Goodrich vs Heber Road

[Dulwich Dad]

It's fast approaching that time to choose the school. The two schools in our immediate catchment are Goodrich and Heber Road, so I thought it might be worthwhile getting some feedback/opinions of the merits of these two schools, from anyone who may already have kids at either.

[mightyroar]

My daughter is starting Heber in January. I really liked it when I looked round. The head is great. They have an open day next Thursday morning.

A few years ago, everyone rated Goodrich over Heber, so they have had to work to get their current status. So they are working at it still and not complacent. which is great. They also treat you like they actually want you and your child, other schools which have had a good rep for a long time can be a bit 'dont call us, we'll call you' about the whole thing.

Equally I have heard good things about Goodrich and I know quite a few kids there. They are getting a new head very soon

I think, maybe next Sep, so that will change things too.

[Dulwich Dad]

Thanks Mightyroar

I also liked the head at Heber - very open to questions about the school. haven't met the head at Goodrich yet - i think that requires arranging an appointment. it seems that Heber are making a real year on year effort to improve - which is encouraging

[Dulwich_ Park_ Fairy]

I also liked the head at Heber - very open to questions about the school. haven't met the head at Goodrich yet - i think that requires arranging an appointment.

I wouldn't hold your breath, not for nothing is she called the "Phantom Head" by parents.

[rob]

Me and Mrs Rob went to Heber this morning. I really liked it and - yes - the head is very nice chap indeed (and it's our nearest school too). Village Infants is fantastic - but only a little bit more fantastic. And they're about a mile away. So it's Village Infants 1, Heber 2 and (prob) Goodrich 3. Saw Dog Kennel Hill too but it seemed kind of tatty and worn out (as did a lot of the kids, tbh).

[zephyr]

Dulwich_ Park_ Fairy Wrote:

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>

> I wouldn't hold your breath, not for nothing is

> she called the "Phantom Head" by parents.

As a Goodrich parent I do not know what you mean about her being 'Phantom head'. I have certainly not heard that.

[jim_the_chin]

heber's improving, but slowly - not great on parent communication, school trips or sport thus far. getting a bit of a 'wish-we'd-chosen-goodrich' feel after a few years.

can anyone explain why heber seems underfunded compared to goodrich? is it just a perception or is it to do with the parents associaton bringing in money?

[Dulwich_ Park_ Fairy]

As a Goodrich parent I do not know what you mean about her being 'Phantom head'. I have certainly not heard that.

Its a reference to her lack of visibility around the school (the complete opposite to Peter Coleman) and the fact that many parents do not know who she is. I will concede though that not every single parent at the school refers to her as the phantom head, it wasn't meant to be taken that literally.

[Nero]

I live opposite Goodrich, and I get a good vibe from it. The children and parents are generally very well-behaved. I have never seen any violence between pupils or parents thereof. When the children go to the baths or are waiting to get on a coach, they are generally lively and well behaved, with 'in control' teachers, who are not afraid to be pretty 'old-fashioned' in their commands, a la Grange Hill - 'Peter, be quiet. Sandra, stop that right now' etc. It seems very orderly: very little litter is dropped, the head is clamping down on people who stop on the zig-zags, there's a lot of laughter too. Can't say anything about anywhere else, but I have seen anti-Goodrich stuff being posted by some Forumites which, I think, is biased and prejudiced. My neighbour's kid went there and he liked it and she stays involved in extra-curricular activities. Nero

[zephyr]

text removed on request - The Administrator I see Shirley patterson occasionally and her weekly newsletter (which she started) is excellent

[Keef]

Years ago Heber was always the school you tried not to send your kids to, but these days it seems a really really nice place to be. A friend of mine was teaching there about 3 years ago, and we went to see his class do a little musical, and it was lovely. Friendly kids, and a nice atmosphere. That'[s what I thought anyway, but not a parent yet, so don't have to worry for the time being...

[Dulwich_ Park_ Fairy]

text removed on request - The Administrator I see Shirley patterson occasionally and her weekly newsletter (which she started) is excellent

How is it excellent? Its very poorly written and constantly whinges about the parents (eg two weeks ago about the new lining up procedures which she had to do because the parents were so inconsiderate in the mornings). Other than that its pretty unique for saying nothing much in two pages.

Peter Coleman was visible, and accessible everyday before and after school, he didn't spend his whole time in his office. Furthermore, he could not have been more involved in the FOG events (carnivals, fairs etc), opening up the school (now done by a private security firm) helping to count money, locking up (now done by a private security firm, he also used to Chair the FOG AGM (the new Head was to busy this year). text removed on request - The Administrator

[zephyr]

To be fair though, PC had a very long association with the school. I am not knocking what he did (especially FOG which, as I understand it, he founded) I am just trying to put across that they are very different. There are always issues when someone is new and some do not like change or at least take longer than others. Not everyone will like the way SP runs the school but not everyone liked how PC ran it either.

Re: the newsletter. The same could be said for the letters that PC sent out. At least it is communication and does let parents know a little of what is going on. For some the information will appear to be saying nothing that they did not already know but for others there will be invluable information. Many many parents do not set foot in the school so may not have the information.

