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Original poster

Central Foundations Boys School - honest views please!

22 replies

winterrabbit · 05/10/2023 19:02

DS has just moved here. Early days but definitely not impressed with behaviour. Apparently there are fights daily and lots of disruption in lessons which is surprising given the good results. Any views/experiences welcome.

OP posts:
Foxesandsquirrels · 05/10/2023 19:41

It's a tough intake. Always has been. Staying that, behaviour has been so so bad in schools. A cramped boys one with a teeny playground will be even worse.

Original poster
winterrabbit · 05/10/2023 19:59

Foxes, do you know the school well and have kids there? The Ofsted and results are good so I am really surprised.

OP posts:
Original poster
winterrabbit · 13/10/2023 10:38

Just bumping

OP posts:
Fogwisp · 13/10/2023 12:55

Bumping because I missed the open events and want to know if it's worth applying though we're not quite in catchment.

Parents I've met with sons there seem happy with it despite any behaviour issues. I get the impression that if your son's in a top set they're with better behaved children? The results are very good too of course.

Mrseven · 22/10/2023 15:55

Our son joined a few years back from private and we have other kids in tier 1 independents - so have very high standards. It has been a great choice for us! Fights usually involve those looking for it AFAIK so it's absolutely possible to stay away from that. Teachers have a good handle on the boys.

@Fogwisp the school is very popular and has a small catchment but your DS could get in via the waitlist.

Fogwisp · 22/10/2023 18:23

Mrseven · 22/10/2023 15:55

Our son joined a few years back from private and we have other kids in tier 1 independents - so have very high standards. It has been a great choice for us! Fights usually involve those looking for it AFAIK so it's absolutely possible to stay away from that. Teachers have a good handle on the boys.

@Fogwisp the school is very popular and has a small catchment but your DS could get in via the waitlist.

How does that work, with waiting lists?
We've now been offered a place at another school through one of the selective/aptitude tests, but have to put that school top of the list to be given the place... We're thinking we'd best do that (even though we might prefer Central Foundation) as it's so good to have a definite offer rather than be placed somewhere we don't like. But doesn't that mean we then can't change our minds after offers day in spring?

Mrseven · 22/10/2023 19:17

I'm not sure @Fogwisp. But Islington council's school admissions team was very helpful when we were hoping to get into CFBS. You might want to call them to make sure. Is the other school Mary Mags? That's a great one too - but very different.

MarchingFrogs · 22/10/2023 20:25

Fogwisp · 22/10/2023 18:23

How does that work, with waiting lists?
We've now been offered a place at another school through one of the selective/aptitude tests, but have to put that school top of the list to be given the place... We're thinking we'd best do that (even though we might prefer Central Foundation) as it's so good to have a definite offer rather than be placed somewhere we don't like. But doesn't that mean we then can't change our minds after offers day in spring?

Show quote history

No, you don't have to put any school first in order to be given a place - you just have to put it above any other school where your DC will be ranked highly enough against the school's admissions criteria to be given a place instead. Only you and your LA know the order in which you ranked your preferences.

So if you are as sure as you can be that your DS will be ranked withing the Published Admission Number for the other school, but you would prefer CFBS, if you put the other school first and CFBS second and you are right, the other school is what you will be allocated in March and your application to CFBS and any other schools lower on your CAF will essentially be withdrawn by your LA, whose system assumes that you follow the advice it gives to rank schools in your true order of preference.

If your real favourite is CFBS, put it above the 'sure-fire' school. You may be lucky and get it anyway, but putting it above the other school will not affect whether or not you get the other school if you aren't, and your DS should be on the waiting list for CFBS (most areas do this automatically, bit in some, you have to ask to go on waiting lists, so you need to check your own LA's policy and that of the school, if its in a different LA).

Fogwisp · 22/10/2023 20:32

Thank you all for your help!
It's a Camden school, so it might be different. It says we have to put it first. The process is so confusing!
I'm grateful to have a definite place, at least, as it's all so stressful otherwise.

Squiblet · 22/10/2023 21:01

The Camden school won't know whether you've put it first, second or sixth. They're not given that information.

