Teddington school, any parents with children there

[purplecat1]

Just wondering about teddington school. I'm relatively new to the area and from what I understand it has a chequered past but seemed to come out of it. But I hear there is a new head this year.

Any experiences good it bad from anyone who has a child there or knows the school.

Back when I was checking out schools when my eldest was in year 5 (2013), Teddington School was very oversubscribed and the borough had just recently dropped their linked-primary admissions policy (this was before the secondaries became academies and took control of their own admissions). Its Ofsted was Good and it had its new building and people were moving from all over for it. Now they move to Orleans Park or Grey Court catchments instead because of their Outstanding labels. These things are cyclic though. The Ofsted framework has changed and is no longer pegged to results, so all bets are off for the next time they all get inspected. It's much more difficult to get Outstanding now. SRR was lucky to get its most recent inspection in just before the change. I'm curious which, if any, schools will keep their Outstanding status next time. They've all had new heads, which should trigger earlier inspections, but Covid means there's a backlog.

Can I ask what you weren't impressed by with Tiffin Boys. My son is only in yr 3 but proving himself to be very academic and motivated. Learning and doing well seems to be more important to him than his older sister, which makes me wonder if Tiffin would be a good option to consider for him.

Happy to answer as long as you will into account that it is only my subjective opinion:) . And I apologise if somebody has different feelings as I don't intend to hurt them

I went to the Open Day last year. My guide was a y7 boy. Listing it not in the importance order:

1. The school needs paint. As compared to other schools I have seen, Tiffin school looked " very tired". The wall posters and decorations were coming off, class tables were wobbly and eaten by time. Only one round building looked good. I guess all schools have money issues but at least they could make sure that what stickes to the walls looks decent.

1. My guide was running to toliet every now and again and at some point he said that he really needs to sit. We found a bench and started talking. He has some psychosomatic digestion issues. At the beginning he was reluctant to talk about it. I didn't know how to cheer him up but in the end he said that it started just with 11+ and that there is an ennormous pressure he experiences from school and his familly to perform well. I believe that Universe is talking to us we just not notice it at times. I listened this time:). I realised that to be so called academic kidnis not enough, it also has to be a psychologically tough and resilent + fast and engaged, switched on boy to feel great at this particular grammar school.

I don't want to do it to my child.

1. I know some Tiffin mums or friends kf those mums. They describe that mental health is a huge issue ( anorexia in T girl school and self harm etc). It is very competitive environment and expectations are high. There are some naturally unvelievabmy brilliant kids that get there and there are some that went through hours and hours of 11+ preparations to pass the test and get in. Ambitious as they are it is difficult to keep pace with those who naturally get it all easily. ATiffin mum told me that her son has twice a week tutoring to keep up and as she claims half of the kids have tutors after school.

1. I am not keen on one gender schools at all. I understand that there are some opinions that they will better focus academically in one gender school but for me the social development matters equally as academic growth. He is not sourrounded by many girls in his private life to compensate it as he doesn't have a sister.

1. I read latest OFSTED report. It was downgraded from Outstanding to Good. There are several criteria to make the total. For those criteria where it was downgraded to Good the description indicated that the teaching, teachers preparation and expsctations of the ciriculum is just Good and not Outstanding. And those brill kids there deserve the best teachers to inspire. The Oustanding stayed only where there is achievement ementioned; naturally, as it driven by the hard work of boys. It is average provision by the school that is lucky to have outstanding boys. I think a lot have change with the change of headmaster. Progress 8 is much lower as compared to Tiffin Girls.

1. Public transport to school for us would be complicated. I find their uniforms hideous ( but this is very personal opinion about the taste). And there is something about the ethic origin of the students. I would like my son attend school that is as the society around him. Because some parents with roots in some countries push and push for their kids to get in as if it was life and death, and the school admission is very fair, it results that the kids are representing specific ethnic groups at large. And I would like my son to see London diversity as it is. Not narrowed.

Apologise in advance if somebody doesn't agree with me.

I think Tiffin's GCSE results should improve from this (or maybe last) year onwards because they changed the entrance exam to include English and Maths rather than just reasoning (which was too coachable). I know multiple boys who got in with no tutoring after the change, but none before. They are the naturally bright ones who don't need to be pushed. Two that I know of who didn't get in on the old style paper, but later joined the sixth form were in the top third of their A level classes, even though they'd done their GCSEs at comps.

