Recent opinions on Shenley Academy

MercifollowMi · 2023-09-06T16:00:48+00:00

Hello All, I am obviously very stressed up, just recently moved to Birmingham (new job), have a DC in Yr 11, only offered space at Shenley though on waiting lists in 5 other schools. DC has not started today, due to start soon, I am skeptical and sad about the whole thing. Does anyone have any fresh update as reviews I have read aren't very good. Really don't know what to do at this point, it's a critical level, yr 11. Thanks in advance...

UsingChangeofName · 07/09/2023 00:33

Mine are that much older now, I've not really been in conversations about secondary schools for a while, but, when I last heard, I was hearing a lot of positive things about Shenley Academy. It had improved massively from when my dc were in Primary / we were looking at secondaries.
I certainly don't hear of it being dire.

Though of course it is quite a challenging time to be joining any school - both socially as a 15 yr old, and also academically, just 8 / 9 months out from GCSEs.

Anyway, hopefully this will bump for someone to give you more current updates.

MarchingFrogs · 07/09/2023 07:32

I do feel for you, having a forced move at this stage in your DC's school career.

Not knowing this school at all, are you 'skeptical and sad' because although Shenley was able to offer a place, the school is not able to offer all of the GCSE options that your DC had started in their previous school? Or is it that youe been told that this school is awful? Can any or all of the other schools (if only there was a place to offer at all) guarantee the magic combination of same options / same exam boards / having studied the same topics and texts in the same order as your DC's previous school? I would be really surprised if they could.

Legally, its your responsibility to ensure that your DC is receiving a suitable full-time education; realistically, if you decide not to send them in to the one school where a place is definitely available, you are electing to home educate. Are you able to do this?

Are you appealing for a place at the other 5 schools?

But as a pp pointed out, in 8/9 months' time, your DC will actually be sitting their exams. Better to have one change now an get on with it, than have the whole problem all over again at some even further point in the teaching of the multiple GCSE syllabuses.

I do feel for you, having a forced move at this stage in your DC's school career.

Not knowing this school at all, are you 'skeptical and sad' because although Shenley was able to offer a place, the school is not able to offer all of the GCSE options that your DC had started in their previous school? Or is it that youe been told that this school is awful? Can any or all of the other schools (if only there was a place to offer at all) guarantee the magic combination of same options / same exam boards / having studied the same topics and texts in the same order as your DC's previous school? I would be really surprised if they could.

Legally, its your responsibility to ensure that your DC is receiving a suitable full-time education; realistically, if you decide not to send them in to the one school where a place is definitely available, you are electing to home educate. Are you able to do this?

Are you appealing for a place at the other 5 schools?

But as a pp pointed out, in 8/9 months' time, your DC will actually be sitting their exams. Better to have one change now an get on with it, than have the whole problem all over again at some even further point in the teaching of the multiple GCSE syllabuses.

Eta I am fully aware that Ofsted isn't everything, but the school really is dire now, it has either gone downhill rapidly since its last Ofsted inspection in 2021, or it managed to hoodwink the inspectors good and proper on that occasion.

BlastedSkreet · 07/09/2023 07:41

Ok, this is bad timing for your son.
Mu advice is, don’t mess around, get him into school, engage fully with his teachers and any information they can give you about courses etc, see what matches with his last school and what he has missed, buy the revision guides for his new courses and help him catch up the best he can.
I would worry less about the quality of school and much much more about getting him through GCSE’s which he might have missed a year of!

Original poster

MercifollowMi · 07/09/2023 09:48

A bit of everything, also being much further in terms of location. Subject choices being different, so it's a complete change for DC..

Thank you for your response, I guess I have no choice really. I have appealed yes, however, my concern is losing more time considering the circumstances at hand.

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Original poster

MercifollowMi · 07/09/2023 09:51

Thank you for your response and advice. I will work on my mindset and do the best with what's available.

Thank you

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Original poster

MercifollowMi · 07/09/2023 09:55

Thank you for your response, I hope it's not as bad as everyone seems to think it is. I asked this question because everone seems to think it's an awful school, lots of bullying, drugs, pregnancies, no teaching, etc.

Not very nice to hear such at such a critical stage of GCSEs.

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Comefromaway · 07/09/2023 09:59

It's dreadful timing, I expect that you are aware that moving in Year 11 WILL impact your child's GCSE's.

Dh used to work at Shenley. They had one of those Superheads at the time who really turned the school around but apparently when she retired things dropped back a lot. I don't know what it is like now.

Original poster

MercifollowMi · 07/09/2023 10:03

I need lots of motivation to get through this... I hear lots of different negative things about the school. But at the moment don't really have a choice, time is going and moving real quick. Can't waste more time.

I may return to this post to give feedback on how things played out. Hopefully, DC won't allow any distractions...

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Comefromaway · 07/09/2023 10:10

This will will depend on what your job is and your seniority but are you getting any kind or relocation package? Given the dreadful timing education wise could you negotiate a year of private schooling (or 2 years and put your child back a year so they are not advantaged with GCSE's) and look for a school willing to support this?

Original poster

MercifollowMi · 07/09/2023 10:52

I am not so sure they would agree to that, since it wasn't mentioned before hand. Worth exploring though.

Do you have any idea of a school that would allow that? If any please share, I would appreciate that a lot.

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listsandbudgets · 07/09/2023 11:15

Unless I missed it, you don't say whether you DC is male or female.

If you can persuade employers to consider private route then I suggest talking to Priory or St. Georges (both mixed) or Edgbaston High (girls) who may be open to moving back a year..

