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Secondary education

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Original poster

St Augustine's Priory Ealing Views Please

33 replies

zanzibarmum · 26/12/2008 22:24

What are the strengths and weaknesses of St Augustine's Priory Catholic independent school in Ealing. All views welcomed.

OP posts:
AugustusGloop · 26/12/2008 22:29

Its cack don't go there. Really like...religious.

Original poster
zanzibarmum · 26/12/2008 23:02

Religious? Actually, my sense is that it isn't particularly religious though clearly as a Catholic independent school this is an important part of its mission. If there are any informed views out there I'd be interested in hearing these.

OP posts:
jalopy · 28/12/2008 20:20

I went there. Few years ago, mind.

Original poster
zanzibarmum · 29/12/2008 13:59

Jalopy what was it like

OP posts:
chatname · 18/01/2009 16:02

I went there in the 80s. Disliked it. There were some good teachers, which was a redeeming feature. I'm sure it's changed a lot though, this is too long ago to have any relation to what it's like now!

Original poster
zanzibarmum · 20/01/2009 17:45

Chatname - what did you dislike about it (albeit back then). Thank you.

OP posts:
chatname · 25/01/2009 18:00

Very old fashioned (we had bowdlerized copies of Romeo and Juliet when we were oh aboout 14). Lots of pretensions. Appalling A level results in my year.

Latootle · 19/05/2009 16:35

I wonder if they are still using the falling to pieces Piers Plowman for geography. It only ever showed 1" of what ever you were studying so for a long time I never knew Canada was joined to the USA.!!!!!!!

Is Miss Dowling still a round???

MrsFinucane · 21/08/2009 17:15

I am a current parent of a six form student. I have complete praise for the Headmistress Mrs Gumley Mason and the school. My daughter has been there for just the sixth form, she has cpmpleted the lower sixth and now is about to go into the upper sixth.

My daughter was a great girl altogether on joining St Augustine's Priory and she has excelled further by being surrounded by equally positive and co - do people.

I only wish I had more daughters to send there, so I would have a longer association with the school.

Sarah Finucane

mrsshrimpy · 02/07/2011 20:55

Completely agree it's a really lovely unique school, my daughter left at the end of sixth form having been there since aged 8. She has a great group of friends, excellent exam result and such fond memories

elmssewinglady · 17/05/2013 13:08

Interested in hearing up-to-date reviews of the school! Views welcome

RobertaCJ · 20/05/2013 16:37

We looked at a number of schools in Ealing for our daughter and were delighted when she was offered a place at St Augustine?s. I have a number of friends who went there in the 80s and 90s and the school has changed considerably. The new headmistress, Mrs Raffrey, has made some amazing improvements since she joined in September.

Our daughter has settled in really well and is flourishing. She really enjoys going to school and is constantly learning and discovering new things. The girls really care for each other and the older ones look after the younger ones. There is definitely a strong sense of community between parents and girls. The school caters for all and the facilities are fantastic ? plenty of grounds for all the girls, and even a forest school, which is a great testament to Miss Keane.

I would definitely recommend St Augustine?s!

clarecog · 22/05/2013 11:36

My daughters joined the school 3 years ago, having moved to the UK from South Africa......new country, new schooling system, new to just girls. They were welcomed in with so much care and immediately made friends. They have blossomed there in all aspects; academic, sporting, music, drama and self development. Both my daughters love the school and never want to leave.

EalingGal · 23/05/2013 09:55

I was lucky enough to attend St Augustine's Priory until 1993 and had a great time there making friends for life whilst receiving a rounded and full education. Now a mother with two girls I had no hesitattion in choosing St Augustine's for them as it is is unique. The stunning grounds let them have a sense of freedom and space, and the school is welcoming, inclusive and kind with the girls at the centre of all that they do. The exam results are now amazing (much better than in my day) but you never get the impression that the girls are being hot housed. The new headteacher Mrs Raffray is great and has a passionate, clear and focussed plan for taking the school forward and I can't wait for my girls to enjoy their time there just as much as I did.
I can't recommend St Augustine's Priory highly enough.

Rafia · 23/05/2013 23:40

My daughters go to St Augustine's. I love it, and they love it. There are lots of reasons for this. some of which are below:

The school seeks the opinion of the parents, and actually takes their views on board, which I found refreshing

I heard that the academic side of it may need some improvement.
We joined the school in September, so it is still early days to see results, but so far as I can see, the teachers are great. They are creative, supportive and sensitive to my daughters' needs, skills and talents.

There is great communication from the school (in all its aspects; headteacher, health staff and teachers); Parents are encouraged to communicate with the school, and students are encouraged to talk to their teachers.

I just think it is one of the greatest schools in Ealing

Bazelle · 10/03/2015 22:25

I moved my DD there 1 1/2 years ago for Y4 as she was not happy at her prep school. Her 2 siblings were fine but they would have been happy anywhere to he honest. She has blossomed and absolutely adores St Augustine's. She wants to stay there for secondary. Academically it is really different than the pushy prep school where she was and I am slightly worried about the maths. However, I am really impressed with science, music, PE, ICT and French, and the amazing atmosphere and pastoral care. I have taken the decision to move my youngest DD there too, she will be starting in Y3 in September. And I'll keep an eye on the maths in the meantime and do some Bonds assessments papers from time to time to make sure everything is on track. I am not against hiring a maths tutor if necessary, everything else is really good. I think the new headmistress is really nice and succeeding in reassuring the parents. They are losing less and less of their brightest girls at secondary, and have had a record numbers of 11+ applications this year so I believe the school is on the up.

Bazelle · 10/03/2015 22:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Yara24 · 07/05/2015 13:57

Hi to all mums,
Am thinking to move my daughter to st augustines this September as she's not very happy in her current school! Friends recommended st augustines and said its very good and others said its not very academic! Any help????

Toooldforthat · 07/05/2015 21:53

In which year your DD would be? Why is she not happy? It is a mixed ability school, and it is relatively small, but really lovely.

Yara24 · 07/05/2015 22:34

Toooldforthat, thanx for the reply. My daughter will be yr 2. Since she started her yr1 the school changed the class teacher with 2 external teachers and than in Feb had the permanent class teacher which than had to take 2 weeks off sick. She never liked her she said the teacher is always grumpy! Also it's coed but the ratio of boys and girls is not equal in her class, 4 girls and 14 boys!

Toooldforthat · 08/05/2015 16:03

My DD joined in Y4 last year, and liked it from the start. We are really happy with the school. I like the atmosphere, the staff, the grounds and facilities, DD is making good progress, finds her lessons interesting, I cannot fault it so far. I know that quite a few parents are taking their daughters out to more selective schools for secondary, or they want co-ed etc, but the majority is staying.

Yara24 · 08/05/2015 17:18

Good to hear your DD liking the school, I will attend the open day tomorrow and hopefully she will start in September!!

Toooldforthat · 09/05/2015 17:43

Did you and your daughter like the open day?

Toooldforthat · 09/05/2015 17:43

Did you and your daughter like the open day?

Yara24 · 09/05/2015 18:18

The school, staff, and girls were amazing. My husband and I loved the school and the open space. I registered my daughter and hopefully will start in September this year.

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