass the grammar school tests but they’d snap him up for 6th form (but he’s not applying. Staying at Riddlesdown). I don’t know much about Woodcote but Riddlesdown A level results were among the best in the area.

To add too, yes it’s a big school, but it’s split down into its 4 colleges. Each college has a head, and they are very interactive with parents. I know the head well and never needed to bother the main head. This negates the issue of a big school - but means they have all the benefits of a big school for funding but the benefits of a small school as you get to know the teachers and head in each college. I also personally don’t know anyone who have removed their children from Riddlesdown and I’ve had 3 children go through now.