Alderbrook vs Ravenstone

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Broken Dad
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Alderbrook vs Ravenstone

Postby Broken Dad » Mon Feb 09, 2015 3:58 pm

I am torn between the two. Has anyone got any good/bad/indifferent/silly/amusing but essentially sensible comments to make?

Alderboork seemed less good some time ago and since then seems to have improved. Ravenstone was great but recently had a bad OFSTED report however may now also be improving.

Newish to this. Please be gentle.

Thank you

BD
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Mummymoo
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Re: Alderbrook vs Ravenstone

Postby Mummymoo » Mon Feb 09, 2015 4:23 pm

Hi,

My daughter is in Year 1 at Alderbrook and my second daughter is due to start there in Reception in December. I was torn between Ravenstone and Alderbrook but when I looked round both, I was more impressed with Alderbrook (also I live a bit further away from Ravenstone).

I have been very happy with Alderbrook. I can get there in under 2 mins, usually running/dragging two wilful girls with me... and that makes my life a lot easier. My advice is to go to the school closest if possible, it is especially good for being able to see other parents after school or 'playdates'.

I think the children/families in each year group make a big impact on your experience of a school and that is out of your control. If you are able to find out who is likely to be starting with your child, that is always a comfort.
Also, I would be interested in meeting the teachers because I feel we have been blessed with very competent teaching at Alderbrook so far.

I don't know much about Ravenstone. Things go in cycles, Ravenstone had possibly been at its peak for as long as it could be... I think Alderbrook is on the up because the rumour mill has finally allowed it to be a good school, Ravenstone will be back in a few years! I don't think much of the OFSTED report, when I read them I thought they lacked structure/regulation/a standardised approach.

So, all I can say is that Alderbrook has worked for us, my daughter is happy and, at the age of 5, alarmingly better informed than me on many topics...

Good luck
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3boysrock
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Re: Alderbrook vs Ravenstone

Postby 3boysrock » Mon Feb 09, 2015 5:04 pm

I have 3 boys at Ravenstone, and they are all thriving and very happy.

We have found the quality of teaching to be excellent and I am always happy to promote the school which I believe to be fundamentally a good one. Specialist PE, Music and language teachers, fantastic record of athletics and swimming, good during- and after-school clubs, fantastic community and nurturing atmosphere, good food (from what I hear), and what I believe to be the right amount of homework. I rarely get the "I don't want to go to school" days thankfully, and the website tells me all I need to know about what they are getting up to during the week.

Presently in the process of recruiting a new head for September 2015, we are in very capable hands with an Executive Headteacher and Associate Headteacher who are determined, along with the staff and Governors, that the school should continue to thrive. And no, I'm neither a member of staff nor a Governor!

I too read the OFSTED report closely when it came out, and was among many parents who did not despair. I have every confidence that improvements presently being implemented are well-timed and can only lead to better things.
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Mummymoo
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Re: Alderbrook vs Ravenstone

Postby Mummymoo » Mon Feb 09, 2015 5:11 pm

Mummymoo wrote: I don't think much of the OFSTED report, when I read them I thought they lacked structure/regulation/a standardised approach.
Just to clarify, I don't think much of OFSTED reporting in general, don't rate it as being an accurate view of a school and felt that Ravenstone was given an unfairly hard time.
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JustSW17
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Re: Alderbrook vs Ravenstone

Postby JustSW17 » Tue Feb 10, 2015 1:29 pm

I echo 3boysrock's points entirely.

I have 3 children at Ravenstone and it is a great school. I am a demanding parent and expect my children to achieve. Ravenstone creates a happy, nurturing atmosphere where children achieve.

The Ofsted report seemed to focus on criticisms of processes and procedures at the school (e.g., not tracking progress properly and lack of leadership) rather than the quality of the teaching - which, in my mind is excellent.

There is a very interesting article in today's Daily Mail about a headmaster retiring after getting fed up with the box-ticking requirements of Ofsted (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... s-job.html). Whilst I shouldn't speculate on the reasons for Alan Millington's early retirement, it wouldn't have surprised me if I have had read that article with the words "Hadleigh Community Primary School" and "Neil Jackson" replaced with "Ravenstone School" and "Alan Millington" respectively.

The new temporary headmistress is a processes and procedures woman who will make the improvements that Ofsted feels are necessary. We just have to hope that she does this without affecting the happy, inclusive, nurturing school that Alan Millington created.
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