by maxiebaby » Wed Jun 22, 2011 2:15 pm
We have a daughter at the Roche so can offer you our opinion based on nearly a year (warning, this is long).
I would say Hunnybunnymay's take on the school is spot on.
We too love the ethos: it is a small caring school with a family feel, it seems to cater very well to every individual child and try and bring out the best in each one.
Academically we are very pleased with the approach and our daughters progress. She is doing well and is also enthusiastic and inspired, which is an excellent sign that teachers are engaging the children.
It is also very hot on drama and they seem to do a lot of sport too, both things we were specifically looking for.
Ive seen less sign of the music and art to be honest. My impression (and it is just that) is that these things are perhaps not quite as strong as at some other schools, but it may just be a reflection of interests or age.
In terms of the downsides, I agree that the building is very cramped. Admittedly building work is starting soon, but the site is very small and there is little potential to expand. I think the impact will be fairly limited. It is also quite a scruffy, down-to-earth place, which has pluses and minuses.
For reasons of space, the school does not seem to have the same facilities, such as dedicated DT rooms or science labs, as I have seen in some other schools. And it does not have space for a kitchen, so school dinners are out. It does, however, have a small art building, rooms for individual music lessons, an ICT lab and use of Wandsworth Park 5 minutes away for frequent games lessons.
So from a space/facilities perspective I think it does fall short of schools like Finton House or Newton Prep for example (I have little knowledge of others).
As to whether it is old fashioned, I guess it probably is in a way. But not in a stuffy way. One thing I like about the school is that children are allowed to be children, and there is litle formality. Academically though, yes the children do sit in rows in old fashioned wooden desks (really took me back) and the approach is more traditional than in the State school our daughter was previously at. But I think it is more academically rigorous, focuses well on mastery of the basics as a starting point, and I see only positives in that.
Only you can decide what is most important to you: the general ethos/feel and standards or the facilities.
It certainly seems to be a good fit for our rather unconventional daughter who I could not envisage in a very formal environment. She is happy and settled after nearly a year and enjoying both the academic and additional activities.
Hope this is helpful and good luck in your decision making.
We have a daughter at the Roche so can offer you our opinion based on nearly a year (warning, this is long).
I would say Hunnybunnymay's take on the school is spot on.
We too love the ethos: it is a small caring school with a family feel, it seems to cater very well to every individual child and try and bring out the best in each one.
Academically we are very pleased with the approach and our daughters progress. She is doing well and is also enthusiastic and inspired, which is an excellent sign that teachers are engaging the children.
It is also very hot on drama and they seem to do a lot of sport too, both things we were specifically looking for.
Ive seen less sign of the music and art to be honest. My impression (and it is just that) is that these things are perhaps not quite as strong as at some other schools, but it may just be a reflection of interests or age.
In terms of the downsides, I agree that the building is very cramped. Admittedly building work is starting soon, but the site is very small and there is little potential to expand. I think the impact will be fairly limited. It is also quite a scruffy, down-to-earth place, which has pluses and minuses.
For reasons of space, the school does not seem to have the same facilities, such as dedicated DT rooms or science labs, as I have seen in some other schools. And it does not have space for a kitchen, so school dinners are out. It does, however, have a small art building, rooms for individual music lessons, an ICT lab and use of Wandsworth Park 5 minutes away for frequent games lessons.
So from a space/facilities perspective I think it does fall short of schools like Finton House or Newton Prep for example (I have little knowledge of others).
As to whether it is old fashioned, I guess it probably is in a way. But not in a stuffy way. One thing I like about the school is that children are allowed to be children, and there is litle formality. Academically though, yes the children do sit in rows in old fashioned wooden desks (really took me back) and the approach is more traditional than in the State school our daughter was previously at. But I think it is more academically rigorous, focuses well on mastery of the basics as a starting point, and I see only positives in that.
Only you can decide what is most important to you: the general ethos/feel and standards or the facilities.
It certainly seems to be a good fit for our rather unconventional daughter who I could not envisage in a very formal environment. She is happy and settled after nearly a year and enjoying both the academic and additional activities.
Hope this is helpful and good luck in your decision making.
