The mysterious head of Goodrich - does he really exist?

[Norfolkvillas]

A reception place at Goodrich has been offered to me, and because it was one of my preferences, Southwark automatically deems it accepted unless I tell them otherwise.

I've also been offered a place from Harris, so need to make a decision this weekend.

From the schools that I saw ahead of applying, one of my take outs was how influential the head is on the direction and culture of their school. So I was disappointed that the head wasn't present at the Goodrich tour I went on in December, and my request for a meeting in Jan was turned down on the basis that I didn't have a place. I asked again for a meeting when I had been given a place and have again been turned down. They have told me I'll get to meet him after my place has been accepted (even though it already is technically accepted).

A friend has a child in reception there and has never met him, other than to see him speak at a school event. When she requested a meeting about an issue, she was given an appointment with one of the deputy heads.

Am I wrong to find all this vaguely alarming? Is it unrealistic of me to expect to get to meet the head of my child's potential school ahead of accepting a place? What if I wanted to talk to him once my child has started there - is he much more accessible once you're inside the Goodrich ecosystem?

[Otta]

I don't think it's uncommon for parents not to meet the head. It's hard enough to get five minutes with a class teacher.

[Medusa]

I will also PM you later.

[peggoula]

We are high on the waiting list for Goodrich but I have to say I had a similar feeling as I met both the Heads of Bessemer and Heber on the school tours. We have accepted our place at Harris and will take the risk of a new school as the fact that it is smaller (together with the H arris reputation) really appeals.

[DaveR]

"how influential the head is on the direction and culture of their school."

Re Goodrich, the answer is very influential. Not everybody agress with all of his decisions but my clear impression is that he is very much in control. That's not the same as being accessible to parents, particularly for face to face meetings, but in my limited experience he always answers emails, for example. FWIW, he's pretty visible to the pupils.

I may be unusual, but I don't expect the head teacher to be available on demand to meet parents. There are 600 odd kids at Goodrich, and tbh I'd rather the head prioritises dealing with the staff, the budgets, the governors, the buildings, the LA etc., and I would expect him to delegate a lot to class teachers, KS group leaders and deputy heads. When he first took on the job there was an open meeting with parents where he pretty much said "I've done this before, I know what I'm doing, I'll explain broadly what I'm doing and why, but my priority is to get on with the job". As far as I can see, that's what he has done.

[Growlybear]

I know the Head at Goodrich from his previous school, and can say that he is one of the most inspirational headteachers that I have ever come across. He turned his previous school round into a happy, thriving environment where all the children were given the opportunity to achieve their full potential. His passion for improving children's life skills was so apparent, as was how deeply he cared for the children, many of whom were from extremely deprived backgrounds. It was extremely touching to see how much the children looked up to the Head and how many of them clearly adored him. If the Headteacher of a school is an important part in making a decision on which place to accept, then in my opinion, you couldn't possibly do any better than accepting a place at Goodrich.

[Honoroaky]

We are in the same lucky position of deciding between harris and goodrich where my son is in nursery (initially we weren't offered any of our 6 preferences but were top of the waiting list and were offered (and as you say automatically accepted as it was our first preference) goodrich the following day.

But having met the head of Harris and really liking his attitude I am concerned that I have less of a feel for goodrich, despite going there everyday! I also worry that such a big school might struggle to really respond to pupils as individuals. Any parents happy to share their views would be appreciated!

[Norfolkvillas]

Thank you all for your replies and PMs so far - I'm really grateful for all this feedback.

Growlybear, that's a reassuring testimonial (albeit contradictory to other opinions I've heard) but I'm just vexed that I wasn't given the chance to see this for myself.

DaveR, I'm particularly interested in the mission you've described him as having outlined when he started; he sounds like a man with a plan. But outlining a plan once and once only is fine if you're working on a finite project with a fixed set of stakeholders. A school is by definition going to have an ever-evolving set of stakeholders as a new cohort joins (and leaves) each year. Surely, if he has such a set vision and course of action, as you make it sound like he has, then I should be able to find out what that is (in order to evaluate whether it's for us or not) as you had a chance to.

Otta, I find it alarming that getting 5 mins with the class teacher should be difficult, and that's considered normal. But maybe I'm just an idealistic new primary parent with unrealistic expectations!

All further opinions very welcome - Medusa, yes please do PM.

Thanks, wise forumites!

[peggoula]

This is all confusing and a little bit frustrating for me (that has an offer at Harris but nt Goodrich yet).

Obviously Goodrich has a reputation, mostly good, and the same goes for its Head Teacher.

How can a new school compete with that?

The new school is a risk.

My question is will enough people take this risk or will we all find ourselves in September with a school that won't actually open and nowhere to go??

I don't think I am made to homeschool!!

[Tegan78]

I went to Goodrich 2 years ago and my siblings go there now. I can assure you that there is a headteacher and although I personally didnt think much of him I have heard from people that he has a very good reputation. The only reason I didnt think much of him was because he enforced our uniform policy after years of wearing my own clothes to school it was difficult to adjust. My siblings are very happy there. :)

[tash b]

My son has been at Goodrich from nursery till July when he's leaving for secondary school, the head does exist but believe me you are not missing anything my list could go on about him and not a good list either, not a pleasant man to talk to at all and I'm not the only parent at the school to agree.