Tiffin Boys have fantastic GCSE results with 80 percent getting grade 7-9 at GCSE English maths and 98 percent getting grade 5+. Progress 8 is not that impressive though.

Only " Good" school lucky to have oustanding boys.

@crimped

SRRCC is an outstanding school with a great pastoral care, great results and strong discipline. I must have spoken with dozens of parents from there. St Paul's Sunbury have even better GCSE results and it is pretty amazing given that they accept at an admission point kids from a very varied background and their GCSE results are equally good as Orlean Park that has a catchment point from rather affluent part of the country.
But these are school for practicing Catholicsm

@RedFluffyPanda
Thank you for your honest opinion. I had ruled tiffin girls out for similar reasons to you, I want less pressure and a more holistic approach. But I have obviously not looked at the boys school so curious to know other opinions and viewpoints.

I have never been to Open Day at Tiffin Girls and they have not had the OFSTED yet. The only concerning thing I heard from mums is about the mental health support at that school. Otherwise they don't complain:)

Yes I know someone who I work with who sent her DD to tiffin, she is now taking her out due to really quite significant MH problems which she feels is due to the pressure and bullying that she has experienced. It's a shame as I hear of other grammars that do just as well as tiffin but with much better pastoral care. In fact I am actually surprised that tiffin do so well without such robust support in place. But like you say, I imagine many parents send their very clever kids there, but intelligence does not equal resilience or tutor them within an inch of their life to ensure that they get in. The stories I have heard of the lengths some parents go to, especially as you say from some ethnic groups, is awful. It really robs children of their childhood. But each to their own I guess!

I don’t know about Teddington school. SRRCC mentioned previously is excellent, all 3 of mine have been there, youngest currently in year 7, DC2 just completed GCSEs. I also have a lot of friends with kids at St Paul’s in Sunbury, as we did primary there.

I note that Hampton High has waiting lists, I would not send a child of mine there.

Helpful thread - thanks. I'd be interested to hear from more parents with children at the school- particularly in years 7-9.
-How has your child found being at Teddington?

• What do you think of the teaching? Are they catering for different ability levels in practice?
• Is behaviour management generally effective?

• Would you choose it again over other schools (if you had a choice)!!😉

It's an amazing site, and teachers at the open day were really impressive. I was quite blown away by it really but keen to understand more from people who are there at the moment. I don't know many people with children there to ask. 😊

Bumping as I’m interested too! Especially about the quality of teacher for all abilities to reach top marks.. not just the top set. Thank you!

About top marks the GCSE results will tell you and although Teddington School is not that bad there are schools with better results in the Borough- Grey Court, Orlean Park, Turing House. Look at the gov portal showing school progress in the Pupil Characteristics, Prior Attainment. You will see how many are Low, Middle and High Achievers.

Teddington is great for kids interested in arts, as well as sporty kids. Look at the sport facilities there and club offer. It says it all.

Thank you. After a rather traumatic health and safety asbestos incident in an old school building, a new build is extremely important to us. I know the government stats but What I’m trying to assess is if the progress is due to the teaching at the school or do most kids In the area have tutors? Hoping for an insider’s view ..

GCSE 2023
67 perc gets grade 5+ at English and Maths
27 perc gets grade 7+

Why would you think that many are tutored if the result are not outstanding as compared to the other borough but just very much in the middle?
I know many parents who have kids there. Apart from just before GCSE they are not tutored

Thank you.

It is actually quite hard to give completely reassuring answers because teachers vary, children vary etc. I can say that a few years back the school had real problems recruiting and retaining staff, but I don't think that's a particular problem any more.

My two kids are very different - dd1 is quiet, well behaved and doing very well academically. She has a tight circle of friends and they are all heading for good RG unis or Oxbridge. She has not been tutored. I am a working single parent and have very little time to get involved with her education. Teddington served her well.

Dd2 has special needs and has always struggled with school - she doesn't go very often. When she does go she is very far behind her peers. Now I won't go into the many ways she has been let down by the system - mainly by CAMHS. But I will say that her teachers are on the whole very kind to her and I am grateful for their support. Teddington has been good to both my girls.

