Kingsdale v Charter! (Advice please!)

[Debi]

I have a son in Year 10 at Kingsdale and another who started in Year 7 in Sept 09. Over the years, I've watched the school go from strength to strength. It was clear to us when our eldest started there that it was already a very good school but public perception hadn't kept up with the astonishing improvements. I'm delighted to say that's no longer the case and it is now (deservedly) one of the most popular and over-subscribed schools in the area.

The most recent school newsletter included letters from Tessa Jowell, Vernon Coker and Diana Johnson (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Schools) congratulating the school on the recent results. You can see the full text here http://www.kingsdale.southwark.sch.uk/news.html

TJ said: ... you have achieved one of the largest sustained improvements in the country of pupils achieving 5 A-Cs inc English and Maths

VK said: you are amongst the top performing schools this year based on sustained improvement

DJ said: ... commitment, hard work and persistence ...led to positive and improved exam results

There is no 'one size fits all' so it's always possible that the school may not suit every child. However, I personally know of several cases where a child has left the school - and then wants to come back almost straight away - in at least one case after only a week.

Batgirl - I don't think it's very helpful to post that bald statement without any clarification or context. Feedback from parents who are very happy with the school and who are willing to back up their perceptions with hard facts is far more trustworthy IMO.

[village people]

We have a daughter in year 8 at Kingsdale who is extremely happy there and as parents knew very early on that we had made the right decision in sending her there. She has flourished since then, has a large group of friends and has never had any experience of bullying.

Yes, you will find that some of the teachers are strict but to me that is something to be applauded. I work in a secondary school and see the difference it can make when a teacher has the respect of the students.

I know of two children in my child?s year group who left. They have both returned, with one of them coming back from Alleyns. I also know of someone moving their child in year 9 from Haberdasher?s Asks in New Cross to Kingsdale.

[sillywoman]

> Batgirl - I don't think it's very helpful to post

> that bald statement without any clarification or

> context. Feedback from parents who are very happy

> with the school and who are willing to back up

> their perceptions with hard facts is far more

> trustworthy IMO.

Yes, I agree, hence the request for more info. It may be that the Mum just wanted the facilities a private ed could give her son & realised she'd made the wrong choice by going state. Kingsdale has, as you say, gone from strength to strength over the last few years.

[CaroSwannie]

I have a son in Year 8 at Kingsdale - he is extremely happy, feels cared for and is being stretched academically. He is a keen musician and the facilities and opportunities in the Music Department are outstanding.

My experience as a parent has been excellent in terms of communication between individual members of staff who I have found always to be approachable and supportive.

My second son is less gregarious than my eldest but I have every hope that he will be cared for as much as Ben and settle in very well. Despite it being a large school they care for the children as individuals and nothing seems to be too much trouble.

It is a rapidly improving school academically, too, and within the next few years this can only continue to rise.

I would recommend it unreservedly.

[batgirl]

My apologies if my post offended anyone, at the time I started to post I recieved some bad news. In haste and whilst not thinking clearly submitted my comment. That said Debi I don't think it is fair to assume one is unwilling to "back up their perceptions".

I do not have personal experience of Kingsdale and am only sharing what I have been told,I also appreciate that not all experiences are the same.

My friend removed her child due to bullying and lack of communication.Her suspicions were aroused when her child stared feigning illness. Unkonwn to him she went to the school to find out what was going on. They informed her that there had been several incidents of her son being bullied although she understands this happens in all schools she could not understand why the school at not informed her. They had no answer as to why she had not been contacted,therefore she removed him.

A college of mine also removed her child from Kingsdale when in was in year 11. Her son had also experienced bullying,the final straw came when her son refused to hand over his new coat to said bully, the bully then slashed his coat with a stanley knife while he was wearing it. This incident did happen two years ago so things may have changed.

[tallgirl]

Friends of mine with children at Kingsdale are extremely happy with it, one had moved her son to Kingsdale due to bullying at his previous school. From what I have gathered the intake to the school has been changing over the last few years as the school has grown in popularity. There has been a snow ball effect in terms of results/behaviour/oversubscription etc. There is now a huge buzz on the street amongst parents in ED, Nunhead and Honor Oak (well certainly amongst year 6 parents!)

[Debi]

We can all only speak from our own experiences and mine have been unfailingly positive. I'm not saying there have never been any instances where we have needed to contact the school about a specific concern. The point is that on every occasion (and they have been few and far between and none of them what I would describe as actual bullying) the response has been all that we would wish for. We have been listened to and supported - and more importantly, our children have been made to feel they are safe and cared for.