Forum Topic

Acton high school

Secondary league tables 2011: shows acton high school been ranked in lowest 200 schools in UK for GCSE results.Befor we talking about clean streets or better parking places it seems the people in acton forgot about thier school!The school is going from bad to worst and no one out there raising the voice to do something about it.why and why the council force us to send our kids there while the school can't assure us that our kids receive the right type of education.whose fault is it parents,Ealing council or eduction minister?

Imad Hassan ● 5312d42 Comments

It must be difficult for some children whose parents have migrated here and don't speak a word of english.My eldest son came away from Acton High with over ten good gcse's,my other two children are in the process of doing there's,predicted ten gcse's A-C with two distinction's.Could blame the other school's for taking all the bright pupils,or parent's for not sending them to Acton high in the first place.

Ricardo Pelc-Wesoly ● 5312d

Here we go again - Acton High School bashing!So, Acton High School isn't the country's best school, but those of us who have sent their children there in the past, and many who are sending their children now, are happy with the school.Last years results may have dropped, but the school had a difficult year. The school has a large percentage of children with English as a Second language and over 25% 0f children with a statement of special educational needsThe council is not forcing you to send your child anywhere. Why not apply for the London Free School? If you really want your child to go to the best school in the country it boils down to one thing - money.I don't blame the school for the lack of attainment by the pupils - if your child has the willingness to learn and do well, they will do it at any school. If your child wants to mess around and not learn, then no matter where they go they will not achieve good results. Parents have a role to play in the educating of their children too, such as ensuring homework is done, coursework is handed in on time, children revise for their exams in a suitable environment - not in their bedroom with an Xbox, a tv, computer etc etc., and by supporting the child and the school.

Amanda Knights ● 5312d

What's the school's OFSTED rating?Not that it tells you much but it shows whether the problems are measurable.Derwentwater is dead chuffed at having just got a "good"

Sara Nathan ● 5312d

Their last Ofsted rating was 'good' - so not a school that was 'failing' or needing special measures or anything!

Amanda Knights ● 5312d

At one point in the not too distant past Acton High was rated outstanding by OFSTED yet that still wasn't enough to convince a large number of local parents to send their children there. Having lots of children who speak English as a second language is not necessarily an excuse for poor results. A recent report showed that in the state system they outperform native speakers at GCSE.Whatever the actual qualities of Acton High there isn't much dispute that it has lost the confidence of a large number of people in the area. The only way to get this back would be a switch to academy status.

Andy Jones ● 5309d

Would switching to Academy status definitely do it?How?

Sara Nathan ● 5309d

Hi everyone thanks for replaying,sorry if i offended anyone...i have an issue, my son been offered place at acton high, the moment he knew he never stop crying and begging me not take him there or accept the offer.he is so scared and his friends tell him you going to  rubb*** school, aghhhhhh etc.The council gave me no choice take it or leave it.my son been teased at school by his friends (cry is the case every night).what can i do, i need help and advice the council turned deaf they dont want to speak about it ...i am not fussy or picky but i can't force my son to go to school he dosen't want!!!i don't know what to do.my son is talent he has private tutor and goes to explore learning center twice a week,he worked very hard for the past years he deserves a good school,his grades are 5A for math and english now and he is not even finished year 6 yet.. he is way above average is that fair!!!

Imad Hassan ● 5309d

You can appeal - though I don't know how and it's not often very successful.Or you can make the best of it - try and meet the head-teacher, the chair of governors, the parents of other children going in the same year.Does your son know anyone else going? Can you prepare them together?Our next door neighbours' boys all went to Acton High and all turned out well: one secondary school teacher; one tree-surgeon and one still at uni and a European champion kick-boxer. All is not lost.

