Any current Maida Vale School parents?

[stclair]

Dd has been offered a place to start year 7. I loved the environment and the feel of the school but would LOVE some feedback on how it is going there. I understand a new headteacher will be starting later in the year?

Sorry you haven't had any replies on this, I too await with interest, same situation. New head starts on 24th April but I wonder why Mr Winter left so soon after starting the school.

Not a current parent but I know there’ve been a few other threads about the school if you do a bit of a search.

I’ve met the new head and he’s lovely, I think he’ll be great. Has a very impressive track record if you look him up.

The only threads I can find are little old. Being a new school, things change quickly so would be good to know who it is now. I believe Mr Winter is heading to Norfolk.

@TheMissingSock1 Hi, have you had any more thoughts about MVS or found out further info? The deadline being Wednesday it looks like where my dd will be heading. The parent’s event last week was useful and I liked the head. This whole next school thing is taking over my waking thoughts!

Hello, still in a deep dilemma here about the sheer cost of MVS as an unknown entity. Since that event last week I’ve had some inside info from a governor of a previous school regarding the new head which isn’t positive. How he might affect the school remains to be seen. Maria Gardener kind of dodged our question when we asked her what he would bring to the school.

@ImAMaximalist eek, are you happy to spill the beans as to what you found out? 👀

I am a current parent at Maida Vale School and I would strongly advise against sending your child there. There is a heavy churn of students every year (10-15%) which is huge for a very small school. Also they take many applicants of students who can't get into other schools, so there are behaviour issues in all year groups. This year multiple families have pulled mid year, which tells you something is wrong. The academics are untested and the 1st GCSE results will be poor (its well known in the parent community and even the school says it). There is heavy turnover in the staff - the head is leaving and the new head is coming with a checkered past, no head of english for years as well as Maths. Music churns each year. There is no SEN provision - parents are asked to pay extra for Learning Support There is also active bullying and excluding in the school - and its very woke in its approach. Boys and girls are pitted against each other for gender discussions, and my DD is very uncomfortable in this environment and girls are very afraid. Don't be fooled by the facilities - Its all for show. Its a big/expensive experiment for the group and they will say or do anything to get their numbers up. Happy to share all more privately do DM me.

wow, that's a strong message. Has something happened to your DD?
I agree it's a bit untested, and is very expensive, with no scholarships or bursaries etc...

Something has happened to many students at the school. For a small school there are many children in Detention each week, reflecting behaviour issues across year groups. Its 100% untested (no GCSE results) and the group rests on the laurels of a bigger school Kew House, but don't be deceived. Its very expensive and they charge for lunch as well - hidden costs everywhere. No scholarships no bursary, nothing 100% profit. The children are also easy targets, as the uniform has Khaki Pants/skirt and Bright Blue Blazers, in the midst of very large state schools. The parents have begged the owners to change it for the safety of the children but the group doesn't care. Its about image not safety or concern for the parents and children.

Sadly, I concur with many points mentioned raised by the previous poster. I had high hopes for this school to provide alternative provision to the high-pressured nonsense in other private secondaries. The teaching is poor quality relative to what parents are paying for as reflected by their inability to attract and retain top-quality staff. A naturally bright kid will thrive anywhere, but they seem content to let others coast along. You’ll get spiel about them monitoring grades and if grades fall, they will look into why. It’s nonsense.

It looks beautiful, but there’s no substance to the school. My child has been subject to some pretty awful behaviour. They don’t have a grip of it and families are, indeed, exiting mid-term.

I am a bit shocked after reading this. I have just accepted a place for my child. The concern about the uniform I understand. But teaching being poor is really not how it should be. Is there anyone who can counterbalance these stories with something positive? The head of English who interviewed my child seemed great.
also extra costs for learning support and for lunches is pretty standard in Independant schools, all the 5 schools I have dealt with for my kids have that.
Hoping for some positive comments as I have had a sleepless night after reading these.

