Hi everyone, are there any parents with children currently at Dame Alice Owen’s School who would be happy to share their experiences?
I’m trying to get a realistic picture of whether the school would be the right fit for my child. I really want to make the best decision for them, so I’d genuinely appreciate honest opinions — both positive and negative. I’m not looking to criticise the school; I’d just like to understand what it is really like day to day.
I’ve read some older Mumsnet discussions from around 2021–2023, particularly about bullying, racism and the mass walkout, but I’d really like to know whether these issues are still relevant today.
I’d particularly be interested to hear about:
Is your child genuinely happy and settled at the school?
How does the school deal with bullying? Do you feel concerns are taken seriously and followed up properly?
For parents of particularly Indian/South Asian children, have you experienced or heard of racism or racial bullying? Is there diversity with a mix of Indian/South Asian children?
How is the school for a child who is naturally quiet, shy or more sensitive? Do quieter children get good support, or can they sometimes get overlooked?
How intense is the academic pressure? Is there a strong pressure to achieve, and does it feel motivating or stressful for the children?
How competitive is the environment, both academically and socially?
Do you feel the school is nurturing as well as academically strong?
Do you feel the issues raised around the mass walkout have improved, or are there still similar concerns?
Most importantly, knowing what you know now, would you choose Dame Alice Owen’s again for your child?
I’d also be particularly interested in hearing from parents who have an older child at Dame Alice Owen’s but chose a different school for a younger sibling. If you made that decision, I’d really appreciate knowing why and what factors influenced you.
I’m genuinely trying to find the best environment for my child, not simply the school with the best academic results. If your child is happy there and thriving, I’d love to hear about that too, as well as any challenges you’ve experienced.
Please feel free to be completely honest — even if you’d rather message me privately. I’d be very grateful for any recent experiences or advice. Thank you so much.