What do you think of this school?

[Aroundtheworldin80moves]

Trying to decide whether to apply for the local Free School.

• 50 children per year in two classes. Form groups stay together.
• Topic based not subject based learning (with topics covering everything from Science to languages to art)
• all study the same set GCSEs (Maths, English, language, Sciences, History, Art) with some scope for extra subjects.
• no uniform
• lots of practical experience.

Some things appeal, others don't.
20 minute bus journey, then 25 minute walk. Have yet to check the cycling route

This is opposed to the local school, 5 minute walk, 7 form entry, traditional uniform, massive range of academic and vocational subjects, range of extra curricular...

Unfortunately we can't visit as Open Evenings this week and she has a positive Covid test.

The website gives me even stronger sink or swim vibes - if you fit the mood I imagine you’d do well. But the mood feels even more rigid after reading that.

*mold

That bit of the website really looks like they don't want children with SEN.

Local school has a Learning support hub, literacy support, will talk to Primary senco... overall sounds more supportive.

I'm leaning more towards local school now.

@Aroundtheworldin80moves yes I just read the SEN bit and it sounded like they only want children who can keep up with what they do and the way they do it. If you can't then its just tough.

Just had a quick look at the Gov tables for this school. Much higher number than average for SN, which isn't surprising (25% vs average school has 10%), only 8 teachers in 2018/9 but I think they'd have had year 7 and year 8. No inspection yet.

Wow those FAQs learning expeditions wtaf so lessons then?

I would dispute that the GCSEs they insist everyone does would open up all A level options. Not easy to do geography or music or tech A level without ks4 input.

And that about appeals...wow. just wow. Great Ofsted eh but the SEN comments make me think they don't want any student who won't do what they ask. University is not for everyone, it really isn't.

Technically one of you can visit the school if you're double jabbed.

I wouldn't pick the free school

The small year group means that if there's a social problem with one student, you can never escape them.

Secondly what if the GCSEs don't suit your child ? My son is dyslexic and struggled with MFL so was happy to drop German for GCSE. None of my kids picked art, 2 chose geography over history.

My kids went/go to an 8 form entry school and there are lots of alternative qualifications if GCSEs don't suit. They have a Work Related Learning department for those who choose that path. Year 6 to 7 is a bigger step up at a big school for practical reasons like more people waking down corridors between lessons but there's lots or choice and opportunity that comes through size and they get used to it quickly.

Topic based learning…..horrendous. I even think that for primary, but realistically it sounds ridiculous for secondary. I just can’t see how true mastery can be aimed for in complex areas without specialisation. It sounds like it can’t really be done, which is why they are offering only a very limited curriculum with a few subjects.
Who is teaching these topics? There can’t be many teachers able to teach all of science, English, maths , history etc from yr7-11 for the least to the most able.

I would not choose this school, but appreciate everyone has different views.

Open evening has moved online, which solves that problem.

(I'm the only adult in the house currently... DH is in the Army. So I'm housebound until children out of isolation).