Both my children are at MVS and they absolutely love it. They are pretty normal well balanced kids with no behavioural issues and both their friendship groups are lovely (year 8 and year 11) I am more than happy for you to DM me if you would like more info. My DD has major dyslexia, the SEN support she receives is outstanding, in her previous school she was told she would only be able to do 4 GCSE’s, she is currently sitting 8 GCSE’s at MVS. She is feeling pretty confident that she will do well. She also feels that the teaching at MVS has helped build her confidence so much and that she has learnt more there than in her previous school (well established all girls school) as for my DS he is in year 8, he adores the school, he was offered places in other top schools around london but chose MVS as he had seen how happy his older sister was there. The new head is fantastic and I feel that he will bring about positive changes, he is less keen to have an open door policy for kids who have struggled to get into other schools due to their behavioural issues. All in all I couldn’t be happier with our choice, we have been there since the very beginning when MVS first opened (with only 50 kids!!) and not once have we thought about moving our children elsewhere. Like any new school there will of course be teething problems, but there is a strong parent body who are very involved in making the school reach is full potential.

That’s very heartening Trustinlove!
why do you think the new head is fantastic?

I live locally and was considering this school for 2024 entry but decided not to apply in the end.

I have also heard positive comments from other parents about SEND children being welcomed. It is like a state school but without the bottom level pulling them down. BUT it also lacks the children at the upper academic level pulling them up and they don't do enough to pull the middle band up to greater potential.

I agree with the above comment that it's expensive for what it is - it charges the same fees as the top tier schools such as City, St Pauls etc.

There is a lot of feedback on the Facebook page about how this is a nurturing school but not academic. So if academics are important to you then this isn't a school where your child will be challenged enough to get top marks.

My DS has been at MVS since the beginning of yr 7 ( he’s now in yr 8) and I have only good things to say about the school.
When he first started he struggled with anxiety, having missed most of year 6 due to lockdown. The school were amazing in supporting us through this and getting him the help he needed. He is now thriving and hasn’t had a panic attack all school year.
Academically the school is mixed abilities but this doesn’t mean it’s not academic. My DS is very clever as are many of the kids in his year. I believe that if you’re child his happy and given good teaching they will reach their full potential and I’m seeing this come into fruition. I am confident that he will be able to get high grades in his GCSEs
My DS has a wonderful group of friends and I really love the community feeling it has especially for a secondary school. I have a friend who chose to send her child to an established school and is now trying to get him into MVS as she’s not happy with it. If you’d like anymore info please DM me.

This completely resonates with me @Happydays7 my DS is also actually quite academic, but thrushes in a less pressured environment. This is why we chose MVS over more “ academic” schools.
looking forward to to starting in September in year 9

That should read thrives

Hi @mNMarlise76, Good Luck with MVS, however you should know it is not a mainstream school. There are children with significant behaviour/SEN issues and these children require Learning Support Assistants in the classroom to manage their behaviour. This was encouraged by the Gardener Group, however, no mainstream Senior School would allow this as it detracts from the learning of all students. The school is best for artistic/creative non sporty/academic children. I hope that fits your child.

Look forward to meeting you in September…my DS has just had his end of year exams and if he carries on with similar results he will get 8s and 9s in his GCSEs so I strongly disagree with the person who said it’s not academic.

I would question your dichotomy between artistic/creative vs non-sporty/academic. Gross generalisation. I know plenty of children who are highly academic and highly creative. Art is actually an academic subject, which involves the intellect in a different way to other subjects arguably.

Also, at least in the state sector, many puplis have an LSA (learning support assistant) in the classroom - not to manage their behaviour necessarily but to help them in class in different ways. Not really sure how you think no mainstream school would allow this, as they all do...

No independent schools allow a LSA in the classroom., unless it is a specialty school. Of course state schools have LSAs but in the independent sector it’s a completely different story. Good Luck, I hope your child is successful there. You should just know what you have been sold.

Ok… I had our first parent association committee meeting with the new head teacher last week. His specific words were “we are a mainstream school” so there you have it. I would like to add that my DD has a child in her year who has a LSA in the classroom. They all get on with it and actually I feel that it teaches children compassion and understanding towards those who may need a little more support than others.

I totally agree with you. I also feel that they are being very narrow minded about children who are neuro diverse. It does not mean that they are difficult or drag the other children down. If we look in the world at people who have shone and succeeded in their field , Richard Branson and Elon Musk pop into my head they are not on the “normal” scale. We live in a beautifully diverse world and it’s important that our children see aspects of this.

I have a son at MVS (who previously attended Devonshire House School), and am about to send my other son there as well. I can't say enough good things about the school - our son is really thriving there in a way he never has before. I feel hugely positive about it, and as an active parent, I know many other parents do too. We were nervous about sending our child to what was then a fairly new school, but our choice has been validated. I also feel the new head - who was previously at Stowe and Bedales - will be a great fit for the school. I could not recommend it enough.