FWIW I like the lining up before and after school. I hated the hot smelly hall and the throng of people in a confined space.

[AnotherPaul]

As a parent of Goodrich I'm quite happy. My daughter is happy there and seems to be being looked after and stimulated. The newsletters are useful but rather patronising. I hadn't heard the 'Phantom' tag until now but there is some truth to her invisibility, I'd much rather have been greeted properly by the head as a new parent than have a weekly newsletter.

They do need to do a communications audit, the volume of paper coming out of the place is nuts.

It seems that old head was very well liked and that many parents are still loyal to him. My daughter's new to the school so I have no direct experience but judging by the last ofsted report there was something seriously amiss with the management of the place, I wouldn't have sent my daughter there had there not been a new head.

ap

[Dulwich_ Park_ Fairy]

FWIW I like the lining up before and after school. I hated the hot smelly hall and the throng of people in a confined space.

My kids are older so it makes no difference but it will be interesting as it gets colder, windier and wetter. I'm not a big fan of the combination locks on the doors to the individual school buildings though, I just cannot see the point of it. For a community school its becoming very inaccessible to parents.

[legwarmer lil]

My kids are at Heber, and generally I've been very happy with it and so have my children. However I would say that Mr Mamak seems more impressive than he actually is, at first I thought he seemed very dynamic and together - but as Jim mentioned communication with parents is awful, there is too much emphasis on literacy / numeracy (ie SATS tests) and creativity and expression could do with a boost. We don't even have rubbish newsletters, nothing but bookbag notes about headlice outbreaks.

Parents are starting to tackle the Head on these issues, and I think that changes are inevitable. There is a nice feel about the school and I certainly wouldn't put parents off from choosing Heber, but the Head does need to budge on his obsession with results and league tables. One of the funding issues (I believe) is that funding is allocated according to numbers of pupils, and for years Heber was under subscribed. I'm still hopeful that Heber will become a more lively, creative, holistic school, but pressure from parents seems necessary to improve music provision, PE, drama etc etc. There's an open day on 22nd November - mentioned in the what's on guide, so come and see for yourself.

[Keef]

Creativity and expression have nothing to do with education any more, it's all about the figures baby! Mrs Keef is already seriously considering jacking in teaching less than 2 years in, because she loves children, and wants to make a difference to them, but has basically been told it's all about controlling them. She feels the whole system is immoral. Bring back 70s education! Who really really cares if a 6 year old can't read, so long as they're being a child. Mrs Keef tells me she was a very late starter with reading, and she has am English degree and MA, and loves nothing more than ready huge books! ;-)

[Dulwich_ Park_ Fairy]

Who really really cares if a 6 year old can't read, so long as they're being a child. Mrs Keef tells me she was a very late starter with reading, and she has am English degree and MA, and loves nothing more than ready huge books!

The obsession with handwriting is what bothers me, by the time these kids are adults the only thing they will be writing is their signature.

[Ant]

The cynic in me suspects that the thinking behind this is handwriting = exams

(and of course exams (success in) = league table points = funding)

[Dulwich_ Park_ Fairy]

The cynic in me suspects that the thinking behind this is handwriting = exams

Sadly, its all they really care about now, SATS and attendance.

[Keef]

Exactly right! God on the odd occasion I actually have to write something down these days I am appalled by the state of my own writing. It's a dying art ;-)

[Dulwich_ Park_ Fairy]

Exactly right! God on the odd occasion I actually have to write something down these days I am appalled by the state of my own writing. It's a dying art

I can't spell unless I'm using microsoft word.

[Keef]

The thing is, this is the same in health and social care, it's all about ticking boxes and meeting targets, which ultimately means less time to actually provide a good service. In my job I see way way less people than I used to, but at least I'm proving to the government that I've done the work I've done. It's soul destroying, and I am desperate to escape it, having initially gotten in to it to help people and make a difference. Teachers are the same, and they're voting with their feet, and I don't blame them I wouldn't stay in a 25k job that involved 60 - 80 hours work a week! And to think I used to think teaching would be a piece of p!ss.

[Nero]

Spelling is important. Rightly or wrongly, it is taken as a sign of a good education. The very fact that people say things like 'I can't spell for toffee' or 'thank the Lord for spell-check' demonstrates its importance: why make reference to it otherwise? When I see posts from people on this or other forums with really poor spelling, grammar and punctuation, I immediately think they have had a poor education. I realise they might be intelligent or creative or a wonderful human being, but those things are not demonstrated by what I see in black and white. I think quite a lot of people would have the same response to a badly spelled post, and that's why I believe being able to express oneself clearly and correctly on paper and online is so important, especially now we see language much, much more than we've ever done before. So, good for the schools if they are trying to help the children 'write proper'. And to stay on topic, do the local schools produce good spellers? Nero

[Dulwich_ Park_ Fairy]

True, spelling is very important. My point was about being obsessed with the handwriting 6yr olds. Local schools do seem to take spelling seriously but not as seriously as attendance.