Holland Park school. Any updates?

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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

And I am bloody hopping mad that they waited to announce it until after year 6 parents like us accepted their offers too. Bloody cynical

@Balcony66 I suspect they knew if they announced it before, the incoming cohort Y7 would be pretty empty or filled with allocation places aka not the kind of kids they want.
Have they announced the new head? The only reason I would think they would wait this long is so they can soften the blow by announcing the replacement at the same time.

Dame Sally Coates - big wigfrom United Learning (MAT that took over school) is going to be “Executive Principal” until “we are satisfied that the school is in an appropriate position for a substantive successor to take it on”.

Dame Coates is impressive but effectively another interim head. What concerns me is that the above shows that the school feels unable to recruit a new HT at the moment - it would be a poisoned chalice for any Head.

@Balcony66 I'm afraid you are right. I've worked in a few and this isn't really how it happens unless the school is in very muddy waters. The biggest red flag for me is that this head was in post for a long time at his previous school. 10 years is ages for a head now and those kind don't leave post quickly. He will have been experienced enough to know he needs to get out quickly before this taints his reputation.

The wording of that is also reading badly. I'm not really on the Holland Park hate wagon as I don't know the school and don't wish any school a bad rep, but I would probably be looking for a place elsewhere. Even in the interim, KS3 is not the group they will be stressing about. The exam years will be getting the best teachers and attention as they won't want results to completely annihilate them.
I would probably bet on one of these leftover SLT members taking the headship.

@Dodgeitornot seems to me that Steve Parsons (head from Sept) likely quit in frustration. There is so much wrong with the school - not just the terrible atmosphere and culture engendered by previous head (reported in press) - but in SLT, safeguarding, SEN, curriculum, teacher turnover….

I have given school benefit of doubt (hence one DC still there and ano due to join) but this is the final straw. I will follow advice on this thread tomorrow

Additionally for any Head looking at this, they will think...an experienced Head tried and failed. This isn't about knowledge but red tape management. This guy was probably not allowed to do his job or uncovered more stuff and wasn't about to have his name involved. The country is so short of Head Teachers, they can cherry pick. It'll be quite difficult for these governors to find a good Head. It's a very famous school and it's becoming more so for the wrong reasons. Not many prospective Heads will look at that with a smile of confidence. Not any good ones anyway.

I would probably bet on one of these leftover SLT members taking the headship.

that is terrifying - they were all recruited by Colin Hall the awful former head/spin doctor. Hope not.

thank you for your advice @Dodgeitornot - confirms my own view and you have expertise in the sector, clearly! Really hope OP is still checking in on this thread (quite old now) as they also picked Holland Park, despite its inadequate rating, as impressed by Steve Parsons.

“Additionally for any Head looking at this”

if only @Dodgeitornot. I don’t think Heads trawl Mumsnet. They should though! I posted upthread - feeling smug I turned down the school but also so very very sorry for other parents with DC there or about to go.

@Balcony66 I really don't have expertise. The nature of my job (previously schools Finance and now visiting Dyslexia teacher) means I've sat on a fair number of governors meetings and as a visiting teacher you see lots of schools and get to know them. There's far more experienced people on this site.
Try to not overthink it. There's really not that much you can do aside from applying for a place somewhere else. At least you know what's going on and can action it. Most people have very little idea of what their kids school is actually like on a day to day basis.
I wouldn't move to ~ anywhere that has space~ either. This school is under a lot of pressure and is being closely examined. This won't be the case everywhere. If your other child is happy, it's likely the Y6 one will be too.

@Coffeecaketime They're definitely not. I'm sure they're probably still working. It's a horrible role and one you couldn't pay me millions to do. I just meant it as on offhand comment, if a head is looking at the advert; they will have heard about the school and the good ones will dodge it. The ones with a huge ego that want to take it on and make a name for themselves will probably apply. It sounds like that's exactly the candidate this school doesn't need though.

@Dodgeitornot hear what u saying but DC1 is KS3 (y8) and is NOT happy at school - constantly leaving teachers and loads of cover lessons. Actively wanted to leave after y7 but DH and I said “give it time. Mr Parson will effect change”. But think I am right that moving this July won’t do any harm - most schools don’t pick GCSE options and start courses til y9 (or even 10)?

