Forest School

Our View

Highly successful East London independent school situated amidst leafy Epping Forest with unusual mix of single-sex and co-education, which excels at the extracurricular as well as the academic.

Warden

Since 2009, Mrs Sarah Kerr-Dineen MA (46), read English at Cambridge, post graduate studies at Oxford. Taught for Open University, at Kelly College, Tavistock, Oxford High School and St Edward's Oxford, where she was was a housemistress for six years and director of studies for five. Husband also in education; four children, 13-21, the youngest at Forest School.

Passionate about teaching and pupils' achievements outside the classroom as well as within. Sees Forest as an exciting and important school with happy children achieving well beyond what might be expected, in all areas.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Shari Lord [mailto:shari.lord@ntlworld.com]
Sent: 04 November 2009 12:14

Academic Matters

Boys and girls are taught separately from year 3 to year 11, so it is tempting to compare and contrast GCSE results. Tempting, but tricky to tease out any substantial differences. Most of the results are, as one would expect, impressive. 2009 results at GCSE were 25 per cent A* and 66 per cent A*/A. At A level in 2009, 54 per cent A and 81 per cent A/B – both sets consistently this good.

The vast majority of both sexes take three single sciences and most do very well. Maths tends to be much the most popular (and successful) A level choice, with English, history and the sciences next in line. Less mainstream possibilities are philosophy and government and politics, the latter another popular choice.

Part-time SEN support. Everyone is screened on the back of the MIDYIS test in the autumn of year 7 – some 50 pupils get individual education plans as a result and extra help. 'Parents can be cagey and worried, but dyslexia is not a reason for us not to offer a place, unless it is severe. However, we do need to know about it, so we can organise help.'

Games, Options, the Arts

Plenty of drama, music and sport going on. A new sports hall – which includes two swimming pools, a gym, fitness rooms and cricket gallery – was opened by HRH The Duke of York in 2007. 15 acres of sports pitches and tennis courts on site, plus more pitches a short walk through the forest. Strong reputation for boys' football and cricket – plenty of county and national players. The only school that has played in the FA Cup (in 1887). 'We've worked hard at getting girls' sport going well too,' said the previous warden, and the girls' rounders team includes an England International.

Inter-house music, drama, art and sports competitions are an important part of school life – six girls' and eight boys' houses. The new performing arts centre also hosts major co-ed drama performances. 'We can choose plays which suit boys (such as Journey's End) or girls (such as The Crucible), but there are also joint productions, like our big musicals.' Three orchestras, five bands and ten choirs, co-ed and single sex – 'You name me a mixed school where it is cool for boys to sing'. D of E and CCF popular; lots of money raised for charities.

Background and Atmosphere

Opened in 1834 with 22 pupils in a row of Walthamstow cottages. Now ten minutes' walk from Snaresbrook tube station, but still surrounded by Epping Forest. Buildings include a Victorian chapel, elegant Georgiana, seventies girls' school and a Hogwartsesque panelled dining hall, with a glitter ball still hanging from the rafters after the parents' disco. The Warden describes it as 'one school on two bases' (three including the prep school), with each base the centre of gravity for each school. But to avoid duplicating facilities, classes take place wherever works – which may well be in what is technically the other gender's school. Similarly, although staff are appointed to one school or another, most teach in both. A C of E foundation school – chapel services compulsory for all pupils, including the 25ish per cent of other faiths. 'Our chaplain is very skilled at being inclusive and invites many speakers from other faith groups. This is a school where you don't cherrypick what you want; we expect everyone to take part in everything.' Early-rising parents can breakfast here with their children from 7.30am.

Pastoral Care and Discipline

Plenty of carrots as well as sticks. Inevitable wobbles, but generally well-behaved children kept fairly firmly under control. Drugs are low on the radar scan; alcohol is higher. 'We have our problems but they are not, on the whole, the problems of affluence.'

Pupils and Parents

The catchment area ranges from Islington to Beckton to Woodford Green and out into Essex, so a good ethnic mix and plenty of street-wise East London pupils alongside those from gentler environs. Hugely supportive parents' association runs quizzes, fayres and balls, raising large sums for improving the infra-structure of the school. Ex-pupils include cricketer Nasser Hussain, footballer Quintin Fortune, writer and actor Sharat Sardana, author George Dangerfield, murderer Eric Brown, and first woman Chinook pilot Jackie Smiles MBE.

Entrance

By maths and English, plus interview, at 11+. Those with SEN may get extra time. 'The scripts of pupils with SEN are scrutinised specifically and sympathetically as part of the selection procedure,' says the school website. A few ad hoc places at 13. Those coming into the sixth form need at least six good GCSEs, four of them at grade B or above. Quite a few from the state sector at this stage.

Exit

In 2006, 19 of the 28 applying to Oxbridge received offers – the highest percentage of any school in London. Most years approximately 10 receive Oxbridge offers. More or less all leavers go to university with strong showings in medicine, law, economics, history and other proper subjects.

Money Matters

Offers the equivalent of 14 full scholarships and bursaries at 11 and eight half scholarships/bursaries at 16. Also four music scholarships (grade 5+), sixth form half-fee art and drama awards and four Ogden Trust sixth form scholarships for pupils coming in from state schools to study science.