Sara Nathan ● 5309d

'Would switching to Academy status definitely do it? How?'The school is undersubscribed so ends up with a disproportionate number of children that require more resources to teach e.g. recently arrived to the country, excluded from other schools or being moved by social services. The impression that some local parents have is that it is a bit of a 'dustbin' school where the LEA puts all its problem pupils. If the school had greater control over its own admissions and managed to attract a higher proportion of the local community back its reputation and results would improve. Burlington Danes is the obvious local template for this.That children can and do go to the school and thrive is irrelevant - the problems are largely about perception. Academy status would provide the opportunity to change this.

Andy Jones ● 5309d

Thanks sara,yes two children from his class been offered places at acton high and they turn it down.i spoke to couple of parents who have kids at Acton high now and they said they will take their kids out at first opportunity....very encouraging ehhhhhhh!!!

Imad Hassan ● 5309d

Andy, I'm not really across this - what can Imad do - if anything?

Sara Nathan ● 5309d

the problem now september comes ..my child will be without school, i am worried sick sleepless nights already.anyone been in this situation befor advice please.

Imad Hassan ● 5309d

Imad, over the coming months, well into the autumn school term, year 7 children will be shifting places as some decline places they've been given and take up others.  You may find that even without an appeal, you receive an offer from a school higher up on your selection process.  The important thing is to contact the schools you prefer and make sure your son's name is on their waiting list.  Surprising, really, how quickly the schools move down their waiting lists.  Good luck.

Kim Bobsin ● 5309d

thanks everyone you are very kind..

Imad Hassan ● 5309d

Twyford is the obvious alternative but its horribly over-subscribed.On the assumption that Imad is from an Islamic tradition this doesn't rule Twyford out - as I understand it there are a number of places for people from world religions and there aren't enough practicing Anglicans in the area to fill the school.There is the King Fahad Academy if he wanted a Muslim education but he would have to pay.Toby Young's school may be an option but once again it's very over-subscribed.

Andy Jones ● 5309d

Thanks Andy,we did apply to twyford on world faith band,unfortunately after scoring 26 points which required to gain place, we missed out by 300 yards on distance criteria...awfulKing Fahad Academy  is not a option for me for lot of reasons

Imad Hassan ● 5309d

Is the 300 yards rigid? Or might a place come up - as Kim suggests - nearer the time?

Sara Nathan ● 5309d

my son went to East Actom primary school then on to Acton High school where he achevied 11 GCSE a-c grades and then went onto West Thames college to get 3 a levels grade B.B.C so I think the parents have to have some of the responsilbility we sat with our son from an early age, read to him, encouraged him to read, sat and helped him with his homework, I was on the PTA commitee in Acton High school all through his time there , get involved , don't leave it up to others to educate your child, get involved.

Diana Oneill ● 5308d

Exactly Diana. My daughter went to Acton High, she has a First Class Honours degree and a Masters with Distinction and now has a good career. It can be done with lots of parental involvement and encouragement.

Chris Hurley ● 5308d

parental involvement and encouragement!!!!!Do you think we don't care about our kids? why i am doing all this then you tell meeeeeeeeee

Imad Hassan ● 5308d

Surely his friends at his school are partially to blame, how on earth if they don't go to the school do they know it's a rubbish school....perhaps your son should branch out and find who are his real friends...I am sure once settled in at Acton High your son will come to his own conclussion.

Ricardo Pelc-Wesoly ● 5308d

it is the reputation of school nothing else......

Imad Hassan ● 5308d

The reputation of the silent few...If your son want's to learn there is nothing stopping him from achieving his full potential....be positive in your outlook..all will be fine.

