Advice on state seconaries in Richmond.

[amidaiwish]

Just a concern re state secondaries in Richmond ... many of my friends are now leaving the area in droves, down to Winchester/Farnham or downgrading to get some money out to invest so they can afford to go private. It seems everyone has a plan B they are starting to put into action to avoid the state sector in Richmond.

Are the secondaries really so bad?

I know Teddington School is good but it has a tight feeder system so unless you are in a linked primary, no chance. What if you are in Hampton/Twickenham end of Richmond borough? Is the only real option HCC?

Thoughts please...

Greycourt and Christs both on the up. Loads going to both from our primary. Many were concerned they wouldn't get into Greycourt.

A friend has got into Graycourt after being offered her 2nd choice- she was 29th on waiting list, so lots must have dropped out of Graycourt to go elsewhere. Tiffin? Private?

A friend was so desperate to get into Gc they lied about their address - surely a sign of a sought after school?

nb, not defending that course of action, but have seen at first hand how desperate people are - will do ANTYTHING to get into the school of their choice for their DC....

Mona, I have met you and applaud the hard work that you and many others are undoubtedly putting in to try to turn Shene around - but you are not there yet, and to pretend otherwise is disingenuous. As for labelling me ill-informed and out of touch? I don't think so: many, many parents, myself included, have filled in surveys, attended meetings etc etc in an attempt to get across the key issues that we feel are fundamental if Shene is to stand a chance of becoming a local school once again. (Obviously, it would help if we felt the LEA was actually listening, but that's not your fault.) The academy status will hopefully help bring about big changes in time - but, sadly, not soon enough for many families. Even the CEO, David Triggs, said prospective parents should give it the best part of ten months to a year from this September before visiting to see how the new regime is faring. I don't have that long to make up my mind about my child's education - I wish I did. I'd love a local secondary that was a natural extension of the fantastic local primaries we have in this borough. It doesn't exist as yet.

Btw, am not sure why you have singled me out for a strict talking to on this and the other thread. I started the latter as I felt it would be interesting to open the topic up to discussion - not because I have a particular desire to see Shene raised to the ground.

I had not noticed,(because life is too short to read PR statements about a school - ie Shene - literally on one's own doorstep where the evidence of pupil 'activity' is only too evident, not least by the KFC boxes and assorted junk food wrappers in my garden), so did not see the appallingly insulting reference to Willow.
Both on MN and in RL, Willow takes great pains to be well-informed,fair and measured in her assessments, and to see such a gross insult supposedly coming from a governor of the school(anonymous forum - so who knows?) sets back any efforts to improve the impression of the school's manangement in the community. Thnaks Mona, but you just set back the cause even further

And have just noticed that Willow was not even on this thread before 'Mona's' post! How very odd.

I, too, am appalled by Mona's comments and digs at Willow. Like many of us local parents Willow has done endless research and knows her subject. I also agree with MrsGuy that such comments have done a disservice to Shene's PR campaign.

I have not noticed any improvement in the children from Shene that walk down my street, or are on the 33 to Hammersmith. I genuinely hope the situation is improving, but like others I don't have the luxury of time in my son's case to wait and see.

Mona's obviously done a (too) quick cut and paste job. It's a shame, really, as I believe she is working hard to try to help bring about change at Shene. But how ironic that, in attempting to publicise the school's recent improvements, she's come across as a bit of a bully.

My son is in Year 7 at Hampton Academy ,I was very sceptical nd a little unhappy with the communication however understand that there are bound to be teething problems with new systems being put into place . Its now half a year in and I am actually impressed my son is doing well. My son and his friends all love it, they even look forward to school .. yes there are some children that arent great but you get that in any school and I think the key is to keep your eyes on the ball and gently steer them in the right direction.The more parents that stick with there local school will only have a positive impact. I had my doubt in the begining but have to admmit I think i got it wrong!!

if you're at St.James' presumably you are catholic. Most catholic girls,with a priests reference, from your area would get Gumley. It has stretched as far as just past Waldegrave Park this year. Also Holy Cross in New Malden has offered to girls in teddington and Hampton. Both OUtstanding schools.

