Goodrich

[Monkey]

I am looking for feedback on Goodrich school.. My daughter might be going there for reception in September and I am just looking to hear of people's experiences in terms of the quality of the teaching, how the school's run, the general atmosphere... My daughter is quite reserved and I am worried about sending her to such a big school...

Any help would be much appreciated. Please pm me if you prefer.

[Pickle]

In a nutshell I've been really pleased with the environment and teaching at the school, my children are thriving there.

I was worried about the size of the school too (especially coming from NZ, where there were 70 pupils in the whole of my primary school!), especially for my oldest child (now in year 1) as he is quite a reserved boy. Once he started my fears were unfounded, as the reception classes have a feeling of being a little community of their own. He really came out of his shell in his first year there, and the teacher was brilliant at identifying the things he enjoyed doing (writing little books!) and encouraging him.

He's now in year 1, and his little sister is in reception. Very different personality, and once again the teaching has been tailored towards bringing out her strengths. They have both made really good friends and look forward to going to school every day, which for me is the most important thing.

The head teacher is very forward thinking and the changes in the school over the last year have been extremely positive. It has a real community feel about it too.

Good luck.

[Medusa]

The school is great at the Foundation Stage, but I would have major reservations beyond that. The Head has a management style that is, at best, dismissive of the views of staff members when they disagree. There is a gulf, IME, between the senior management team and the rest of the staff matched only by the chasm between the support staff/section and the rest of the school. My children were at Goodrich for 8 years and I would never have recognised the school from its recent Ofsted report which glossed over some major problems at the school. Some of the things my children experienced at the school were utterly disgraceful and they are not isolated incidents. I won't say more just in case there are libel threats. I attempted to make formal complaints twice, but the Board of Governors somehow never appeared to receive, let alone respond to, my complaints.

There are some exceptionally good individual teachers at Goodrich and the school has some strengths but I personally wouldn't recommend it to my (hypothetical) worst enemy unless the current Head left and there was a thorough shake-up.Feel free to dismiss me as a disgruntled parent, but I am really not simply that.

[Pickle]

Medusa, how long ago did your children attend the school? There has been a new head teacher there for a year or so who is truly excellent, I think you may be reflecting on the school before changes were made.

[GusW]

I have 2 children at Goodrich, Junior and Infant. I think the school is fantastic, it had a couple of bumpy years but teaching is great, leadership is great and I don't see any gulf between staff and management. One of my children is really shy but has made good friendships and the inclusion practice is great to encourage them to feel safe and happy, e.g. play supporters and sunshine corner. Results are also great!!

[Medusa]

My children were there for 8 years.

I am quite sure that if you ask the same question about any school, you will find dissenting opinions; that is inevitable to an extent, given that different people look for particular things in any school so depending on the criteria on which they are judging it, they will find it more or less satisfactory.

Let's just say that if my energies weren't now consumed by other things, I feel strongly enough about this that I would be going to Ofsted and the education ombudsman. The battle has exhausted me.

[Ant]

I had kids at Goodrich and it was every bit as Medusa says. We moved them elsewhere and were glad of it. But that was a couple of years ago and there has been a new head since then. I hear that the school has changed a lot since we left.

However, I also notice that many of the supportive comments here seem to come from parents of kids in reception or year 1. In my experience those years were always OK, and the rot set in from year 2 onwards. This is not to say that opinions from parents of reception and year 1 kids don't count - of course they do - but you'd do well to make sure you hear from parents of kids in the higher years too if you can.

So: I'm very much *not* saying that all the problems Medusa identified are still there, but they were once very serious problems holding back what ought to have been a very good school. I hope this is no longer the case, for everyone's sake!

[kamath]

Gosh - now I am worried . Think there is a strong chance this will be our allocated school.

[Pickle]

Seriously, don't be worried. Two posters have voiced negative opinions regarding the school before the new head was employed - they do not have children at the school, therefore I can only assume they are not there on a daily basis to see for themselves the school Goodrich has become.

Book a tour, talk to current parents. Don't base anything on what used to be!

[Medusa]

Actually, my children only left last summer so I am well aware of the current Head and the changes he has implemented.

But every parent has to make their own mind up, obviously.

I have responded to a request for opinions about the school - that's all.

[Edbird]

I have three children at the school, the eldest is in year 5. I don't recognise the school that Medusa has described; the school that I know has an inspirational head, who in the space of a year has turned the school around, a fantastic teaching staff ( all three children have outstanding teachers as judged last year by Ofsted), and a strong, talented team of support staff - all of whom care passionately about providing an excellent learning experience for the kids. As Pickle suggested, book a tour at the school to see for yourself what a fantastic school it is. Don't be put off by the lone voices of two parents, neither of whom have children in the school now. My kids are really happy and they are making great progress. I can't recommend the school enough. PM me if you'd like more.

[Gubodge]

You will find parents with negative experiences of every school in the country but I have children in years 2 and 3 and my experience of the school has only been good. Both my children are happy and their very different needs are being met.

I had similar qualms to you. My eldest child in particular was very reserved and shy and she entered the school in the bulge year, so her reception class had 120 pupils. My own primary school had around half that number in the entire school, so I was faintly terrified about how she'd ever manage. But she loved it from the start, and the confidence she has now has to be at least in part down to the lovely teachers she's had throughout her time at the school.

[Trish]

I have a daughter in Year 2. I have nothing but praise for the school. I think we've been particularly lucky with the teachers our daughter has had and I feel she's had more individual attention than I would ever have expected in a non-fee paying school. She even has extra maths classes in the mornings to improve her maths. When the previous head was there I felt there was a lack of any leadership. I don't feel that way now. The new head has had a very positive impact and I do feel like he's clearly identified what problems there were and is doing something about them.

The school has a huge community behind it. The mums I know there are incredibly friendly and supportive - I couldn't think of any reason why anyone wouldn't want their child to go there. The teachers really have been amazing with my little girl.

That's my experience - I appreciate everyone is different and perhaps it will change the further up the school we go but to date I can only say how pleased I am.

[Goodliz]

My boys are in Years 4 and 1. They are very happy and love learning. Of course I only have my experience of primary school to compare it to so cannot say whether it is better or worse than other schools in the area.

There are plenty of opportunities for parents to get involved with the school too.

Everyone has their own individual experiences but so far it has been a very good experience for my boys.

[Frenchpolisher]

All of our children have gone to Goodrich and we are very happy with it. Our oldest has now left and our other two are in years one and six. While there are undoubtedly issues, this is true of any school. Most of the teachers are very good and the atmosphere at the school is very friendly. The new head is working hard to improve the school and the quality of teaching, and we've found him open and friendly when we've needed to speak with him.

We'd say Goodrich is a great choice of primary school and we'd thoroughly recommend it.

[Monkey]

Thank you all for your feedback, which has really helped me make up my mind. It looks like a good school which is improving fast and it will hopefully be our school next year. Thank you again.