Ricardo Pelc-Wesoly ● 5308d

I am Chair of Governors at Acton High School. Our children went there and so did many of our friends' children. Almost all got on well and enjoyed it.A school's reputation is very fickle. Ours had been rising but last year our 'headline' GCSE results went down after some big improvements. I believe you have to take a longer view than just one year. The free school proponents, who had good media contacts, put about misleading claims about us which linger on despite our efforts to dispel them. The free school's Chair of Governors rarely fails to promote his school through his high media exposure. He, of course, formed his views being filmed outside our school and never asked to come and have a look round.To Imad Hassan - if you or your son didn't come to any of our open events last year, please get in touch with the school and arrange a visit. Our contact details are on our website athttp://www.actonhighschool.co.ukor send me a direct message via this forum.To those who think that becoming an academy will improve the school, the evidence is very mixed and currently draws largely on the experience of the failing schools that the last government turned into academies. It is likely that those schools would improve faster than the average anyway (it's a statistical feature). It will be a few years before we can be confident about the effect of academy status on schools in general.There's also something rather odd about an argument that seems to say: 'go academy so you can discourage families with less able children from applying'. But perhaps I'm old fashioned.Like most schools, however, we are keeping an open mind about academy status, particularly if it becomes the only route to bid for more money.

Guy Fiegehen ● 5308d

a.h.s.  Is a good school with fantastic kids attending it.If you are that worried about sending your son there why don't you  send him to a private school .

Tina Halpin ● 5308d

Tina,if you can pay the FEES i will be greatful,if not keep your comments to yourself.thanks

Imad Hassan ● 5308d

There's a website called Chiswick schools which might be helpful. I think its run by an individual lobbyinst but she seems to have gathered lots of information and advice.http://www.chiswickschools.co.uk/though didn't seem to be working this morning - it was a couple of days ago and probably will soon

Sara Nathan ● 5308d

Imad, I think that is a bit harsh to Tina. Her comment was quite in order. The idea of the forum is to share our views and comments - we may not always agree with each other, but that does not mean we should keep not share our thoughts. You may well not like the support for Acton High School, but there are people out there who do think that AHS is not the awful place some would paint it. If you are really concerned about your son's schooling, then why not consider going private? If he is very clever, then he may be able to get a scholarship, otherwise I am afraid other than lodging yet another appeal with the council you and your son may have to accept the place. Have you applied to the new free school? or Chiswick? or Hammersmith Academy?You say he has a private tutor - does this mean you are not happy with the teaching at his primary school either?

Amanda Knights ● 5308d

sorry if i offended anyone, but when you have your kid crrying every night and begging you not to send him to AHS it is a nightmare........okay,i have applied to the new free school,drayton manor,Hammersmith Academy,twyford high school,and even holland park. the answer is all oversubscribed.as for private it was hired to boost his ability as he got 5A grades in all subjects just in the first term..amazing

Imad Hassan ● 5308d

You come across as a very bitter man and I find it hard to believe that your son is crying every night at the thought of going to A.h.s.Maybe you should go along and have a look round and you will find out that it is not the dreadful place you are painting it.I think you will be pleasantly surprised !

Tina Halpin ● 5307d

Can I also again urge Imad Hassan to visit our school? We want to give you the opportunity to see what the school is really like and to meet our staff and students.

Guy Fiegehen ● 5307d

Wow - The gentleman has won his family a personal and public invitation from the Chair of Governors to visit the school!Whatever you finally decide please do go with your son to have a look around so you can make a more knowledgeable decision.  (It just has to be easier with a Year 6 than it is with a post Year 13 who has decent A levels but not the ones he wants for the subject he's decided he wants to study at Uni!) But been there done that now.Good Luck!

Philippa Bond ● 5307d

Mr Hasan, if I went on hearsay and rumour I would have kept my son at East Acton prmary until he was passed college age, you cannot judge a book by its cover. Listen to people who went there themselfs, had children go there and listen to Guy the Chair of Goveners, he has been a part of AHS for so long, take it from him go visit, get him to see some of the fantastic facilitys and meet the excellent teachers, then make your own mind up.

Diana Oneill ● 5306d

If I could live my life again I would never have sent my child to AHS - one of my biggest regrets. No doubt they'll bowl you over with the fantastic buildings! oh yes facilities to the hilt! but it is historically a 'bad school'. Back in my day, it was ranked 3 out of the baddest no.1 was faraday no. 2 twyford and 3. you've guessed it. Simply put: you can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear.I'm sure the school is happy with its mediocre performance and quite frankly rotten results but if I was you - I'd look elsewhere.That is my view.

