It's a mixed report from us. There was a lot to like about it. The head's opening talk very much chimed with our ethos - children have to be happy at school, and wellbeing and emotional development take priority over academic results. Success means different things for different children. All music to our ears.
The facilities were good, especially with the renovation of the former sixth-form buildings. I thought that the DT and Art rooms were especially impressive. They had a nice cosy library as well. Most of the teachers were enthusiastic and friendly. They are clearly very aware of their lack of outside space and work hard to overcome it with daily PE and other outside activities.
A few things gave me pause for thought. Once was the median age and thus experience of the teachers. Quite a large proportion of the ones we met were new starters in September and presented themselves as refugees from the state sector. So I wasn't sure how they might deal with somewhat different children or what might happen when the novelty of small classes etc wore off.
Another was the overwhelming emphasis they presented on technology-assisted learning. I don't want my children staring at screens for most of the day. I prefer more hands-on learning - if this is what's on offer, then they need to make it clearer as it did come across as quite one dimensional.
It was a bit glitzy. There was a lot of talk about overseas trips for the children as part of the PP experience. Personally, I am not sure that one needs to fly to New York to see a play, or to Malta to play netball or to Tanzania to do charity work. I don't think it's environmentally responsible either.
The deciding point for me though was my interaction with the Head at the end of the tour. I had noticed a "pronouns" poster and display about being non-binary etc so I asked him whether the school was connected with Stonewall at all. Although I don't have daughters I am a feminist and am very concerned about the erosion of women and girls' sex-based rights through gender-identity theory and also the 'no debate' approach to such things. The Head's answer was unclear and evasive. He said they weren't "directly" involved with Stonewall and then something along the lines of they supported their students to be whoever they wanted to be. I did some digging afterwards and wasn't reassured that gender identity theory wasn't on their PSHE curriculum. I prefer a Head who is upfront with me and with whom I can be upfront. He didn't acknowledge that my concerns might be valid or offer details. So it's a no from us.