CLSG vs Woodford County High vs Bancrofts vs Forest

[JJ128]

hi all - any thoughts on CLSG vs Woodford County High vs Bancrofts vs Forest. Commute is the the same. Any parents comments on pros and cons of each school?

2 all girls and 2 coed so first decision
if all girls then WCH is state so no fees
have you been to visit?

Re: Bancrofts, the current principal is leaving at the end of the academic year. He is disliked intensely by staff, parents and children. Staff morale is low. Pastoral care is not great and there have been cases where poor discipline/safeguarding has led to behaviour among boys getting out of hand and the response of the school has been to off-roll the boys involved. The brightest children are not stretched or challenged and the current head has seemed constantly to de-emphasize academic excellence in favour of "extracurricular breadth", but this is not what families who chose the school wanted. His resignation was not wholly voluntary but stemmed from strong pressure from the board of governors to step down. A new head has been appointed to start in September 2024. It's a bit concerning that they don't seem to have PGCE/QTS, or a postgraduate degree, or experience as head/deputy head in any school in the top 150 nationally.

Many thanks both
hi mnblkj do you think the situation will improve with the new head?

Woodford county is also getting a new head…

Frankly, I don't know and neither does anyone else, and we won't really know for 18 months.

Those are some remarkably negative comments, which I haven't heard elsewhere. Do you currently have a child at Bancroft's? What do you think of the rest of the senior leadership team at the school? And anywhere else I could read more about the points raised?

@Butterfliesandbutter I think mnblkj has some kind of axe to grind, or is trying to put other people off in the hope of getting a waitlist place. Some of the comments in that post are demonstrably untrue (eg the comments about the new head not having a postgraduate qualification - he has an MA, from the University of Cambridge), and the others go directly against everything I have seen and heard about the school - including from numerous friends who are current parents or teachers at the school. Having heard the (outgoing) headteacher speak, he does indeed emphasise the extra-curricular, but not at the expense of academic excellence, which remains a notable strength of the school. For so many reasons, from happiness, fulfilment and personal development through to university admissions and transferable skills, extra-curricular activities are an essential part of a good education - any school will tell you this and I'm sure parents would agree. Bancroft's has always offered a broad range of extra-curricular activities so all the head has been doing is busting the myth that the focus is purely academic. In short - ignore mnblkj who is talking out of their backside.

Thanks, @unprof . I was perhaps naive in not thinking of the possibility that @mnblkj could be hoping to gain a place by putting others off, though obviously has an axe to grind. The parents I know at the school don't recognise any of these comments or concerns and I have been totally impressed by all aspects of my interactions with Bancroft's through the 11+ process - which I cannot say about any other school! But always good to know if I'm missing something.

So someone want to demean a school and become a part of the school parents? 🤔

Unfortunately I have to agree with quite a few points made by @mnblkj

Like what? Genuinely, I'd like to understand. How is it not academic enough? What about the current head don't you like? etc

A Cambridge MA is something that bachelors degree holders from Cambridge become eligible for around 6 years after graduating, It's a primary degree, not a postgraduate one.
I stand by the other comments I made which come from first-hand knowledge of the school, and from knowing some of the children affected. There have been real issues with staff morale, safeguarding and off-rolling. So a change in leadership is overdue and perhaps will be a good thing for the school. FWIW I have nothing against the school as a whole or the incoming head and hope he is successful (and more humane to the kids), even if I'd personally have been looking for a different profile.

Did you decide at the end which school to go to? We are in same dilemma and decided with Bancroft but all my friends are asking me to look into Woodford as it’s also a good choice. It’s a fee paying place at Bancroft and Woodford is completely free. Im not sure if its the right decision though.

We have decided on Bancroft after getting offers from local independents. DD also has offer from WCH. Any parents out here who preferred Bancroft over WCH. It will be fee paying place. Some parents have been telling that there isn’t much of a difference apart from class sizes and in terms of support both schools offer somewhat similar support. The reason for Bancroft was purely better facilities, quality teachers and enrichment but is it worth spending so much on these? Can it still be done at WCH with extra clubs and stuff? Also to mention that DD is keen on WCH as her friends are going there.
thanks

We did choose Bancroft's, but WCH obviously not on the cards for DS! Carefully considered another state option, but Bancroft's was where we were most confident DS would thrive and fulfill his potential and have a happy time.

Isn't the current head retiring, rather than being forced to step down?

As for the new head, he has been Head of Wolverhampton Grammar School, which was only recently rated a top 10 independent school for academic performance in the West Midlands by The Sunday Times, and is currently on the senior leadership team at North London Collegiate. He's taught at Trinity School in Croydon, and was Head of MFL at Hampton for over a decade, before a spell as Deputy Head / Senior Deputy Head at Mill Hill School. That seems like a pretty strong CV to me - sure, they're not all top-flight independent schools, but it's not as if he hasn't had any school leadership experience at all.

As for not having a postgraduate degree beyond his Cambridge degree, I know plenty of teaching professionals who have Masters and Doctorates but that doesn't necessarily make them any more qualified for teaching / school leadership than those without.

I can recommend Forest as I know some parents who were very pleased with how the school treated their child. In particular, one pupil had been neglected to some extent at primary school and private tutors secured the place at Forest. Unlike the former school, Forest recognised the child's potential from the onset and the school, after a year, more than compensated for the failings of the primary school. It is interesting that a parent left a review of the school which, in their view, failed the child and it was removed. It merely told the truth as the parent saw it so it is important to bear this in mind. It is not always easy to tell the truth. This is about Forest though and I can state that they do seem to do what parents are paying for.

Hi. This post got a bit derailed. Any wider views on WCH V Forest V.... Wanstead High? Would welcome any views based on experience and choices made. Thanks

I know it’s an old thread but how is everyone’s children getting on? I’m in a similar situation now in regards of thinking about these schools got my child, any thoughts?

We've been very happy with Bancroft’s so far. The open day is this coming weekend. Important to understand that the school is trying to push against a sub-set of parents who care only about their children's achievements in maths and science and nothing else - so the school is pushing other academic subjects, the importance of extracurricular interests, and mental health and balance - rather than studying 24/7. But the school is very strong in - and many of the kids are inclined towards - STEM subjects. I really like the ethos and have felt they know what theyxre doing in pushing and supporting my DS, who is very bright, but not hot-housed.