Feedback on Grey Court School , Ham (Richmond)

[sdk2022]

Hello Everyone
I have recently moved to the UK and currently residing in Ham (Richmond) area. My daughter is on a waitlist for Kingston Academy and at Tiffin Girls School. For Tiffin School I know the wait is much longer as she will need to give an entrance exam which has been scheduled for 1st Dec as of now. Kingston Academy she is on top in the list but still not sure how long the wait will be. Meanwhile, we have been offered a space at Grey Court school - I would sincerely appreciate an honest feedback about this school? How are the teachers? Is it a good mix of students? Academically do they pay attention to the children? Etc Etc

I'm very apprehensive and want her to have a good and healthy experience especially with such a big change. It's not been easy. I took this house especially to be 7 mins away from Kingston Academy and yet have been on waitlist - have approached Richmond and Kingston Council , written emails to schools etc but we will just have to wait it out. So i just want to know if Grey Court School is a good option to put her in meanwhile. Thank you

I don't think you have any other option do you? Unless you are prepared to go private? Tiffin is extremely difficult to get in, plenty of kids get tutored from y4 onwards and still don't get a place so I wouldn't rely too heavily on that - even if your child is super bright it doesn't always translate to a successful exam.

I know people with children in Grey Court who are reasonably happy with it, and people who are unhappy with it. Important to keep in mind it had a bad reputation in the past so a lot of local people still think of it that way. Good luck, I should think the TKA place will come available pretty quickly if you're first in the queue.

Thank you so much for your response. Yes she is in the top 4, but we do not know for how long? The school and Kingston council is suggesting we make a appeal but also say we should have a strong backing for the appeal. I have read mixed reviews about Grey Court and hence I am apprehensive about sending her there. Is it worth making an appeal and giving the last shot? The council is pushing to go for an alternative because as per law I cannot keep her home for 4 weeks. Its been only 2 weeks and I am ready to wait another 2 weeks for TKA is that works in my favour. The question is should I reject Grey Court and appeal for TKA?

Never reject a school. If you do the council has no obligation to find you a school. You can accept Grey Court and still appeal for your preferred school. Good luck.

Noted. Will do. Thank you for all your responses. Extremely helpful. I hope once I accept an offer they won't remove her from the waitlist of my preferred school.

No they won't. You can accept an offer and still be on multiple waitlists.

Grey Court is fine.

My niece and nephew are at GC and both are happy and their parents are pleased with the school choice. I know people who have moved to Ham to get in to the school so it seems to be well regarded.

I have two daughters who completed their schooling at GreyCourt and two
who are in the 6 form. School is good academically, good communication with parents. In our experience sports is only for those who are good at it, not inclusive and the pastoral support is not as good as they claim it is. That said, we have never felt the need to move our daughters and they are (I may be biased) happy, capable , successful and thriving individuals. 😀

Thank you for sharing that

Thank you so much for sharing that.

Well I go to Tiffin boys and It's a great school with learning that actually is fun.
The food is amazing and we get an early lie in and are allowed to come to school at 9:20 on Thursdays. I understand this might not help you as I go to tiffin boys, but I am sure that the academic level of tiffin girl is the same if not higher than tiffin boys. In any of the schools your daughter goes to she'll have lots of opportunities. But I do have to say, Tiffin is very hard to get into: my friend got on the waiting list by one mark and it still took him a long wait to officially get in. So maybe accept Kingston Academy but remain on the waiting list of tiffin in the chance you get in. I think this is your best bet. Congratulations to your daughter and good luck.

Just curious to know, what did you finally decide? I am in the same boat this year and considering TKA or Grey Court?

Grey Court is one of the top performers in the borough. Not sure why people are still not pleased with the choice ...
TKA meaning...Twickenham Academy? Cannot be. Have you looked at GCSE results for both schools at all?

I think she means Kingston academy by TKA?

Yes must definitely mean The Kingston Academy as it is known local as TKA...if they are in the catchment for greycourt very unlike to be in the catchment for the Twickenham Academy!

@KB183 You are fortunate to have this choice many people would swap places with in a heart beat for the luxury. It really depends on your child which you put as your preference in recent years it seems the sporty children have gone for greycourt. The GCSE results at Greycourt are still slightly better (although TKA did amazing well this year almost catching up with greycourt - I personally don't think it will be long until they match their results or do better) - this is because the cohort that just left TKA were the children who started the school when it was an unknown school and not people's first choice. Anyway good luck with your decision.

Ah I see. Kingston Academy has tiny catchment and similar GCSE results to Grey Court.
@12345change Twickenham Academy has no catchment as it is not oversubscribed.

@JustWingItLifeEyelinerEverything don't know much about Twickenham Academy. It might not have a catchment area but I’ve never come across anyone who lives in the catchment area for both Greycourt and TKA going to Twickenham Academy

Twickenham School (which hasn't been called Twickenham Academy since 2016) wasn't oversubscribed with preferences, but did fill up on allocations this year, which will bolster it financially. It also has a new Head who is a physicist (gold dust) and was a former associate Head at Hammersmith Academy. The previous Head worked hard to get the school to Good before she left, so it's in a much stronger position than it ever has been in living memory.

Progress 8 of 0.15, 2023 GCSE 5+ in Maths and English 51 perc...I would dare to say that Twickenham School is in the bottom of the Borough's list when it comes to the results

Twickenham school is big @12345change and accepts widely. Whereas Grey Court catchment streches also to the other side of the river. Kids from Teddington go over the footbridgez through the park to Grey Court

Yep, it may take a few years to turn that around, and in the meantime it has spaces in upper year groups that mean it has no choice but to accept students who are "managed out" by other schools, so be kind to it.

@JustWingItLifeEyelinerEverything we are in the catchment of Greycourt and TKA and yes you're right Greycourt does go over the river. But TKA does not as far as I'm aware - so like I said it be unusual to be in the catchment for both and end up at Twickenham Academy - especially when you have Teddington so close on the otherside of the river.

@infinitwisdom not only managed out but also those who had to escape. And that creates the problem because the school has there very challenging kids on both sides of the spectrum. Those who traumatise others and those who are traumatised. Definitely the gov should give more money to such schools to strengthen the pastoral care

Thanks

H