[ludoscotts]

My daughter goes to Goodrich and we are very happy with the school. No you hardly ever see the head but whenever I've had an issue I've emailed and had a response from him and answered my questions and concerns. The newsletter that we got yesterday does say that they are expecting ofstead this term and are fully expecting it to become an outstanding school on this inspection. I'd much rather have a head teacher that was pushing the school in the right direction as far as learning, attendance etc than have him available to meet and chat to parents face to dace on every little whim. It is the teachers and school staff that will be having the relationships with the children not the head teacher so I'm not concerned with never seeing him. My daughter has come on leaps and bounds since starting at the school and couldn't be happier so personally I think if you have been offered a place you are incredibly lucky as by the time your child starts they will be at an outstanding school.

[intexasatthe moment]

The head plays THE role in determining the ethos ,life and success of a school . The kind of relationaship that teachers and school staff have with pupils will be determined by the head's approach and attitude .

I don't think anyone has suggested that they expect the head to be available to have face to face chats about whims .Just that they'd like to meet him as part of the process of visiting and choosing a primary school . Seems reasonable to me and hardly an either the head concentrates on improving a school or he's there as part of his team showing potential pupils' parents the school . Surely he can do both ?

[Coach Beth]

I can only speak for our school but the Head at Goose Green - who is very well regarded and is now a national leader for education which means she goes into struggling schools to support and advise headteachers at those schools seems to get the balance right between the focus on management/leadership in the school and being accessible to parents and prospective parents. She leads the school tours for prospective parents, she speaks to parents and answers questions at monthly PTA coffee mornings and she is at the school gates at drop off and pick up three days a week where she can be seen having informal chats with parents.

[oimissus]

I have a similar feeling about Lyndhurst - it's the only school we toured where not even a teacher was on hand to speak to, let alone the head (the head was on hand for every other school tour - and we did about 7!). We've been offered it and are pleased, but mainly on reputation rather than any real feeling of how the school is run etc. I hope we'll get to meet some of the staff before our daughter starts!

[Norfolkvillas]

Hi all

Thanks so much again for taking the time to post and PM. It has really been invaluable to have your insights. Mr Voller's approach seems to have a 'marmite' aspect to it - parents seem to be hugely supportive of it or hugely not. Without being able to make my own impression, this leaves me with a 50% chance of falling into the latter category, which feels like quite a gamble.

I saw the newsletter in which they announced they would be rated outstanding at their next Ofsted (unsure of how they know this in advance but anyway) which is fantastic news for the school and I know must have involved lots of hard work and focus.

I'll keep thinking - deadline just a couple of sleepless nights away now....

[Belle]

My reading of the newsletter is that they are confident they will be oustanding, I'm not sure it's based on any evidence? but others who understand Ofsted more may correct me - perhaps interim checks have led to this conclusion?

[peggoula]

I went to a Heber tour 5 days before they got ofsted in (September 2013). And David Block said to all the parents they were confident they were going to get Outstanding on the next inspection. And we all know what happened to that...

I am not saying Goodrich is the same but you never know...

[Emski]

Amused by the title of the thread - my daughter is in Reception at Goodrich and I've never met the Head either. She seems to know him, however: "He has a grey jacket and lives in an office (!) and if you're naughty you have to go and see him."

I was not v impressed when we had a problem with the school and he refused to call me in person. In fairness it was an issue that he solved to our satisfaction, but I believe most other Heads would have offered a personal apology. I also definitely think Heads should be present at Open Days. However, in his favour, our daughter loves the school, and we're v impressed with her progress. My understanding is that he's turned things around but his methods aren't universally popular. He seems a 'no nonsense' type taken to extremes.

On the other topic, schools should have a good idea of what they'll be graded by Ofsted. Much of it is done by stats (how much 'value added' to children), so Ofsted will prob have a fair idea what grade they'll award before they even enter the school! Obvs this isn't a guarantee, and factors like behaviour management can impact. From the stats Goodrich have released to parents they should have a very good chance of Outstanding.

[Belle]

That's very helpful, thanks Emski.

[standswithfist]

I have called and emailed three times now to try to speak to my daughters teacher but nothing, no returned call or returned email! Not impressed!!

[Rubix72]

I think the head is great,he has transformed the school. He seems to be on the gate most mornings and you can speak to him then.

I think it is silly to expect to meet the head for an hour before you are actually even in the school. With 90 children in Reception,that would be 90 hours! The head of Harris Free school must have a lot of free time on his hands,but then they have not got any children yet. I want the head to spend time on improving teaching and raising standards.

I know there are a lot of parents desperate for a place at Goodrich including friends of mine and if you don't want the place I think it only fair that you let someone else have it.

[Norfolkvillas]

Hi Rubix72, I will of course be letting Southwark know to release my place asap (as soon as I've had confirmation that my acceptance of the other place has been received - hopefully tomorrow) and am really pleased that someone on the waiting list will gladly take it up.

It wouldn't be 90 parents all wanting a meeting though would it, as a good percentage of those places went to current parents at the school. And if the head was part of the tour, then he'd manage to meet multiple prospective parents at the same time.

I've had enough posts and PMs in response to my initial question to think I wasn't being unrealistic to expect to meet the head of the school at which I've been offered a place.

But I'm flattered that you joined the forum just now and made your first post in response to my question. It's funny, because only 5 minutes ago, this evening, I received an email from the office at Goodrich saying they'd guessed my forum username. It makes me think the two messages might be related, and that just makes me feel even more strongly that I've made the right decision.

[prit]

I can totally echo Emski's experience & was shocked that the head of a school would refuse to answer direct questions from a parent.

NorfolkV, I think the fact that they refuse to talk to you but can find the time to email you to say they guessed your username (WTF??!) suggests you've made the right decision. I would've hoped they had better things to do.

[snowboarder]

Goodrich are going through the forum guessing people's user names??!? Seriously?!?