Any reviews about Ashcroft? Considering for Year 7 Post Reply

[Franny6]

Hi. we are in the process of applying for schools. We quite liked Ashcroft. I would like to have the views of parents who have kids there: how do you feel about the school? Academically, frienships. Do your kids feel safe? How are the teachers? any info will really help. Thank you!

[bunny20]

A friend of mine has two children there and is really happy with Ashcroft academy.

[Franny6]

It really helps thank you. I've read such horrible stories about other schools that seemed nice so I wanted to make sure that our first impressions and the reputation is good before submitting the application.
 

[SWtastic]

My son went to Ashcroft.  It's a good school but doesn't suit everyone.  It's very strict and they dish out a lot of detentions to get students in line, which can be a little demoralising for students at times, especially new ones.  I work at another school and we always get a few in year transfer requests from Y7s and Y8s who have gone to Ashcroft but can't hack the discipline.  

I found the approach of the school quite cold - from Head's talk to contacting reception - and they can lack the human touch sometimes e.g. giving my son a 15 hour catch up detention for missing two days of school to attend a family funeral out of London.  They get good results though. 

They were excellent at supporting my son through his GCSEs and his Head of Year in the upper years was great.  Go in with your eyes open as if a student isn't making the grade, they won't be kept on for 6th Form which can be a shock for some parents (and students). 

We didn't send our daughter there as it wouldn't have been the right school for her and she didn't like it when we looked around but we are glad our son went there.  He didn't stay on for 6th form out of choice as he wanted a change and to go to a specialist Sixth Form.

[Johomarr]

I am keen to hear views on the technology/science/STEAM in the school? My son say the aptitude test and is on the waiting list (we are out of catchment for the open places so further down) and maybe naively I thought this was because the school specialises in these areas but on the open day learned all students follow the same curriculum. Does you know if the curriculum offers more than other schools in DT and Science? My son is very into coding and was keen on this school because of its name but I am wondering if its actually any different to any other state comprehensive in terms of what they teach and offer?

Thanks

[SvetlanaU]

Hi, I wonder if your child got in this academy and if you have any feedback or any more information.

We were also under the impression that they would give more focus to DT/Computer Science/Coding. But at open evening it seemed that they only do the same as other academies?

[Stone11]

My son got a specialist place at Ashcroft a couple of years ago. When we enquired what it meant it didn’t seem to be any different to getting a normal place, no special classes or trips of anything, which we were a bit disappointed in.

I also agree with the previous posters view that the senior leadership team are very cold. Our son also has a chronic medical condition which requires him to have a mobile phone to monitor his condition and they refused to relax the no mobile phone policy despite us offering to get our hospital consultant to explain why this was essential. So needless to say, we opted for elsewhere and my son is very happy there and the school are very accommodating to his needs.

[avocado]

I used to teach at Ashcroft and I was under the impression that the ‘technology’ part of the school’s name was merely due to the fact that when they had their huge cash injection, when the school was first set up, they invested in lots of technology. For example, the science labs have a classroom section for theory and a separate section (the lab) for conducting experiments where they have plasma screens. In most schools, students conduct their experiments at the same desks they write at so it can become cramped.

Ashcroft is a fantastic school. Yes it is strict, but I’ve worked at other state schools and have come to realise that the only way you can get through content, without certain students ruining it for those that want to learn, is to have a calm and structured environment. Let the school do the hard work, so you don’t have to be the one trying to encourage them to do homework, arrive on time, be organised etc.

I agree that management seem cold, but I think they need to be so they’re able to control the potentially badly-behaved students. The result is a school body that has very little behavioural issues. Actual classroom teachers are not like that at all, they’re (mostly!) lovely. Teachers at Ashcroft are some of the most qualified teachers I’ve come across with a passion for their subject and for teaching.