Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

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

Original poster

Chislehurst School For Girls

35 replies

juneyb · 24/10/2021 12:14

Any mums have girls at this school and if so can any of you share your experience ? would you recommend it ?
Its Ofsted Good but I know that 'Beaverwood' its former name had some issues. They do seem to talk a good story so just wondering if anybody can give me any insight.
thanks very much

OP posts:
TellySavalashairbrush · 24/10/2021 12:41

Avoid . I talk from experience.

StressedOutMumBex · 24/10/2021 12:57

Thanks. There seems to be very little negative reviews / information out there on this school so i'm surprised. what is it i'm missing ?

Saharatears1 · 20/11/2021 13:03

My daughter started this September and she's loving it. Yes sure there is a bad element there involving other older girls who are bullying younger ones, but the school seems to be doing its best to deal with it. It wasn't my first choice school, but so far so good. I think you will get an element of bullying in any school. It's how quickly and how well its dealt with that matters. It's important for parents to stay on top of things and communicate with the school as much as possible.

clouise26 · 06/05/2022 22:21

Saharatears1 · 20/11/2021 13:03

My daughter started this September and she's loving it. Yes sure there is a bad element there involving other older girls who are bullying younger ones, but the school seems to be doing its best to deal with it. It wasn't my first choice school, but so far so good. I think you will get an element of bullying in any school. It's how quickly and how well its dealt with that matters. It's important for parents to stay on top of things and communicate with the school as much as possible.

Hi everyone, anyone else have any views? Saharatears1 are you still happy with it? My daughter has a place there this Sept.

TangerineSloth · 10/05/2022 17:50

My daughter is in Y8 there and it's been a really positive experience for us. We were new to the area so we took the school at face value and at open days and subsequent school concerts we've found the girls we met delightful - open articulate and friendly. Did take DD a little while to settle as she started knowing no-one and had limited induction because of the covid rules. But now she's flourishing, has lovely friends, enjoys classes and there are more clubs than she can fit into lunchtime and after school. I'd say that very nearly all the teachers she's had are kind and responsive and some are inspirational. She is the kind of girl who suits a disciplined all-girls school, though.

TangerineSloth · 27/05/2022 21:47

Saharatears comment about older girls bullying bothered me so when my DD (unprompted) said she'd never seen any bullying at school I specifically asked about older girls and she said when she'd had contact with them - in lunchtime music or dance practice, mainly - they'd been great, helping her and telling her how great her performance was. I think there's a bit more push and shove when they get on buses at the end of the day, though. I know this is the experience of one girl and her friends, but I really don't think you should be concerned, there are lots of really happy girls there who are doing really well. Happy to answer any specific questions

StressedOutMumBex · 03/07/2022 13:53

Thanks @TangerineSloth my daughter starts there this September and is going for her induction day on Tuesday. Its great to hear such positive feedback. It wasn't our first choice of school but so far all the arrangements for transition have been great (my child has SEN) so i'm hoping that she loves it.

clouise26 · 03/07/2022 15:57

Thanks @TangerineSloth for replying and @StressedOutMumBex my daughter will be at the induction too. She has some learning issues with maths so I must admit I’ve found the sending maths home already/cat testing to be a bit much. I emailed and explained we didn’t want her to do either but they didn’t reply until I questioned her being kept back to do cat testing after the induction on Tues. Hoping this isn’t reflective of the support she will get once there as SENco hasn’t responded and so far my impression is the school seems to be very much about grammar stream and sending girls off to Russell Group universities and less about supporting the strugglers…
so good to hear your child with SEN is getting some support with transition.

StressedOutMumBex · 03/07/2022 22:27

@TangerineSloth we have also been struggling with the maths watch tasks, it does seem a bit much, especially for kids who have known challenges. I am going to email the school to let them know that I’ve had to read all the questions and explain some of it to my DD. I am assuming they are using these maths sessions to stream them ? My daughter is also doing the Cat test and dyslexia screening. On Tuesday. I am really hoping they deliver on the support also.

StressedOutMumBex · 03/07/2022 22:32

Sorry The last post was meant for @clouise26 ! It’s been a busy weekend !

clouise26 · 03/07/2022 22:47

@StressedOutMumBex I have said my DD will not be doing either the maths or the cat test. They can’t make them I don’t think. Yes I think it’s for their grammar stream (well I know the cat test is) and my DD will not be in the grammar stream so pointless putting her through it and making her feel inadequate. I explained we’re trying to keep this transition a positive experience. They can test her maths levels once she starts. At primary she goes out for maths in a small group and that helped her, so I’m hoping they do something similar there. She’s been assessed by an educational psychologist and done these type of cat tests before so for her it’s pointless as the EP identified a fluid and spatial reasoning issue. So no point putting her through that, and they have agreed with me she won’t do it. I got no response on my email saying we’re not doing the maths but we haven’t been doing it. Neither has her friend from primary that is also going there. We’re just not bothering!

StressedOutMumBex · 04/07/2022 09:21

I did consider saying no to the maths also, its a bit of a waste of time for us as well as my DD is dyslexic and struggles with tests in general. Initially they said that she did not need to do the CAT test they would take her SATS scores from Primary, then I got an email saying that they had made arrangements for her to do tomorrow. I will raise I again because if that is really to establish whether they are potentially grammer stream or not - we already know that she is not.

