Dear All,
I need your advice please.
My son's once lovely primary school has turned into a grim place over the last year: mass resignations, poor communication, an unfriendly head who distances himself from parents, dissatisfied parents, supply teachers and a new SATs orientated slant (away from the once creative, child-focussed approach).
My son is in Year 2 and has started getting dull, unimaginative work. He's a bright child (L2s at end Y1) and he's starting to complain that school isn't interesting anymore. I can't say I blame him. The work really is basic with very little attempt to differentiate (so class work now seems to be geared towards those who are struggling, with little attention paid to those who are ahead).
I've put his name down for three other local state schools - but there has been general parental flight and the waiting lists are long. I'm unlikely to get into two of them ever, and one of them could, possibly, have a place in Y4 or Y5. Or never. It's just not clear (it's a popular school and people tend to move near it). I've also considered moving, though it seems a bit extreme to move nearer to a school for the last few years of Primary - if I move now it should really be about Secondary..
So: Plan B. Private schools near my work (I work on the outskirts of the City). So far I've looked at Dallington, Charterhouse Square and Lyceum, but I really need some up to date parental opinions on these places. In particular:
- How much homework do these schools get. Do they have free time? Are they creative? Are the kids nice (polite, cooperative, snobby?). Are any of them exam factories? How much of an issue is outside space?
- Are the classes small/large? Is the teaching actually any good? Do they give proper attention to children and help them develop their interests?
- Re Dallington: A bit woo? What if my son likes science. Arts is all well and good, but do they have good teaching for maths and the like?
Is the head about to go - and is her replacement likely to be any good?
- Charterhouse Square School: run by a big company for last three years- so what's it like now (I know that three years ago it was a sweet school - but has it retained it's character or changed...and if so, for the worse?).
- Lyceum. Very strict, homework etc?
I don't have any ambition for my son to go to a super-selective private school. I'd be happy with a good state. I just want him to have his curiosity and eagerness to learn maintained and if possible expanded. Opportunity for fun, lovely teachers, nice kids.
Basically the state school that our local primary school once was...
Thanks