All Richmond Borough parents need to be aware that the council is looking to make some significant changes to Secondary Schools over the coming years, which could impact the intake, and hence performance, of existing schools, so check out the thread: [[
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/1157485-New-Secondaries-for-Richmond-Borough "New Secondaries for Richmond Borough"]] and join the debate. The council will listen to parents' views, but we can only engage in the process if we know what's going on.

Here we go again!(son at Gunnersbury boys) daughter in yr 6 so form filling for her secondary school, having a dilemma! Gumley House or Holy cross in New Malden??? HELP!! advice, thoughts and experiences most welcome!!!!

I have 3 nieces at Gumley and all are doing very well. My brother and his wife have nothing but praise for the school and I believe Sister Brenda, the head, has been doing an excellent job there for many years.

Thanks for your reply Sue52 very kind.....I hear a lot of good things about Gumley but very little at all about Holy Cross and my visit made me rather keen to know more!

I was at Hampton School recently and was surprised to hear the headmaster take a couple of potshots at the Hampton Academy next door. His audience was 13+ entrance parents, so none of us had ever heard of Hampton Academy before. I had to look out for it on the way home.
Anyway, my point is if you are rattling the selective independent school up the road you must be doing something right. I know nothing about it, but I suspect it may be worth looking at.
Waldegrave use the theatre and have some lessons at my sons prep, the girls all seem lovely.

'Never heard of Hampton academy'???!!! wow! how very 'let them eat cake'!!!

Why would anyone who doesn't live in the borough of Richmond have heard of Hampton Academy? Its very new so they are unlikely to have come across them at sports fixtures or tournaments. The Hampton School intake area is huge as you can see from their bus routes. Parents attending this open day came from Windsor, Woking, Guildford all the way into Clapham/Wandsworth. Richmond is densely populated so I doubt if the cachment for the academy goes further than a couple of miles.
I don't live in Richmond borough, I'm only 5 miles away, but I had never heard of it before.
Honestly, loose the chip 'let them eat cake indeed!'

No chip, just sad that good schools aren't available to all! not just the rich, lots of bright children are let down by our education system....Anyway what do you mean 'the headmaster took a couple of potshots at The Hampton Academy'? what did he say?

Both my DS's went to HCC, now Hampton Academy.
Both left with A* and A grades at GCSE and went on to local 6th form colleges to get top A level grades.
DS1 graduated with a First MEng from University of Nottingham, and DS2 doing economics at University of Nottingham at the moment.
This school, I believe started to be turned around by the leadership team whilst DS2 was there.
Both of my sons had some very nice friends from HCC ( and Hampton School for that matter for DS1) who they are still in contact with now.
It would be rather sad to think that the Headteacher of Hampton School is taking 'potshots' at Hampton Academy.
I thought the schools were trying to work together on certain things. I know DS2 did an easter revision course at Hampton School, and was also invited to Hampton Schools 400th birthday celebration with Prince Edward present, as one of the G&T from HCC. Both DS's also went to the lunch time talks by interesting and/or famous people at Hampton

Hello just to add that the link status of some secondaries like Teddington and Orleans is under review - decision due spring 2012 I think. If this happens it might make catchments quite different. I tried to find out about whether the concil had any ideas about potential new catchments but of course it'd be impossible for them to make any predictions. Trouble is we're hoping to get our son into Orleans, a given under current link system, so lets hope if it all goes thru' the catchments don't shrink too much or No idea where son'll end up.

Hi Blanchedebois. In case you haven't stumbled across it yeat there's a thread about Richmond Secondary Schools in Mumsnet Local, here. Its been running for quite a while (and we had to start a new thread because the first one filled up) but if you search back there's lots of info that you might find helpful, including maps of the 2011 catchments and a link from ChrisSquire to a prediction of the effect on Orleans of removing the Linked School Policy.

Thanks I'll try to find it.