RTS reviews

[Kgala]

Hi there. What do you think about RTS school (The Richmond upon Thames School)? Thank you

Twickenham Might be worth a look we didn’t focus as outside catchment because it’s also tiny but friends are happy with it!

likewise the Teddington crew are happy but the journey is a ballache and it’s huge which on reflection was also a reason for not choosing it

i don’t think any of them are terrible which I appreciate we should be grateful for but I do think the lack of real choice is a bit of a head fcuk

BUT birth rate is different each year and things massively change (although maybe not for Turing at the moment !)

I agree it's worth putting Twickenham School on the list. Now that they have a Good Ofsted rating, and due to the recent spike in overall numbers, they are filling up, and I've heard good things about their new Head. Their results have improved too, and are in line with the national average: https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/schools-by-type?for=secondary&geographic=la&region=318&step=default&table=schools

When did Twickenham School get their good rating? I know Turing House recently got rated Outstanding.

Twickenham got Good rating in July 2021: https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/23/143420

Yes, Turing are doing very well - their new report isn't on the Ofsted site yet but I heard it was sent out to parents so will probably be online in the next few days.

Thanks. So over 3 years ago now! Well done to them.

So it seems Hampton High is the only secondary school in the borough still causing some concern then?

Hampton High were very recently re-confirmed as Good and their report mentions some issues that are being addressed, so hopefully their 2024 results were a temporary blip: https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/23/143419

Yes I saw they had been rated Good, but their results are still below average! Let's hope they improve 🤞

Yep, the proof will be in the pudding, but I doubt Ofsted would have given them the Good rating if they hadn't been confident that things were moving in the right direction. They recently got a new Head, and they have the financial security of being part of a large academy trust (same trust as Teddington and Twickenham Schools).

Good to know, I’m definitely not ruling Twickenham out, I’ve heard by word of mouth it’s getting much better and know some parents who’s kids are doing well there. Will visit the open days of all, was just focusing on RTS as it’s my nearest for now. Thank you

Avoid this school at all costs. They treat SEN children like animals. Constantly onto them for any little thing they do. Give out detentions left right and centre for minor things. Never call you back when you request a call. SLT are a bunch of bullies that think it’s acceptable to make snide remarks to your SEN child about being ‘kicked out’ then deny it when confronted. They suspended my SEN child for retaliating when they were struck not once but 3 times by another student, and did not suspend the other student that struck first. Think it’s acceptable to change an autistic child’s class without discussing with parent or student prior to doing so, just springing it upon them when they return to school after 6 weeks summer holidays. Spoke to other parents of former students with SEN who have all agreed the way they treat and handle students with additional needs is beyond appalling and some even resorted to pulling their child out of the school!

So sorry to hear this. That’s terrible.

Sounds to me more like someone with a grievance who is mud slinging. Every school has at least one of those - usually a parent who thinks the earth should turn around their child (who of course can do no wrong).

I'm glad to hear RTS is using their behaviour policy to tackle bad behaviour, even if some parents consider it "minor" bad behaviour. I suspect the parents of other RTS children will be grateful for that.

Sounds to me more like someone with a grievance who is mud slinging. Every school has at least one of those - usually a parent who thinks the earth should turn around their child (who of course can do no wrong).

I'm glad to hear RTS is using their behaviour policy to tackle bad behaviour, even if some parents consider it "minor" bad behaviour. I suspect the parents of other RTS children will be grateful for that.

I can’t comment as am not aware of the incident
the SEN team do have mixed reviews
I have found them responsive when I have emailed them, I hadn’t realised needed to add the dyslexic diagnosis to arbour but once I did there was a response. We don’t have an EHCP so don’t fall under completely so it does rely on individual teachers.

I’d be very careful what you say and try to insinuate about other people’s children, especially ones with disabilities. A neurodivergent child becoming dysregulated is not misbehaving. You have no idea what you are talking about or the battles some SEN parents have to fight. I take it you have no experience with children with autism and adhd? Their brains do not function like a ‘normal’ child. Therefore, they need to be dealt with in a different manner and most of the staff clearly don’t have the correct training and think it’s acceptable to mentally taunt a child by two members of staff having a conversation about the child and their behaviour in the child’s face. The list of incidents is as long as my arm. I am not the only SEN parent that has experienced this within the school. I don’t expect the world to revolve around my child, but I do expect my neurodivergent child to be treated accordingly within school and his needs be understood. And even parents with no additional needs strongly agree about the detention situation. They dish them out left right and centre, they also have no monitor on the detention situation, for example if your child is absent or even on a school trip on a day they have been issued a detention, it automatically escalates as it says child failed to attend detention and the time doubles. My child does do wrong believe me, they’re not a robot! But the fact that even paediatricians have had to write to the school about the way they deal with my child and reiterate to them they have severe social communication and sensory difficulties and the local MP has also agreed to assist me in complaints I’ve made tells you all you need to know! I’m sure the A* students with the pushy parents have nothing but good things to say about the school, but unfortunately for a lot of parents on the other end of the scale who have children with additional needs it’s not as smooth sailing