All you have to do is list your schools in your genuine order of preference . Put the one you want most in the number one spot. Followed by your second choice as no 2.

BendingSpoons · 22/10/2023 21:11

Fogwisp · 22/10/2023 20:32

Thank you all for your help!
It's a Camden school, so it might be different. It says we have to put it first. The process is so confusing!
I'm grateful to have a definite place, at least, as it's all so stressful otherwise.

Schools say you should put them first, as if you put another school first and qualify for a place there, that is the school you will be offered. The schools rank all applicants based on their admissions criteria and don't know whether each applicant put them 1st or 3rd or 6th.

Put a genuine preference order (with at least one school that is a 'sure bet'). If you prefer another school to the selective school then put it first. If you don't get a place there, you won't lose out on a place at the selective school. This applies in all areas.

sittinginacafe · 22/10/2023 21:19

Whaaaaaat??? Which Camden school????

this sounds totally fishy (not you, them!!)

is it a music place at WE??

Fogwisp · 22/10/2023 21:22

I think I misread it! I think it must mean if you want the place, to put it first.

I'm not with it today. :)

sittinginacafe · 24/10/2023 17:12

Oh that makes sense.

btw WE is undersubscribed at the moment so you will def get in there.

Original poster
winterrabbit · 25/10/2023 17:00

Thanks all, helpful feedback. MrSeven, how does your son find the school in terms of friendships? Is it quite cliquey or easy to make friends and is there much of a community feel to the place given where it i? Wondering how it compares to other less urban schools like William Ellis and Highgate Wood.

OP posts:
FlyBe · 27/10/2023 20:27

Foxesandsquirrels · 05/10/2023 19:41

It's a tough intake. Always has been. Staying that, behaviour has been so so bad in schools. A cramped boys one with a teeny playground will be even worse.

Have you seen their recent refurb? I live locally and building works have been going on for ages. No rolling fields but I bet they're going for an architecture prize https://www.dezeen.com/2023/10/27/hawkinsbrown-central-foundation-boys-school-london/

Hawkins\Brown completes transformation of historic school in London

Old and new buildings wrap around a stepped courtyard in this central London school, which has been sensitively renovated by Hawkins\Brown.

https://www.dezeen.com/2023/10/27/hawkinsbrown-central-foundation-boys-school-london/

Foxesandsquirrels · 27/10/2023 20:40

@FlyBe I didn't. That's insane. I went to sixth form there very briefly as it's part of a consortium.

Original poster
winterrabbit · 30/10/2023 14:11

The building and facilities are amazing, no question, but the setting is very urban.

OP posts:
Overthinker73 · 27/12/2023 22:47

I am very happy with it . I applied for the selective independents and it s way better in terms of opportunities than a small non selective independent we were going to go to . I think the majority of the teachers really care .

Original poster
winterrabbit · 02/01/2024 17:30

Overthinker, I agree it's better in terms of opportunities given to the kids but from my experience disagree about the teachers and the standard of teaching which I don't think compares to private at all. The communication with teachers is also dire. Class teachers don't email you back and the teachers I had contact with couldn't seem to care less about my son or have any understanding of his strengths and weaknesses. Not sure this is even a state/private issue. I have another child at a state comprehensive (which is not rated outstanding) and the teachers always return my emails (they're happy to have interested/supportive parents) and always provide detailed feedback about my child. Central makes a big deal about its results but, whilst the percentage getting 9-4 is very good, the percentage getting 7-9 (36%) is on a par with my local comprehensive which is not considered particularly amazing and the percentage getting 9-5 is only 60% . Seems to me they focus on everyone getting at least a 4 but are less interested in higher ability kids.

OP posts:
LimeHelper · 28/04/2024 15:49

Do you have to be in the catchment area I live near Dollis hill will that still work??

Londonist25 · 24/12/2024 02:13

I went to this school between 1991-95 & mostly everyone in my class always picked on the teachers so very often & create to much havoc to constantly picking a fight & when Mr Marshall who was the principal at the time didn't do hardly anything to control any order in that school.whatsoever.

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