Help! Shirley High School Performing Arts, Croydon

[Worryme]

Just found out my daughter’s secondary school will be Shirley High School, and was not our preferred school. We only put it down as we didn’t know which other school to go for and that my daughter loved going to drama lessons. However, silly me I was sure we’d get one of our two top preferred schools instead.

Please can someone let me know if you have a child at Shirley High School and do they like it, are they happy, what are the kids like, education, teachers and anything else you think I may need to know.

Also, if anyone has had experience of the Appeals process and what to write/say to have a successful outcome.

Do I except Shirley High while I wait for the Appeals decision?

Or if you think Shirley High school is a good school please let me know. Obviously, with lock down and many other restrictions we couldn’t visit any schools and I have absolutely no knowledge about SHS.

Thank you in advance!

Why did you miss out on places at other schools? Of course you can appeal for places there, but to stand any chance of success you'll need to be able to say why your daughter will be disadvantaged if she doesn't get a place - liking them more than the alliocated school won't be enough.

Yes, definitely accept the place.

Accepting won’t disadvantage your chances of appeal or a waiting list place, but will ensure that you have a place come September! If you turn it down and don’t get a waiting list or appeal place you could find that the only places left are further away/ less desirable.

I don’t know much about Shirley but there is an extended family member who got a string of A*/A A levels there the year before last having been happily there since Yr 7.

Make sure you are on the waiting lists. Lots of movement before September.

Thank you @RainingBatsAndFrogs for the advice and info. One of the secondary schools I was hoping my daughter would get is new, and only less than 5mins walk away (if that) from her primary and part of the same Academy. Unfortunately, and which also puzzles me they didn’t make my daughters primary a feeder school! I suppose we were out of the catchment area and in high demand for local kids.

My daughter is doing so well academically, and I wanted the same learning structure she’s receiving, and really enjoys going to school. I know a secondary can be different even if it is part of the same Academy but I was hoping some of the same principles and values will continue in the next school.

There will be a child going to SHS who my daughter is very good friends with but I don’t want that to determine her decision which school will be the better one for her. I just wish I knew more about the school but there’s very little on line.

Make sure your DD is on the waiting lists for all your preferred schools. I think you can put her on the waiting list for any school you would be happy for her to attend, even if it wasn't on your original application.

Just filling out the appeals form, but can someone help me what does this mean:-

You have a statutory right to 10 school days notice of the appeal hearing date, but this can be waived. This may enable us to hear your appeal more quickly. I agree to waive the right to 10 school days notice of the hearing date.

Do I click yes or no? This may seem obvious to someas to what to do, but I just want a better chance and not a “get it over and done with” response.

On the issue of the notice waiver, it depends how flexible you can be on timing. Do you need 2 weeks to arrange time off (or whatever) to attend a hearing, or are your circumstances such that you could participate at shorter notice and therefore potentially get an earlier hearing date?

I guess that depends on whether you would feel prepared to attend an appeal with less than 10 days notice.

They presumably won't start immediately anyway - so you have time to research all the facts that you could use - and get help from the MN appeal experts.

Basically it is generally argue FOR the desired school (s), not against the allocated school. Cite all the reasons that the desired school offers things that are important to your child and are not available at the allocated school. E.g does she wish to study a language for a specified reason that is not offered at the allocated school? Does the appeal school offer clubs / facilities that support interests or talents that your Dd takes part in - is she a chess whizz and the desired school has a chess club and takes part in tournaments? STEM ambitions and the desired school offers 3 separate sciences rather than combined...any need for enhanced pastoral or learning support offered at the desired school?

Emphasise the structured learning and demonstrate how your dd responds to this.

It might also be worth checking that they have assessed her application correctly - do you live miles and miles from the primary and secondary? What do they say is the reason you didn't get in?

If you don't waive your right to 10 days notice and have to wait longer, you might get a waiting list place before you even need to go through an appeal.

If you lose an appeal you can still stay on the waiting list.

Hey lovely!!

We put Shirley High School for our daughters third choice and got that too but after hearing from a few people I know about how much it’s changed since the new head has started and receiving the welcome info I’m so happy she’s going there now! They have a really good transition for them too and a few events in July for them and us!

@RainingBatsAndFrogs I didn’t realise appealing was so official. It actually seems a little scary 😧 oh well, I’ve done it done!

@MamaMarmite202326 I’ve been doing some research on SHS and I read about the new appointed head too, but he didn’t have much time to show off his improvements before COVID lockdown hit. Can you tell me a bit more about what you know please. I was becoming less worried about SHS until I read some negative ofsted monitoring reports from 2017; also unfortunate articles I googled to do with laced brownies and a separate article involving a teacher and some photos!

Please put my mind at rest!

*ive done it now not done

Anyone?
Are there any parents who's child goes there. Are you happy with any changes made since the new head took over?

Hello @Worryme

My DS is in year 8 at SHS. We’re really happy with it! The new head, Mr Myton has been great, we’re very impressed so far. He is very ambitious for the school, it’s a shame that covid had interfered with it all. The support during lockdown was great - I’m a keyworker and my DD was offered as place almost as soon as Boris made the lockdown announcement last year. We didn’t take them up on it and the online work was easy for DD to access. The teachers were in contact regularly and were supportive.