There is one particular lady in the SEN team I liaise with and she is very helpful and understands my son’s needs and deals with him in an appropriate manner. It’s more certain members of SLT and teaching staff that are the problem as they clearly don’t read his IEP. We don’t have an EHCP yet either, have had an IEP since year 7 and are now in year 9. We have now had a supporting letter to advise the school to apply for an EHCP for my child

I’d be very careful what you say and try to insinuate about other people’s children, especially ones with disabilities. A neurodivergent child becoming dysregulated is not misbehaving. You have no idea what you are talking about or the battles some SEN parents have to fight. I take it you have no experience with children with autism and adhd? Their brains do not function like a ‘normal’ child. Therefore, they need to be dealt with in a different manner and most of the staff clearly don’t have the correct training and think it’s acceptable to mentally taunt a child by two members of staff having a conversation about the child and their behaviour in the child’s face. The list of incidents is as long as my arm. I am not the only SEN parent that has experienced this within the school. I don’t expect the world to revolve around my child, but I do expect my neurodivergent child to be treated accordingly within school and his needs be understood. And even parents with no additional needs strongly agree about the detention situation. They dish them out left right and centre, they also have no monitor on the detention situation, for example if your child is absent or even on a school trip on a day they have been issued a detention, it automatically escalates as it says child failed to attend detention and the time doubles. My child does do wrong believe me, they’re not a robot! But the fact that even paediatricians have had to write to the school about the way they deal with my child and reiterate to them they have severe social communication and sensory difficulties and the local MP has also agreed to assist me in complaints I’ve made tells you all you need to know! I’m sure the A* students with the pushy parents have nothing but good things to say about the school, but unfortunately for a lot of parents on the other end of the scale who have children with additional needs it’s not as smooth sailing

There is one particular lady in the SEN team I liaise with and she is very helpful and understands my son’s needs and deals with him in an appropriate manner. It’s more certain members of SLT and teaching staff that are the problem as they clearly don’t read his IEP. We don’t have an EHCP yet either, have had an IEP since year 7 and are now in year 9. We have now had a supporting letter to advise the school to apply for an EHCP for my child

Thank you. Yes it’s not been a very smooth sailing journey for us. I’ve looked at other schools for my child as i strongly dislike the school but as he has autism and doesn’t like change and is socially comfortable there he will not change schools and I was told it would be detrimental to him by the woman that diagnosed his autism if I were to change him schools. It is not at all good for students with additional needs. I’m sure for pushy parents with children that do no wrong it’s brilliant as most schools will be. We are going to be applying for an EHCP with the help of SENDIAS in October

@mummatotwo91 I'm close to people who work in (other) schools, and know how hard they work to meet the needs of children with SEN, but some children with SEN should not be in a mainstream setting and are only there because there are not enough specialist places, or sometimes because their parents insist that they go to a mainstream school. If your child hit someone, they deserved to be suspended, whether in retaliation or not. SEN can't excuse violence. You won't necessarily know what the other child's punishment was because the school would not be able to discuss that with you.

If a teacher taunted your child then of course you should complain, but if there was no witness then it is one person's word against another's. You've decided who to believe, and that's your choice, but it doesn't justify your nasty vindictive post about a local school that hundreds of local families rely on. That reaction reflects badly on you.

but you don’t have any direct experience with SEN kids. So don’t comment on what you don’t know about. You have no idea how hard it is for us SEN parents. My disagreement wasn’t with the suspension, it was the fact the other child that hit my child not once but THREE times first almost causing him to fall down stairs did not also get suspended. That’s my problem. And as for the ‘nasty and vindictive’ post. It’s not either of those. It’s MY PERSONAL experience with the school. People leave reviews on restaurants hotels etc some say the place is lovely and staff are friendly some say the place is awful and staff are rude. Everyone is entitled to their own views and opinions and I’ve gave mine!! Everywhere including schools has mixed reviews! Not everyone has a positive experience of the same place. End of discussion. Not replying to you anymore you are rude and think you can comment and discriminate against disabled children you know nothing about

@mummatotwo91 "reviewing" a state school is totally different to reviewing a restaurant because it is not an optional service ... for many families RTS is their only option - including yours, unless you get an EHCP or can afford the private sector or are able to home school.

You have had a bad experience with a couple of staff and therefore think you're justified in calling all the senior staff bullies and telling people to avoid the school "at all costs". You are angry with what happened so you are trying to damage the school's reputation. It is nasty.

I get this. I have a SEN son who went through similar at another highly regarded school in the area. If you’re not a neurotypical high achieving kid it’s very difficult around here. Thanks for your feedback.

I guess I shouldn’t have asked for reviews as such. Just wanted to get a general feel for the school. I don’t have many local choices anyway sadly.