There are some kids with behaviour problems at the school, of course there are. (Most of them are friends with dd2, sadly.) A few years ago the school was struggling to manage low level disruption, but this has greatly improved. The school also works hard to keep on top of any antisocial behaviour after school, at the bus stop etc. Both my kids feel safe at school. Dd1, who is very introverted and a lover not a fighter, never had problems with bullying.

I do think it's important to emphasise that Richmond is a very middle class Borough with a lot of good schools, none of which face the challenges of some London schools. It's easy to get caught up in percentage differences in GCSEs between the neighbouring schools, but a small number of pupils can make quite an impact on one years stats. It doesn't tell you much about added value, and a high proportion of these kids will do well whichever school they go to.

This is a very good answer. People get way too hung up on marginal differences between school results. No school has a monopoly on great teaching, there will always be good and bad in every school. The main thing to look for is good, charismatic, stable leadership, because that will attract and retain good staff.

>
a small number of pupils can make quite an impact on one years stats

No, small number iof pupils has not been not making unusual impact in Richmond schools as a one off .All of that info is available. In every schools you have the small number of pupils this or that. You can easly see on Gov website, school progress including the distribution between Low attainers, mid and High. Which school is it that " small number" made an impact on one year stats and other year didn't ? I have looked at most of schools in the Richmond borough at depth and have not observed anything radical that has not been a case in the previous years. The best schools slightly soar or stay around the same and worse are not having years where they have 86 perc for 5+ at GCSE but very much around the same.

For Teddington and Hampton High there were much worse times. Now Teddington is the avg at GCSE.

Marginal between 86 percent and 55 percent for 5+ at GCSE? These are not marginal. The first number suggests that almost everybody had a strong pass. And that latter means that only slightly above half had strong pass . Huge difference, especially if it is a trend over several years. A marginal difference is between 50 perc passing GCSE at 7+ at Orlean Park and 46 percent at Turing House.

A charismatic leader of the school with avg GCSE results sounds that either the cohort is average or he doesn't try well. But then Feltham Reach success comes to my mind. Amazing GCSE and most of the kids have free meals. Well that CEO of that trust is charismatic because she actually delivers

Thanks so much for taking the time to share your experience with the school.

Really appreciate people with kids at the school sharing their experiences.

I can do the desk based gov.uk research but that is never the full picture of the school is it! Also, change takes a while to bed in.

My main concern is for DC to be happy at school (as much as you can be), have the opportunity to learn all that they need to (without being too disrupted by others behaviour), to have motivating teachers and the opportunity to make some nice friends. 🤗

Of your DC is sporty, and looks for a happy place, and if your DC is not very academic or just around mid way then Teddington is a good choice.

Btw, many children from Teddington, Hampton Wick go there, so the kids are mostly as their parents in terms of ethnic origin, ambition etc.

A school for the "not very academic" ? I find that statement quite harsh. Just checked the GVT data and they have quite a bit of high achievers in the last Y11 cohort (77) performing VERY well.

In 2023 Students achieving a Level 5+ in English and Maths was 67% and in 2022 72%. Not sure where the 55% mentioned above is coming from. I guess everyone will have their bias... personally good academics and a healthy mental health is important ( several local "hot houses" have a lot of issues with kids poor mental health and pastoral care apparently. another point to think about when making a choice) good luck to all the parents who will soon have to decide on whats best for their kids!

Do you have a child there?

London City Mum. Have you looked at the results for Grey Court, Turing, Orleans and St Richard Reynolds? please do and compare to Teddington. It is not as academic focused school as the ones I listed. It results around average for GCSE in the borough. Yes, there schools with worse results that parents love in the borough. So of a child is very academic then Teddington will not be the top academic choice the parents can make, can't they? Have you looked computer rooms in Teddington vs e.g Orleans?

Which school exactly has a poor pastoral care, problems with mental health? Aren't you confusing local grammar schools with the listed comprehensives? Do you understand the difference in the type of schools?
About " issues apparently" I also heard stories about bullying in Teddington. Everywhere are incidents of bullying. If you think that this is a prescription for one happy school then not really. Teddington school has huge catchment, one of the largest in the borough... for a reason.