Highgate Wood Secondary School

Current and ex parents; we had one child go through from year 7 to 6th form and second currently in gcse years.

Our eldest had a fairly good experience there, bit of a cool school, which suited him and in the end he managed to get on the course he wanted at uni (engineering); enough good teachers to make it work, but serious lack of provision during covid.

School cohort struggling to recover since covid as teachers not showing leadership. This year 24/25 they have been on strike (September, December and now 19+ days by April). They tend to chose Tues to Thursday as strike days and then the children say there are unqualified subs babysitting in on Mon/Friday.

The children are then told that the strikes are "for their own benefit" but know full well this is about the NFF and conditions (ie; teachers want less contact time than rest of country). What I hear is that they feel gaslit and are starting to loose respect/ play up in class. Especially as they get 1 hour detentions for being a few minutes late to class. There is much resentment brewing.

Many of the parents are seriously concerned about the effect it's having on education, especially at a school which already has a large cohort from disadvantaged families. Our son, who was initially predicted all 8's at gcse when leaving primary, is now bumping around grade 6/7 predictions. We will be leaving for A levels.

Very disappointed as I really wanted to give this school a chance and believe in the comprehensive system. However teachers need to understand that their behaviour and leadership is being observed and copied by the children.

The outcome of all these strikes and subs will be more disruption in class and those who can leave, will.

Very bad school. The hygiene in the school is absolutely unacceptable. Rats and mice roam around the school playground. The school is not maintained properly at all especially the SEN side they are still diagnosing students for disabilities in YEAR 11! This should have been done when they were in year 7. Very poor behaviour management in the school. Students roam around the school and not are not in lessons. They can be seen disrupting other classes. If you are a parent and want to bring your child here I would recommend you send them somewhere else.

I go to highgate wood school and I think this school was a great choice for me as I get as much education as I need and the teachers in the school remind me about the 4c’s which our school came up with (courtesy contribution cooperation consideration) they always tell us positive things and I feel safe in this school and I feel I can trust the teachers in my school!

It's OK but I wasn't allowed into the 6th form also there's a teacher who calls girls prostitutes and sluts

it’s not too bad LOL nice school innit