Warlingham School progress score?

[Eelikoos]

Hello - I hope this doesn't sound really nasty or anything, but I'm hoping some current/past Warlingham School parents can make a guess as to why the most recent progress score is so low (2023 figures not yet published, as far as I can see); looks like grades are about a third worse than the UK average. Maybe it was the Covid effect, but doesn't look like it was that much better before.

By all accounts it seems like a nice all rounder school, and we love the area. And although our DD is not terribly academic atm, we want her to have opportunities to improve later down the line if she finds subjects she really likes. I am curious to know if the new-ish Head is working on bringing that progress number up, not for the visuals but in terms of making sure kids are working to their potential. Perhaps the 2023 figures will shut me up, I hope so!

Also noticed that it's the only secondary school in its academy trust (Tandridge), and wondering if you think that puts it at a disadvantage not?

Thanks for any insider perspectives.

I don't really know what the numbers you state represent. My niece & nephew are at this school. My niece had some serious health issues & the school have been amazing. My nephew is thriving.

I know this is an old thread but I need to point out we, and many others, had a different experience at Warlingham School. It's not a school I'd recommend. My DD went to Warlingham School, huge regrets. My DS went to Riddlesdown School, decent school, no problems. If you get a choice go for Riddlesdown, it's difficult to get to transport wise but worth the effort.

Many parents told us Warlingham School has "an epidemic of self-harm". From our experience I'd certainly agree.

My DD was bullied there, school not interested. I wrote a one star review on Google. The review vanished off Google (others said the same), I'm not sure why or how. Maybe reviews online can't be relied on when choosing schools?

When my DD had serious health issues Warlingham school wasn't interested. Previously she had 100% attendance and was in top sets. They were supposed to send school work to the hospital my DD was at, all the other children's schools did. Warlingham was the only school that failed to do this. So my DD fell behind, never caught up, was then too anxious to go back (no help from Warlingham School of course).

What really stood out at Warlingham School was at the first school meeting, when they join the school, was the low aspirations expected for the pupils. That shocked me and is like nothing I've ever seen at any other school, private or state. Most schools want the highest achievements for their pupils, whether it's academic or sport, or music or art or whatever builds confidence for life. Not Warlingham.

Wonder if this post will survive the Warlingham review disappearance problem!

What really stood out at Warlingham School was at the first school meeting, when they join the school, was the low aspirationsexpected for the pupils.
I have one dd in year 12 and one who recently left the school who got into a top 10 University from there.
I have attended many meetings at the school and have never once got the impression that they have low aspirations for the pupils.
I've found the school very supportive and my dds have been happy and progressed well. I agree with everything it said in the ofsted report really.
Anyway, I'm sorry that the school didn't send work to the hospital. I do know people who have moved from Riddlesdown to Warlingham due to bullying. Which I guess demonstrates that no school will work for all pupils.

I think if your child is lucky enough not to suffer problems at Warlingham School then it's fine, your child will sail through the school nicely.

We didn't realise that Warlingham School had so many problems with mental illness, self harm and bullying until it affected my dd.

If you do encounter a problem like bullying or ill health they WILL come up short. We found others with similar problems with Warlingham School including the ones that mentioned the "epidemic of self harm" there. One was a work colleague that we hadn't realised had a child at Warlingham so completely unbiased.

My husband /children's father died when eldest was just about to start year 7 and youngest about to start year 10. They were extremely supportive. Dd2 was able to meet with a bereavement trained TA every week for as long as she wanted. Dd1 saw a visiting counsellor but decided not to continue. Dd1 was bullied at one of the local primary schools but we found Warlingham a much kinder place for a quirky kid. Everyone I speak to seems happy with it.
There will be mental health problems/self harm/bullying in any large secondary school.
When ofsted visit they request feedback from all parents and pupils about how the school deals with bullying, safety etc and write their report based on that. I feel this gives a fairer overview of what the parent and student body think.