Wren Enfield

[Michxox]

Hi Does anyone have any experience with Wren Enfield ? Im am in the catchment area for Wren and highlands School and currently deciding between the two .

Hi OP. I don’t have direct experience (my own DD is only 4), but I live in the area and have several friends with DC at Wren, and others who considered it but opted to apply elsewhere. And obviously we’re looking ahead for our own DD too (trying to weigh up whether we may need to move for secondary).

From everything I’ve heard, Wren is a good school, but one of those places where you need to be fully on board with the ethos - both the faith aspect and the super strict behaviour policy. Liberal and laissez-faire it isn’t!

I know that some of the latest Year 7 were quite taken aback by how strict it was, and a couple have since jumped ship to Highlands, which is seen as a bit more laid back. Some parents were also put off by the open evening, which apparently focused almost exclusively on rules/behaviour. Others rave about it though, so your DC just needs to be the right fit I think!

Thank you for your information . I’m not to familiar with Wren but have been told it’s a very good school but very strict school. I will have a look again at this years school open evening but feel highlands might more be suitable for my DS

Hiya
Also interested in Wren Enfield.
Does anyone have information on the quality of the education/teachers etc?

Wren Finchley is quite near us. Some of neighbours sent their girls there. They were quite happy. They did though change for Sixth Form to more academic schools.

Wren believes in total control as has already been suggested above, a reaction to the problems at the predecessor school which had to be closed. The academic focus is on league tables and ticking Ofsted boxes. So you may need to supplement with wider reading, family excursions and discussions at home.

Thanks - hoping for info more specific to Wren Enfield though as this is the newer academy.

@Tulip2277 I live in Enfield and posted above - no direct experience, but I’ve spoken to lots of friends and colleagues with DC at Wren Enfield and so far they are universally impressed by the standard of teaching, which apparently is generally very good, but not necessarily as happy with the ethos and pastoral side. Their DC are in general making good academic progress, but don’t necessarily enjoy school.

I suspect some of it is teething troubles, as they’re very much still bedding in, but I think it’s one of those ‘marmite’ schools that will very much suit some kids and not others. Will be interesting to see how things progress one they’re settled into the new building.

Thanks. That's helpful and interesting. I also saw your previous entry, thanks. By "ethos" are you referring to the Christian aspect? I would have thought that if parents had an issue with a faith school they simply wouldn't send their child there? Or was it some other aspect? What's wrong with the pastoral care? Thanks for this valuable insight.

@Tulip2277 No, not the Christian ethos specifically - most of the people I know whose DC attend Wren aren’t religious at all, but are willing to ‘suck up’ that aspect for the sake of a decent local school. And actually by all accounts the school has been surprisingly liberal when it comes to things like trans rights etc.

It’s more the super strict ethos and laser focus on behaviour and disciple that has put some people off. I think many people went in expecting a fairly strict school, but were taken aback by quite how zero tolerance it was - things like daily uniform inspections with instant detentions for a slightly short skirt or the wrong socks and so on. Last autumn there was a mini exodus of Year 7s to other schools after the first few weeks because they just couldn’t hack it, and friends with DC there have reported back that it all felt a bit rigid and joyless. I’ve asked a few Wren kids I know directly about their experience of school, and they’ve always emphasised how strict it is, acknowledge they’re making good progress in their learning, but say they don’t actually enjoy school much. So I guess it depends on what your priorities are!

It’s still a very new school, though, and all of this could well settle down once they’ve established themselves a bit.

My daughter goes to wren Enfield and enjoyed her first year there. I agree it's very strict on behaviours - shockingly so initially.

The standard of teaching is great and my daughter appreciates the single sex lessons for maths, science and english. There's a lot of homework....much more than my friends children at other local schools seem to get. Be interested to see how things develop as the school starts to move into new premises in September.

My daughter is doing really well and we knew she needed structure/boundaries, which is why we chose it, but recognize that's not for everyone.