TangerineSloth · 07/07/2022 15:48

I think sometimes they don't realise how incredibly daunting this transition can feel for all dc, let alone those with additional needs. Coincidentally I did meet the SenCo at a school event - she'd helped my DD do an assembly - and she was lovely, not that this is much comfort to you if she's not offering practical help at the moment. I think you have a new parents meeting next week which might reassure if you can make it? Feels a while ago now but I do remember the endless maths watch work and other summer work - tbh I thought it was set because the Y7s starting in 2020 had missed so much schooling and had had no induction days at all. DD did most of it but no reference was made to any of this work once she'd started at the school. The school seemed to put girls in classes according to primary school reports (no SATs that year either) then they sat CAT tests in October - but it was a strange year thanks to the pandemic.

StressedOutMumBex · 07/07/2022 17:05

@TangerineSloth I think 2020 was a really difficult year to transition, my son started his secondary school in Sept 20 and he had no 'in person' induction at all and virtually nothing to assist transition organised except an online tour of the school so I know what you mean, it was difficult for him.
My DD went to the induction day on Tuesday and she did do the CAT test, they said all kids would be doing it and all do it the same way etc and that it was really to gauge their attainment vs. trying to stream for Grammer. Was also told that the maths-watch was kind of the same but specifically for maths and also designed to get them used to doing their homework in an online format. Anyway my DD really enjoyed the day and I have now had several interactions with the SEND manager and the Senco there (all good). I will meet them in person on Monday so hoping all will be well. Thanks for all your insights TS.

TangerineSloth · 07/07/2022 19:36

@StressedOutMumBex you're welcome.

My comments are just based on our experience - though dd friends and parents are equally happy - but I hope your daughters settle well and are happy at the school

Yale445 · 10/11/2022 21:59

Bumping to see if anyone has any more recent feedback on this school ?

clouise26 · 11/11/2022 08:16

@Yale445 my DD didn’t end up going to Chislehurst in the end - a place came up at Darrick Wood so we switched. Her best friend went to Chislehurst and seems happy. Bit of a bumpy start with a fellow year 7 being unkind, but I think that’s sorted now.
@StressedOutMumBex how’s your DD getting on?

Saharatears1 · 11/11/2022 09:38

Hi, I have no real issues with the school. My daughter is still extremely happy there. Lots of school trips organised abroad. My only issue is that sometimes they don't give you enough notice about things such as payment for trips, or auditions for school plays. They can also hold it against you if your child doesn't take part in any of the activities they hold after school or during the lunch hour. Lunch hour activities mean they don't get a chance to eat. They acknowledge that my child is already involved in after-school activities she loves that have nothing to do with the school, but don't seem to understand that doing too many activities can take a toll. I'd rather my child be fully invested in one or two activities than be doing several and hating them because they are so tired. Also, I note that they do a lot of girly activities, which I don't think assists a girl in the real world. I would much prefer that they teach self-defense than dance, but maybe this is what a lot of girls' schools are guilty of.

StressedOutMumBex · 11/11/2022 20:58

clouise26 · 11/11/2022 08:16

@Yale445 my DD didn’t end up going to Chislehurst in the end - a place came up at Darrick Wood so we switched. Her best friend went to Chislehurst and seems happy. Bit of a bumpy start with a fellow year 7 being unkind, but I think that’s sorted now.
@StressedOutMumBex how’s your DD getting on?

Hi, DD started there in September, so far its been really good. She has settled in well and is receiving support (she is dyslexic). No issues so far and I do like the way they are teaching her, there is a lot of visual stuff, posters arty creative stuff that she really likes and is good at. She loves that she gets achievement points for good work and effort and she is really engaged. She has made some nice friends already. She is quite sporty also and is enjoying the sports clubs. So for us, it's a thumbs up (for now anyway) its still early days though so cautiously optimistic at the moment.

Appletonsa · 31/01/2023 21:42

Just logging on to see if anyone knew the recent Ofsted outcome ?? Thanks !

StressedOutMumBex · 02/02/2023 10:33

Nothing yet

MyDearMrsCrawley · 24/04/2023 13:06

Bumping to see if anyone has more info on the school ? We are new to area and DD been offered place. Can’t make up my mind,
lots of conflicting reports ! She’s fairly able and I think had we been in the area longer we would have tried for a grammar wondering if any feedback on grammar stream in particular ?
thanks

Original poster
juneyb · 24/04/2023 18:40

@MyDearMrsCrawley My Daughter started there last September and is really enjoying it. She is not in the Grammar stream but her friend has been bumped into the grammar stream after initially starting in the non grammar stream. I cant fault it at this point and I was also in 2 minds about her going to this school. DD did not pass 11 plus and after looking at all schools in the area we applied for CHSFG as i thought it was the best option. She is doing very well so far, if you havent looked at it I would advise you to go along.

OP posts:
MyDearMrsCrawley · 24/04/2023 19:10

@juneyb thanks so much for your response ! how does it work with grammar stream do they do some lessons all together and some are streamed or mix form groups or a mixture ? The thing that worried me most was old reports of bullying but I’m wondering if this is now dealt with much better as I know it happens everywhere. Great to hear your DD is doing well. Thanks so much x

Yale445 · 24/04/2023 19:10

So