T Beme ● 5304d

I am confused T Beme, do you mean that Faraday was the worst, Twyford second worst and Acton (whatever it was called then) third worst, or the reverse? When Faraday closed a lot of pupils transfered to Acton. I suspect Twyford contradicts your 'silk purse' comment??

Iain Muir ● 5304d

I don't know if Terri is right or wrong but, over the years the education system in this country has gone from bad to worse.  Having been educated in the 50s and 60s, we only had Grammar, High and Secondary Modern from the age of 11.  Discipline was enforced, you stood up when a teacher entered the classroom (your own form) and, waited outside other classrooms in a line of twos, until told to enter.  Core subject homework was given every week, along with other subjects, with failure to hand in was met either with detention or the cain/slipper.Teachers stood for no nonsense and, were fully trained.  None of this teaching assistant rubbish that seems to be the norm these days.  Are they qualified, have they had teacher training at higher level? What is all this A* GCSE, I only had the option of GCE and they were hard, no course work pillaged of the internet, you had to learn or fail.  Not even a calculator (abacus) to solve maths problems, all workings had to be shown.Maybe the education system should go back to the old ways, at least we could read/write and do mental arithmetic. and had respect for others.Rant over.

Nicola Howard ● 5304d

Yes, in that order. Faraday closed down after the 'Man Alive' expose and Twyford had to convert to CofE to recover from the rep they had.AHS never had the reincarnating transformation required!

T Beme ● 5304d

Selection by schools may seem a good idea until it is your child who is not selected. Don't let him feel rejected -  there are teachers who work very hard so every child has the chance to do as well as they can academically and flourish as they grow into maturity. League tables show exam results - not the story of each child. Look deeper to find the care and support that helps achievement.  There is no substitute for visiting a school. Negative hearsay - especially that from decades ago - and comments from your son's friends can be safely ignored. I really believe you and your son should visit, see the school at work and talk to the children - then decide for yourselves.

Jan Norman ● 5303d

you need to visit the school and get a feel for the place as well as the staff and learning environment.I am a secondary school teacher in another borough and always find that children flourish if they have the support of good parents behind them whatever school they go to as long as they feel happy with their surroundings(school envionment) and most teachers,if your son doesn't feel this when he goes through the door himself then appeal. good luck with your decision.

Lesley Russell ● 5303d

I visited the school during the day and saw classes in action.  I visited as I did other schools that I was prepared to consider as an option.  Unfortunately, I was not impressed and chose not to list it as one of my preferences.  We got none of our 6 preferences for our daughter and have been offered AHS as it is undersubscribed and considered to be our nearest high school. We have rejected it.  Technically our nearest school is Twyford but we were not prepared to attend a place of worship for 5 years or clean a church for 5 years to gain the necessary points.  We know of many who have done so and I mean no disrespect to those with genuine faith. The whole system is a mess.  I am guilty of contributing to it.  If we all chose our nearest high school, the intake would be such that children of all abilities, backgrounds etc would attend. That said, my nearest high school is Twyford and I would be happy for my daughter to go there!

Sandra jordan ● 5297d

So what happens if you turn down the only school you are offered?

Sara Nathan ● 5297d

She's on waiting lists although not all schools have released waiting list details yet.  We are hoping that she gets a waiting list place at one of our preferred schools.  We will also make appeals to two of the schools.  It can take some weeks for everything to settle and for schools to have a true picture of vacancies. Other than that we are keeping our fingers crossed and are prepared to keep her at home.  Friends of ours got a place in their preferred school in the second week of term when it became clear to the school that a child was not coming and they had not been informed.  Fortunately, this is our last child so we won't be doing this again!

Sandra jordan ● 5297d