However, for now I think all you can do is send them to Shenley as obviously they have to be somewhere.

Sorry OP this must feel very difficult for you and your DCs. Good luck with the new job

Original poster

MercifollowMi · 07/09/2023 14:19

My DC is (she) which makes things more difficult. I would propose to employer and see if it helps.

thank you once again

God Bless

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Jessica60 · 11/09/2023 11:46

What are the other 5 schools that you are on the waiting list for?

2smellysocks · 13/09/2023 06:55

As it’s a critical Y11, unless you have another plan, I would just accept the place and go for it. Not many school offer Y11 places and lots of schools are very oversubscribed. - which other schools did you apply for?

We went through secondary admissions last year (DS just started Y7 but not at Shenley). Shenley is our closest school but, due to our own reasons dating back a few years, we didn’t name the school on the form in the end.

The school has had a massive turn around. The kids seem nice mannered and pleasant. A few parents I know have taken a chance on it in the last couple of years and I’ve heard their kids are enjoying it. Yes, there are a few drugs problems, that’s not necessarily something the schools is going to sort out overnight and it’s not the schools fault. They are trying to deal with it though. I not sure about the quality of teaching, apparently it’s ok.

Other than our own reasons from years ago which is nothing to do with how the school is run but a family decision, I was put off Shenley by the lack of options at GCSE (they don’t do triple science, which isn’t the end of the world, and they have very few GCSE subjects on offer - it’s mainly BTEC etc after the core subjects). I also didn’t like the head. These are, in the grand scheme of everything that has happened there and the improvements which have been brought about, is nothing and me being picky. The teachers seemed very encouraging of the kids and I think, if nothing else comes your way, you should give it a chance.

Windywuss · 13/09/2023 07:07

I can only offer a limited insight but my friend's child has just started in y7. Friend is not happy about the choice of school (not their choice) because their child is going to struggle to find similar kids to him there.

BUT I know df said it was a lovely new building, thought the head was excellent and had no concerns about the actual school itself. They went for a parents evening in y6, and we're impressed.
Hope it works out for you and your daughter.

ReallychildisaidNO · 13/09/2023 17:52

No way would I put my child in that school. Over my dead body. Too much not right there. I don’t know how it’s last OFSTED is what it is. It’s a big no from me. Drugs, bullying, other social problems. No way and we live on the edge of the estate where all these problems come from.

We opted out and went for further away undersubscribed schools which are so much better.

You don’t say where else you have applied. But can I suggest somewhere like Hillcrest girls, Turves green girls (although it’s not called that now - it’s northfield girls I think), even Bourneville or Five Dwellings. They aren’t the best, likely to be undersubscribed. Lordswood Girls might even have spaces now after the recent downgrading to RI.
Like I say, not the best selection but they are all better than Shenley. There is a reason a lot of schools in the immediate area are massively oversubscribed (UoB, DECS, Bartley, KNGS ect) it’s because there’s a serious problem with Shenley.

Original poster

MercifollowMi · 13/09/2023 23:16

😫💔
This is all so hard, have applied at Kings Norton Girls, Saint Thomas Aquinas, Selly Park Girls, Batley Green, Dame Elizabeth, and Birmingham University School. All rejected (capacity).

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MercifollowMi · 13/09/2023 23:18

Thank you, I can only pray at this point. Ran out of ideas really.

Thank you for your input

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Original poster

MercifollowMi · 13/09/2023 23:24

Thank you, I have done that to avoid further delays as have not heard back from the appeals. I can only pray and hope all works out. GCSE options were really disappointing, but you are correct I think rejections are due to the yr 11 issue. Which leaves us with no option but go for the current option at the moment.

We were looking for separate Science, Technology which they don't offer. It's a bit of a blow off, but not the end of the world.

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Jessica60 · 16/09/2023 20:30

Is bournville school accepting?

listsandbudgets · 18/09/2023 15:55

@MercifollowMi how is.she getting on?

I hope that now she jas started it's turning out a bit than you anticipated. i'm sure it will take a while to settle down.

Original poster

MercifollowMi · 18/09/2023 16:38

Thank you for messaging, yes, things aren’t as bad as anticipated. Hoping for the best 🌺🌺

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listsandbudgets · 19/09/2023 09:41

that's good. i expect that the worst stories are down to a minority of students and the vast majority will be fine... it's just discerning which are which

Original poster

MercifollowMi · 19/09/2023 17:34

So true, thank you for your kind words.
I have received an offer today, at Selly Park Girl’s School. This is so confusing

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2smellysocks · 20/09/2023 08:55

I was coming along to say that I'm really happy that things at Shenley aren't as bad as anticipated. That's really good news!

In answer to the Selly Park question, last week I would have said take it, however, this week, knowing your DD has started recently at Shenley I would say to have a think (very quickly) about the following:

GCSE options - Can Selly Park offer the preferred GCSE options? If they can then take it, if they cant, what are the options available. This all comes down to can they offer a better choices than your DD is doing at Shenley? If they can't then factor in....
Transport - Which is easier to get to?
Extra-Curricular - Which offers more opportunities and activities?
Childs preference - Which would your DD like to go to, would she like an all girls school or prefer a co-ed?
Are you able to go and view the school to get a feel of it?
How likely are you to get a higher preference - possibly this is a low likihood - check with LA where you are on waiting lists.
Lastly, which ethos fits better for your family life/which would you feel more comfortable with - think also about communication with home and the support your DD might need.

Only other thing would be, you need to make the decision very quickly but also I would say you need to stick with the decision you make as this it your DDs most important school year. I wish you all the luck in the world because this is a hard decision to make - Good luck!