Vanguard School - Kenington, London

[pamalova]

Hi - I am trying find reviews of the beyond autism school, NAS Vanguard school off Kennington Rd from parents who have kids at the school. Have just read the Offstead report which was a little alarming, so wanted to get a parents perspective of the school!?

Despite a new principal promising change, this change hasn’t happened, nothing has really changed, except the toxic vile staff have now been given the authority, the impedes and backing to carry on without impunity. All the decent honourable staff have all gone.. not 1 member of staff is remaining from September 2021… that is shocking… No one present with any moral backbone!!! The reputable have been replaced with toxic lying unfit people to guard, educate and care for our vulnerable neurodiverse gifted children. So glad I pulled my child from this, I cannot even bring myself to call it a school. Life is so much better now..

You are right to say this. There are some very belligerent ex parents on here - a tiny minority whose children arguably had a bad experience. These people have no right to shoot you down for saying something positive about the school. My daughter is at this school. It is not perfect but significantly better than her mainstream experience. The new head is great. He is working hard to get great staff on board but it is hard in the current climate with the government’s attacks on teachers. The national picture is bleak. Under Stuart, the headteacher, the school could be brilliant.

Great life is better now, so why are you continuing to spew your bile about the school? Not all of us parents think the same way as you do and the staff that have gone needed to go. The new head is fantastic.

My experience at the moment is not pleasant with the school. my son is not feeling happy. the headteacher is very errogant and taking notice of my concerns that I have raised.

I meant to say not taking any notice with regards to my concerns.

Hello, Vanguard are making an offer to my LA for my son for Sept .....it is my LA who consulted as after reading this thread I didn't even look into the school as an option.... if my LA place him here I am going to appeal as we also have an offer for another indy school which we really want.. Can anyone give me recent experiences since the new head came in? Im trying to gather as much recent experience from parents as possible. Thanks

I didn’t think the LA would consult due to the ofsted but maybe I am wrong. I live nearby and mine didn’t consult. Can I ask about any other schools you have looked at? I’m trying to gather as much info as possible.

How detailed is your child's education health care plan? as the school can only give what it states on it. Vanguard has 2 children from my family and yes before april 2023 it was a very chaotic school but it's reshuffled now and has a better structure. But please remember it's a school for children with Autism and autism is a spectrum. While my children absolutely LOVE vanguard and all the teaching staff they do occasionally have dramas with other students but they have therapists on hand that helps them process everything. Teachers are working hard to get the children course work for 2024 Gcse's doing trips with them at every opportunity, I take my hat off to the whole team there. But there are some very salty parents that talk against the school. Have you visited the school? maybe visit. i can also say they hold coffee mornings and afternoons for parents and each time it's a different theme we talk about. Personally i would recommend.