Hi all
I know this is an old thread...but I read somewhere that Wren Enfield had their first Ofsted inspection last term but there's no report available from what I can see so wondering if that was a rumour. @Jcee as a parent there; do you know anything more? Also, how have things been since the move into the permanent premises?

My child is at the school and I can't stand it. They are not teachers they are prison officers. There is no care at the school at all. They only like the children who are high achievers.
OFSTED not published as they probably found a problem or school contesting outcome. I would never recommend this school and can't wait until my child leaves.
If you like your child to be punished for ridiculous reasons and them end up with mental health issues then Wren is the school for you!

Hi @Andibump
Sorry to hear this. Your child can't be more than year 9, so are you considering moving them if it's so bad?
Have you fed back your concerns?
I am a little concerned by the delayed ofsted report....I heard they inspected the school months ago....I imagine there is a dispute but I was thinking perhaps Good vs Outstanding? I imagine they want outstanding to match the success of Wren Finchley...?

Sorry bit slow to see this...don't know anything more on Ofsted report...you are right it's been a while, just checked dates the inspection was finished in early November...don't know if that's significant or just the norm nowadays...

Move to the new premises has been ok - had a look round at new building on a parents open day and it was very impressive. My daughter is ok and settled and prefers the new building and facilities

@Andibump sorry to hear this, that doesn't sound good. Have you contacted the school to raise concerns? What was the response?

Hi OP
Which did you opt for in the end?
We will have to make a similar decision soon..

I have raised many concerns and some emails they respond to and some they don't. There is never any real responses or help. It's all about the school and them looking good.
I have friends that go to Wren Finchley and the ethos seems to be better there, so not sure why Enfield is so awful.
I would love to move my child, but unfortunately they will not move due to friendships and I'm not sure their mental health will cope with a move.

Hi I went for Highlands in the end . She originally got into Wren Enfield but I changed her to Highlands before she started and happy with the choice I made . They are also very strict (Not as bad as Wren Enfield ) but my daughter is happy and thriving.

This sounds really tough.

I tried to get in contact a few times before my was daughter was due to start and noticed the communication was poor . That was a major red flag for me and one of the reasons why I opted for Highlands

So glad it worked out well for you and your DD! May I ask what swayed you to change your mind in the end (or was Wren your second choice on the form)? Was it easy to make the switch? I thought Highlands is usually heavily oversubscribed....did you have to go on a waiting list?

Thanks for the insight...secondary choices are so much harder than primary was!

I spoke to a few staff members there regarding all my queries and they were very good with responding and the communication was spot on .

I felt Highlands would be the school she could thrive in without being put under constant stress .
Luckily there was one space left when I changed my application . Wren Enfield was the first choice and Highlands second but changed the application a few months before she was due to start .
It is a large school but it is managed very well . It is strict but I assume it has to be as it's such a large school but it also has the right balance .

I also spoke to a few parents and teachers who's children go to Wren and they all had the same complaints about the strictness and there children not being happy and affecting there mental health since joining but saying that a couple parents said there child had settled well .
I suppose it's down to what would work for your DD or DS

The switch was very straightforward . Once I made the decision I knew it was the right choice .

Parents of Wren Enfield…….how are your children enjoying/coping now?
Are they settled and happy or would you still look to possibly move school now?
Also, did anyone on a waiting list actually secure their place at Wren Y7/Y8?

Bumping as interested too!

Also bumping 😀

Sorry if this is an old thread. Re Wren Enfield, I read elsewhere that it was initially awarded Requires Improvement by Ofsted, and they spent 6 months arguing to get it changed to Good. Anyone know the story behind this, or perhaps it’s just not the case or impossible to know? My main question mark is around the pastoral care offered at Wren, which seems pretty light touch (in comparison to Highlands, for example) and the extent to which they genuinely focus on the child’s mental health over academic results. Any direct experiences most welcome.