We applied for a year 7 place next year and the school seemed just fine. We don't know anyone whose DC go there though.
Just read a Good School Guide review that specifically mentions parents as being 'pushy'. Allegedly, they were told many 'unflattering epithets' about the parents (from other parents, natuarlly!) and 'The parents argued so much about who would be chair of the PTA that the PTA itself nearly dissolved'
I have never read a GSG review that is so direct and negative.
What do parents whose DDs go to St Helen's feel? Did you have problem getting along with other parents?
TBH this is not a huge issue for us as we don't see us getting involved in PTA etc (we mostly stay hands-off), or for that matter socialising with other parents, but it's still slightly disconcerting, because these attitudes could also spill into behaviour inside the school in the form of intense compeition and rivalry?