Holland Park school. Any updates?

[malfrale]

Hi,

I went to the open evening at HP and actually the new headteacher made a positive impression on me. He is aware of the problems of the school and did not try to play down what happened last year. He briefly explained what being part of UL involves (not much difference to the freedom of the school, apparently) and explained how they are addressing the issues pointed out in the ofsted report.

Having said this, obviously open evenings are some kind of show so I would welcome some insider information to understand better how are things these days in the school, how many kids or teachers have left, etc.

My child would start in September 2023.

Many thanks

[XelaM]

My daughter's best friend is there. Last year was total chaos, but she says things have definitely calmed down this year. She says not much has changed, except the school became much stricter to prevent it all going wrong again. I could find out more. I must say that despite her mother's horror at last year's events, my daughter's friend has always actually really liked the school - even last year. She's a very outgoing popular girl though, so I don't know if it's the school specifically or she would have been happy at any school. She's definitely happy at HO though.

[XelaM]

HP*

[malfrale]

Hi,

thanks for your reply. Yes, last year must have been a total nightmare. I was not even sure I wanted to visit the school but I’m glad I did as it gave me a much better impression than when I saw it three years ago with my daughter (she did not go there as I disliked the previous HT).

Do you know if many teachers have left?

Thanks again

[learningmom]

Dear @malfrale , this morning I attended the open morning and to my surprise I quiet liked the school despite everything I’ve heard and everything that has happened! The kids seemed happy, the school was very clean, the teachers were very kind and caring. I asked one of the Year 9 students about the change in school and she said that she has seen the previous headteacher as well and the new one is much much better. I went back home and read the Ofsted report once again and all I can see is the problems were mainly regarding the administration. I believe that next year the school will get back on track! I also would love to hear more from the existing parents.

[malfrale]

That was also my feeling, @learningmom. To be honest I think this is also an ofsted failure as they refused to see earlier what many of us had realised just listening to the old HT talk.
If, as it seems, the new management is good the school could actually become better than it was before.

[MumA123]

I think a lot of kids must have left. My child will just be joining next week after half term with many others across all year groups. I can only hope it is the right decision.

[malfrale]

Hi, Yes many people must have left. Last year was a disaster and the “inadequate” rating scares people. However, I believe that things can only improve from here.

I spoke to several parents now. A year 9 parent told me that the school is still very good academically but likely not as much excessive pressure as before. Two different year 7 parents said that their children have got excellent academic and pastoral support. Also, there is zero tolerance for bullying.

Please let us know your thoughts and impression once your child starts.

All the best

[MumA123]

Hiya
I'm about to get the uniform soon, could any mum please tell me if they are very strict on it at all.
Like for a year 9 student would the child still need to have the actual Holland Park School bag and no Kickers ?

Thank You

[artbar]

My son is currently in year 9 and we‘ll send our second child too. Academically the school is amazing, teachers are great and I agree with the above - with the new head the atmosphere is way better and calm. We were no fans of the Colin Hall times and would have removed our child if he wouldn’t have left. His departure changed a lot (the interim wasn’t great and that was when ofstead came in but this past months it was a massive change to the better with the new head)
They are strict but like other secondary schools.
We think the school is on a way up and with a new leadership structure already in place, they can leave the turbulent years behind.

[artbar]

Yes, they will need the HP school bag. Regarding shoes - my son has comfortable leather shoes with laces - not sure about kickers.
welcome to HP! It’s a good time to join.

[malfrale]

Thanks for confirming my impression. As I said, I refused to send my older one to HP after attending CH’s talk at the open evening whereas I have now decided to apply for my son after listening to the new headteacher.

[MumA123]

Thank you, that's very encouraging x

[Stringbean70]

I have had three kids in the school. Youngest (y10) sill there but will move next year to another sixth form. The school is improving since it joined United Learning but most parents are disengaged and a radical parents group - who claim to represent us but have no legitimacy - are destabilising the school. I sincerely hope the new MAT will get a grip

[malfrale]

Hi, that is interesting to hear. I think what is needed is a more positive and constructive approach.

Can I ask if your kid is changing school for his sixth form as a result of the events of the last year or they’d have done it anyway? The A-levels results last year were very good.

Thanks and good luck.

[Letmedowneasy]

I'm not aware of the issues at the school but just wanted to say that the new headteacher is from my sons school and he is an amazing head, he is a fantastic, strong leader, involved, caring and interested in every child, not just the high achievers.
Hopefully he can bring that to Holland Park.

