ladyofleisure5

LOL!....Yes that name was mentioned....but I didn't meet her (phew!) I really liked the school (esp the music dept) but my son rates is no 2 because none of his friends will be going there (it's really not in our catchment area of Islington!)

Hi Emily, When I first spoke to the school, they gave me 2 names in Senco. However when I made an appointment to visit the Jerningham site, I got to meet someone completely different. She doesn't sound at all like the lady you spoke to at all...in fact the opposite!.....

Huggers Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > ladyofleisure, I have two children at > Haberdashers, in year 8 and 9. One is very > academic and finds the school stimulating and > stretching and she is doing well. The younger one > is not very academic, a bit of a dreamer, dyxlexic > who was pidgeonholed in primary school as a bit > silly and lazy- and he is doing well too. The > school were very quick to move him up a set as > soon as he made progress in maths which has done > wonders for his self esteem. He also gets once > weekly dyxlexia support. > > As other people have said on this thread, > Haberdashers used to be selective even when it > wasnt meant to be.It's taken a few years for the > more comprehensive intake to work itself up the > school. So there are children there now of lower > abilities who might not have got in before. It's > how well those children are doing that's the > question- I think higher sets are still doing very > well. > > So the question is, is the school failing the > lower sets? or is it unrealistic for the > government to expect every candidate to get 5 > A-Cs including English and Maths? I have no idea, > but this may help you make up your mind: > > linkhttp://www.hahc.org.uk/images/uploads/Admissio > ns/Secondary_Transfer/Hatcham_College_Exam_Results > _pdf.pdf > which will match levels of candidates with their > results. I think that's very informative - you can > work out who's getting the A starred results and > what's happening with everyone else?. Hi Huggers Your reply was very much the same response I got from my visit today. So there was no spin at all!!I have been to the school twice now and find the school very caring and proud of the achievements fr. the children with special needs . This to me is really refreshing in today's climate of "league tables". Thanks v. much. You have been most helpful!

My son has a special needs statement and I'm keen to apply to Haberdashers' as it "ticks all of my boxes" for my son's secondary school requirements. Unfortunately I'm now having doubts due to the "20 point drop" in the recent GCSE results. Anyone know the reason for this huge drop? I'm visiting the school with my son today and will of course be asking this question.Just wondering if any mums/dads here can help before I'm being "spun the official" reason for this drop. Thanks.