See all schools in Burghfield Common, Reading RG7
The Willink School
Secondary · Maintained · Reading
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7th form
a true gem of a school for any "socially responsible parent"
we have looked at over 10 secondary schools for our son and no other school came even close to WILLINK. The new head mistress is a top professional and can only be described an "energiser" and visionary. Bulling is dealt with at its root, teachers take each pupil like their own, no task or question is too small, so far everything is going perfectly for our 7th form joiner. Touch wood
very bad
zero emotional support as they claim to have a "learning support center that students can go to whenever" but it is locked. since i have joined the willink my mental health has become wores and worse, not at all helped by the level of bullying and homophobia i have had to deal with while the teaches do nothing, prefering to deal with the bigger dramas and supporting the bully. in the anti bully assemblies they dont realise that its a absolute joke as they are telling it to the bullyies who just ignore them as they already know they are hurting people. but, the food is alright but dont send your kids here.
pretty bad
i have not liked it.at all. only good part is the food.
Ex-student
I was at the Willink for 3 years but ultimately chose to leave as the school only care about manufacturing the perfect employees and only cared about high grades and rarely cared about producing perfect grades. I had a relatively normal social life but when I faced social difficulties like bullying, I was ignored the school favouring to deal with the big dramas and putting me to the side. The quality of the education depended on how your teacher liked you and luckily I had relatively high grades but the mistreatment my friends faced in the same class was so clear.
In addition, the homophobia my friends faced at the hands of other students was never addressed by the Senior Learning Staff and the injustice was never dealt with, leaving the students to attempt to resolve it on its own.The teachers were alright at teaching but a lot had very “short fuses” or had no tolerance for internal social problems. The main problems faced by the Willink were a mistreatment of minority students, a love for handing out detentions and strict teachers that don’t care about the students personal life and “lashing out” due to missing homework.
But if I forgot my lunch money I could go home for lunch, so its kinda a redeeming quality if you live close to the school.
I understand that I may come off a bit negative as an ex-student but I feel it should be known.
Many thanks,
An Ex-student
In addition, the homophobia my friends faced at the hands of other students was never addressed by the Senior Learning Staff and the injustice was never dealt with, leaving the students to attempt to resolve it on its own.The teachers were alright at teaching but a lot had very “short fuses” or had no tolerance for internal social problems. The main problems faced by the Willink were a mistreatment of minority students, a love for handing out detentions and strict teachers that don’t care about the students personal life and “lashing out” due to missing homework.
But if I forgot my lunch money I could go home for lunch, so its kinda a redeeming quality if you live close to the school.
I understand that I may come off a bit negative as an ex-student but I feel it should be known.
Many thanks,
An Ex-student
Review
Overall it's ok, generally good teachers however it has it's share of problems the canteen is abysmal, overpriced, abhorrent tasting food and awful management of the queues. Language department is understaffed, there's no school trips for any subjects other than languages and the curriculum is very stale and uninspired.
one of the better in reading area
Good leadership from experienced staff, sixth form is esp good. Only downside is the bad Lang department.
Willink
I am a student at the willink school in year 10 at the start of year7 things where not amazing but they where not bad.
I could not finsh my education in the willink due to my mental health.
The things some of the staff said to me were discusting expecting the SAFE GARDING DEPT HEAD!!!!
He told me to not self harm in school do it at home he called my feeling pathetic and said they wasn’t valid.
There is no HELPFUL emotional support what so ever and the teachers have not been trained for people will additionall needs.
Lots of other kids have had the same problems with this school because my personal experience was bad we had to have lots of meetings wich took weeks to sort out the teachers do not answer you emails.
I could not finsh my education in the willink due to my mental health.
The things some of the staff said to me were discusting expecting the SAFE GARDING DEPT HEAD!!!!
He told me to not self harm in school do it at home he called my feeling pathetic and said they wasn’t valid.
There is no HELPFUL emotional support what so ever and the teachers have not been trained for people will additionall needs.
Lots of other kids have had the same problems with this school because my personal experience was bad we had to have lots of meetings wich took weeks to sort out the teachers do not answer you emails.
AQA, OCR, eduqas
Don't go to the willink
This school is very bad
My friend reviewed this as "at least they had chairs" :)
My friend reviewed this as "at least they had chairs" :)
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