Forum Topic

Really?

Seeing the article regarding Gunnersbury School wishing to go co-educational, my attention was caught by this gem..."The council report criticised the way the school handled the consultation saying that more meetings about the plan should have been held and that there was a lack of communication before the consultation was undertaken. However, its states that the way the school consulted was not in breach of Department for Education guidelines."My first thought was - well, of course they'd know wouldn't they               - not! Have they looked at their own 'consultations' recently?

Vanessa Smith ● 372d5 Comments

I have more than one friend who attended Gunnersbury in the eighties and they would be mystified by your claims of declining standards. It is delivering excellent results and is very over subscribed at the moment.The consensus appears to be that the school had been benefitting from a large intake from EU countries up until recently particularly Poland. This has declined sharply at a time when forward projections show declining school rolls generally. The school may remain oversubscribed for a few years but by the end of the decade there will be far more places than there are children. I'd be inclined to trust the judgement of a single sex school about what the future demand for single sex school places are likely to be.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 369d

Gunnersbury’s results would probably improve if it went co-ed, given that girls are generally better academically to GCSE, five percent on avera.The objections from other schools smack of self-interest. Parents usually choose the school best suited for their child (allowing for catchment rules) and there are plenty of Catholic parents who would still opt for single sex ones.Where a lot of schools fall down is pastoral care. One lad I know was at Gunnersbury and effectively dropped out at 15. The school did nothing to help him, even though he was registered with them until post GCSE.I also know parents whose children have been excluded from school, or sidelined, because they didn’t fit in socially or academically. One is a child with serious issues stemming from a troubled early life and the school in question ignored all social service recommendations and chucked her out. Not great for a 14 year old who’s bright but troubled.

Simon Hayes ● 370d

Was the 5th best state assisted RC school in the Greater London area in the 1970sAnd a Grammar School until around 1973.In the main Hounslows schools have been pretty good. It needs to stay that way.

Raymond Havelock ● 370d

What rank is Gunnersbury school?Gunnersbury Catholic School - OFSTED/Diocesan ReportsThrough their visit on 17-18 January 2023, Ofsted have determined that Gunnersbury Catholic School is 'Outstanding'.18 Jan 2023

Guy Lambert ● 371d

Gunnersbury was a top school that has gradually diminished in its status and standards since the early 1980s. It is far from a local school with students from a very wide catchment area and was surrounded by Girls schools and Co-Ed schools. Parents fought tooth and nail to get their sons into this school and equally their daughters into single sex schools. Competition was fierce. But Gunnersburys standing in overalls excellences has dipped up and down for the past 35 years.Changing demographics maybe? The antics of the Catholic Church maybe? Who knows but as the school report often say 'Could do better'  Certainly where standards apply in creating all round, well balanced lads, the same goes for it's correlating girls school.

Raymond Havelock ● 372d