@Balcony66 In that case get out asap. But do your research and don't accept just anywhere because you're desperate. Get a tutor if you can afford it or set some time aside to do bits with them. Khan Academy, BBC bitesize etc. Doesn't have to be the national curriculum, just anything to keep joy of learning.

Good advice @Dodgeitornot - will not panic but determined to get a move ready for Sept (y9 for DC1 and y7 for DC2). Thanks so much for being a sounding board - the news today about Mr Parsons left us reeling as so unexpected. You have been v generous with your time

@Balcony66 All the best. Sorry you're going through this. Probably best you get on waiting lists tomorrow. I suspect admissions will be busy getting the same phone calls tomorrow. They will be closing for Easter so be quick. If you can get your Y6 DC into a school, the Y8 one will automatically get bumped up and vice versa. I don't know about your borough ours doesn't have limit on number of waiting lists you can be on.
In your shoes I would also look at somewhere within a circa 40min travel distance as the ones close by will be inundated with applications.

Will ring Hammersmith & Fulham first thing. Will come back on this thread if I may for advice if necessary. All best to everyone here in same situation. Thanks so much @dodgeitornot for the handhold!

@Balcony66 Get some sleep x

Colin Hall and his SLT were megalomaniacs (deceiving Ofsted and a law unto themselves with no accountability). The new head has a fantastic track record - blindingly obvious that he has walked away from an impending disaster at HPS coz not worth his while (and wasn’t told extent of problems:). But GB needs to be questioned

The interesting thing is that SP‘s former position hasn’t been filled yet so there might have been a plan - he was slow in making changes and the children at school barely saw him. They need someone more present - we really liked him in the speeches at the beginning and we liked the new structure that was implied but honestly he didn’t do enough.
Dame Sally already once turned a school from failing to outstanding and she seems more determined to get this done properly.
I agree it isn’t ideal but having had positive experiences so far with my sons teachers and going into GCSEs, we will remain hopeful.
I wouldn’t panic and now accept a place at any school in the borrow. If you listen to parents at other secondary schools (Fulham for us) it’s not great either regarding turnover of teachers or behavior of students.

Interesting thread. I am a parent at HPS. Parsons had a largely new leadership team, not sure why another poster thought it was all the old team. Currently there is no Governing Board. The board was dissolved when United Learning took over. Now the school has a School Improvement Board. Since Parsons was hired by the old Board, maybe United Learning wanted to make their own changes? Sally Coates is a very capable leader, hopefully the school will stabilise and improve now.

Oh dear, I can see that HP can polarise opinions. I have honestly spoken to loads of people with children in the school and they all seem happy this year but I suppose that depends on many factors. Also, happy "customers" tend to be quieter than unhappy ones.

As I said, I refused to send my first one to HP under the old management and I am aware of the problems of last year and the ones still there but I am confident it will get better and the fact that the school is being strictly monitored (as opposed many others) reassures me a lot.

I am disappointed that the new HT is leaving as he had made a good impression on me but I think it may be more like a political decision. Having said that, Dame Coats's CV looks truly amazing, she really turned around challenging schools.

We are still willing to give it a go and if my DC doesn't like it we'll find an alternative.

heck, my alma mater Holland Park is in crisis it seems. Loved my time there in 90s.

bumping this thread for more feedback. We have heard this school is terrible (teacher shortage/turnover/impossibility of recruiting as it is Ofsted inadequate, discipline problems etc). My DH read the Ofsted report which is worrying. There’s a website for parents that criticises the school at every turn too and seems to be willing it to fail. So, all in all, a recipe for disaster I think

We are British and still in US (for past 3 years) but moving back to London next summer. Had always thought we’d apply for HPS (our eldest DC went to Fox primary) but no way now. Am totally out of touch with schools - what do you think of Twyford, Greycoats, Tiffin or other state options?

I would never send my children to a United Learning school. Their behaviour management techniques are archaic and not informed by relational approaches, their classroom management regulations are restrictive for pupils and staff. I'm not surprised staff are leaving in highnumbers - we've seen the same happen in our area in schools taken over by UL. The corporate vision is at odds with the way most teachers want to teach and interact with pupils and has impacted negatively on teacher wellbeing, which then impacts negatively on pupils.

The waiting list places are creeping further South than I have ever known it - the latest ones offered this week are south of the Brompton Road - unheard of!

Yes this. DS was given an offer - we're in West Brompton. Not tempted though after all we've heard from other parents in the area