Some of the facilities are a bit tired - it needs a bit of money spent on the science labs etc. The playing fields are beautiful and back on to woodland. The pastoral support is great. It’s quite a small school so I feel the children get individual attention.

There have been some horror stories in the past but what schools don’t? My DD is happy there and seems to be thriving,

Happy to answer any further questions

Hi @Xigris,

So far I have heard a lot of good things about SHS since the new head took over, so happy about that. Even my neighbour who is a retired teacher heard about the great things he’d been doing for the school and the students so it sounds very promising. However, have worried about how much “performing arts” they do as I think my DD is more academically inclined but loves the sound of drama. She had drama lessons for years after school. Initially, we sent her there to build her confidence as she was quite timid in class, then realised she loved her end of year plays held at various small halls. They were performed in front of many other parents (and families), and all other drama classes around in Croydon. First time I thought she’d be too nervous and cry but loved every single one! However, she’s not too hot on the singing and dancing thing, she says she hates dance lessons at school ☹️

Hi @Worryme my DD is not massively into drama and although she did LAMDA at the school pre covid this was more to improve her confidence. Academic wise she is bright lazy and has been pushed to do the English baccalaureate. The teachers are so so approachable and supportive. I don’t know if this is “normal” these days as she’s my eldest but they’re certainly completely different from the vast majority of my teachers 100 years ago!

DH and I really like the school. It’s v local to us and we don’t really see any behaviour issues as the kids come out. DD says that Mr Myton is very visible and is at the school gate most morning and afternoons to greet the students which I love

(I’m also Xigris )

Hi I am new to mumsnet!

My son has been offered a place at Shirley High School for this Sept 2022. I don't know much about the school as I am currently working abroad as an expat in Thailand. I am returning home to Croydon after 8 years of living out here and I have been offered this school. Mr Myton looks great and I've heard lots of positive things about him. It's encouraging to read some positive comments here as I too have googled the school and found some alarming stories! All in the past now I hope. Are there any other New Y7 starters for Sept 2022 on this thread?

My DS was there till the end of Y9 - he got a place a Brit otherwise he would have stayed there as we were happy with it. He hated Brit the first few weeks and wanted to go back - had a chat with the Head who was great about it and would have had him back if he really needed to.

Our older DD went to a Harris and we didn't like it all, even though it was rated outstanding.

Although they are a 'performing arts college' it isn't like Fame with kids dancing in the corridors - they have a more opportunity than some schools for drama/music/dance as extra curriculars but it is the same as any other school with regards to academic options.

We found it to be very nurturing and with good pastoral care, Many of the teachers have been there for years. There were concerns raised about their maths teaching in the last Ofsted and they have worked hard to pick that up.

As someone else said - the school is very tired and a but shabby looking next to the shiny new academies - but it makes up for that in other areas. It feels like schools used to - not run for profit academy with emphasis on the school uniform rules.

Academically DS is bright and they were good with him.

Thanks for taking the time to reply. That's really encouraging

🔴 Avoid This School!!

Chronic Instability, Safeguarding Failures, and Targeted Victimization
As a parent and a practicing Children’s Social Worker, I feel a professional and moral duty to warn other local families about the severe systemic failures within the leadership and management at Shirley High School. My daughter was recently permanently withdrawn from this school due to an absolute breakdown in their duty of care- entirely my choice.

1. Extreme Staff and Student Churn (Zero Continuity)

The level of instability at this school is deeply alarming. There is a relentless, high turnover of both staff and students, with children joining and teachers leaving constantly throughout the academic year. This chaos means the school relies heavily on a rotating door of temporary cover teachers. My daughter spent large portions of her time being taught by constant supply staff, completely obliterating any educational continuity or structural stability.

1. Hostile Leadership and Retaliation

If you are a parent who expects an open, collaborative partnership regarding your child's wellbeing, you will not find it here. When I raised valid safeguarding and emotional wellbeing concerns with the Principal, Mr. Myton, I was met with total dismissiveness and a shocking lack of professional empathy.

Worse still, once I escalated my concerns to the Local Authority and my MP, the school's response was to target my 12-year-old daughter. Staff began systematically chipping away at her confidence, culminating in an incident where she was arbitrarily barred from a pre-paid Year 7 educational trip to the London Zoo with zero justification.

1. Dangerous Safeguarding Malpractice

When I physically arrived at the school to challenge why my daughter had been left behind in tears, the school instantly backtracked, claiming it was an administrative "misunderstanding." Because the coaches had already left due to their error, the Deputy Principal and Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), actively suggested that my highly distressed 12-year-old child should leave the school premises entirely alone and travel unaccompanied to East Croydon station to try and "catch up" with the group.

For a Designated Safeguarding Lead to suggest sending an unaccompanied, minor into a major, high-risk public transit network with no staff contact or supervision is a catastrophic breach of Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) statutory guidelines.

This school operates on a punitive, toxic culture where children are used as collateral if a parent dares to challenge the leadership. The school has blocked formal access to the governing body, manipulated panel referrals, and consistently failed to manage critical student welfare indicators.
Thanks to the urgent intervention of Croydon Council's Head of Inclusion, my MP, and the Executive Mayor, my daughter is safely out of this environment and moving to a setting that actually values child protection. If you value your child’s emotional safety, mental wellbeing, and academic stability, LOOK ELSEWHERE!!!