[Trippingupwards]

Good to hear about the new head @Letmedowneasy

@Stringbean70 is right about the parents group - they were very noisy (and malicious) but have gone quiet now thank god.

[PettsWoodParadise]

As a parent with a DD at an outstanding grammar school that joined UL a couple of years into my daughter being at the school I must admit I was suspicious and worried at first. It has generally been fine and my fears didn’t come to pass, the best parts of the school have been allowed to flourish and they’ve benefited from software deals and ties with private schools etc. Never an issue with recruiting teachers. The school had another inspection recently and got an outstanding again. Most importantly my DD has been happy.

[Greatgibbons]

My DD is in year 9 currently

In summary - I have little doubts it’s a great school for her (remember please it’s state sector taking all abilities )

I have lived though the problems the school has been facing. I dislike the fact that the group that have taken control of it are based from far afield and I joined the parent protest group to try to
prevent this.

Despite these reservations my DD likes it there & has no complaints.

I believe it’s greatly above ordinary
To give my perspective some context I am state educated, have only one child and could not afford private.
My child commits to the ethos of working hard to achieve good results - but I am no helicopter parent pushing her to over achieve - I let her pace drive her own commitment ( gentle enrouagwnt were needed ).

I looked around other schools
In West London stretching as far afield as Richmond Park Academy. (An advantage of being a divorced parent is choice of locales for school applications and for us the choices were West London vs South West London)

[Namingchangeagain]

I am also a Year 9 parent at Holland Park. One never wants to admit that one made a bad choice for DC and it’s taken me a while to accept it (I was initially an apologist for the school) but I now do so.

Fortunately my DC has just got a place elsewhere (also state school) so will be leaving this July to start GCSEs courses in year 10. Their Y7 was dreadful - the bullying behaviour and blatant favouritism of the head and senior leadership team were frightening and shocking. Teacher turnover was terrible too - DC had three maths teachers in one year alone! Y8 (last year) was even worse - great that the head and SLT were forced out (long overdue and proved by independent investigation) but there was no leadership team in place to pick up the pieces and the school was a mad house. Huge discipline problems.

Also, last year there was a parent group (siding with the disgraced SLT and minimising problems) that made it even worse (referenced in the inadequate Ofsted report - the parents, maybe well-meaning, nevertheless did so much harm!).

This year much better - United Learning academy trust taken over the school and the new head is great and they put in place middle management (Heads of Year etc - as is the norm at schools but not in Holland Park). Pastoral care previously woeful but now better. DC leaving though because bullied by a peer whose mum was active in the dreadful parent’s group and now just wants a fresh start after all the turmoil. Holland Park will be good again but will take a few years

[malfrale]

We were offered a place and accepted it. Speaking (in person) to some year 7 parents I was reassured about the positive changes in the school. The school is academically good and still strict but in a sensible way. Apparently, a PTA is forming (for some reason they did not have one before) and some rules on uniform are being relaxed (mainly, the school coat will not be mandatory and trousers can be bought from other shops). I will know more next year.

[XelaM]

So... my daughter's best friend loves the school, but she's a very popular "cool" girl who is super confident and confrontational. Her mum absolutely hates the school and wants to move her elsewhere (by my daughter's friend doesn't want to move because of friends). The mum says the school's pastoral care isn't good and her daughter spends most of her time in either isolation or detention.

[Dodgeitornot]

@XelaM I don't know the school aside from what was in the press but your daughters friend probably has a behaviour problem not a pastoral care problem. If she's confrontational and a 'cool kid' than she's probably going to be in detention or isolation in most schools. The mum should probably get her daughter some outside help before she's excluded.

[malfrale]

@Dodgeitornot I agree. Also, how can she love the school if she spends all her time in detention/isolation?

[Coffeecaketime]

I wish you all the best OP with Holland Park. You have taken a leap of faith so are braver than us (we applied but turned down place in the end). My friend has a daughter in Y7 - she’s quite enjoying it but they are still keeping an open mind about whether she should do GCSEs there (Key Stage 4) or move at end of year 8 or 9.

[Plitvice]

I still cannot believe how that school went from hero to sub zero. When DH and I were younger, we always thought we would be sending our future DC there because it ticked all the boxes and some more. Now, we wouldn't ever consider it. By the time we have grandkids, I'm sure it will be world class again!