Hill House International School

Genevieve is furious too and vented her spleen in the Daily Mail!

There is a huge problem with hill house. All you need to do is talk to the teachers at the 'bottom' of the process, and the the pupils who use to go there. I myself was a pupil at Hill House, and I can say for sure that my opinion of the school is shared with many. Hill House fails to prepare pupils for rigorous competition which takes place in the last couple of years at the school. yes, the children are happy, but we were only happy because the teacher used to walk in ten minutes late every lesson, and we would run around and throw things around the room. The teachers are simply not paid enough, and that is the reason why the school has changed so quickly. A couple of years ago, Hill House had some perfectly capable teachers, now the best teachers have left the school. The teachers have no motivation to teach, and Hill House is seriously struggling. No wonder all ex pupils want to see the school get shut down.

I chose to have both my children at Hill House having attended the School myself. Fortunately, neither my Parents or I consulted OFSTED when making such an important decision about my Children's education and ultimately their future. I could not have made a better decision. Hill House has not only provided my Children with an excellent education and happy memories but instilled manners and values which seems to have by large disappeared in the Britain of today. As with all Hill House boys and girls, my children are strikingly confident, independent, cultured and well mannered. The Government gives far too much discretion to regulatory bodies, social workers and family judges who are generally vindictive and have their own agenda. It is a shame they do not spend more time and money raising the appaulling standards at our state schools rather than publishing flawed and vindictive reports about an oversubscribed School with proven results since 1912.

The trouble about what passes for discussion on forums like this is the immoderation. You assert confidently that "any negative comments are being deleted here". I don't know what has been deleted and by whom, but the contributions from "M. Poole" and "Alison Moore" which you endorse are plainly on display for all to see. Has your own comment been deleted, for that matter? The fact that I am replying to it strongly suggests otherwise! I suspect that it is also the perceived lack of moderation on the part of Ofsted that has riled so many, including those parents who in other circumstances would be first in line to level constructive criticism at the school over one issue or another. Here is just one quote from the Ofsted report: "The specialist teachers for music and sport have good subject knowledge, as do a small minority of other teachers." The claim that a "small minority" of tutors other than music and sports teachers know their subjects well - made on the basis of two inspectors' sitting in on barely more than a dozen lessons over a period of three days - is a glib, poorly-evidenced generalization about an academic staff that numbers about 90 (not including music and sports). It is not surprising then that the term "vindictiveness" has crept into the discussion. When a sweeping conclusion is proclaimed without reference to strong empirical evidence, it is legitimate to question the motives of the authors in presenting a hypothesis as if it were observable fact. Patently, there is more to this report than meets the eye, and the real reason why the two inspectors decided to adopt what can only be described as guerrilla tactics against the school is, for the time being at least, anybody's guess. The truth may yet be told. There are a number of factors at play in the current furore - people's instinctive and understandable loyalty to a cherished and unfairly put-upon institution, a mismatch between the report’s findings and parents’ own subjective perceptio

I have observed exactly what Ed is talking about and i would like to add that although i didn't believe this initially, teachers who struggle in the state sector go to teach in private. And get paid less. It is completely counterintuitive, private schools should afford and attract better staff. That doesn't happen however as schools are run like companies that minimise costs and maximise profitability. I would also like to point out the staff response quoted in the report: 'The staff questionnaire responses confirm this lack of support. More than half of the teachers either disagreed or disagreed strongly that leaders promote their professional development.'

I left this school Not long Ago and Can safely say this OFSTED report is a bunch of rotten apples! The School is just fine. They served excellent lunches, Always marked our Tests with a day(even Exams) and inspired us to keep on our tracks. We didn't lag behind in Education. We were a year AHEAD. You shouldn't base your opinions on an OFSTED report but instead on EXPERIENCE.

In the USA we would have OFSTED in the dock by now for a host of issues .

You seem to assume that all statements in the inspection report are accurate and correct. But the report is very one sided and very light on factual evidence. In what way are procedures flawed or not implemented? To which specific risks are the pupils exposed? Which details are missing in the records? When pupils are taught in small classes can the teachers really not be aware of pupils’ progress? The report states that inspectors have attended only 14 lessons. How many lessons are taught every day at HH? It is all too easy to write that something is not “effective” or not “routinely” done but without defining measures of effectiveness or required frequency these are just subjective opinions. As to its “vindictiveness”, I think the tone of the articles in the national press has amply demonstrated the point. All schools can improve and HH is no exception. But this is not sufficient to “brand” a school as “inadequate” across the board. The report’s conclusions are not supported by the report itself as all positive aspects mentioned are then ignored.

Why don't the "dissatisfied" parents move their children ? The OFSTED parents comments section for HH indicates about 3% of respondents are not content. That scales up to about 25 people. Hardly a 'large' number. If you want a complaints "procedure", then try a State school. One if the reasons my brother stopped teaching in the State sector. Procedures, more rules, PTA nonsense. The teachers are hampered - at every step - from getting on with the job. It is blindingly obvious, by any measure, that HH staff do a very fine job.

Dear M. Poole, You appear to be saying you have children at the school, but it's not entirely clear. What year or years are they in? With best regards, W.Szatkowski

Mmmm. 'M.Poole' has one view. 800 people have another. It is obvious that 'M.Poole' is the one in denial. I suggest that 'M.Poole' is either an Ofsted stooge or a fool. Are they the same thing ? My son is very happy at HH.

Not sure that M Poole exists !

Interesting read: http://www.pressreader.com/uk/daily-mail/20150320/282316793524336/TextView

(My reply copied from Evening Standard article): Ofsted criticism is very harsh in its report of HH School. From having our child experience a former Govt school (now Academy school where our child had huge learning and behavioural difficulties) before we decided to move them to HH. Our child has shown massive academic improvement in every subject, not to mention a mature and polite self confidence with their own sense of individuality and self awareness. We could not rate HH higher than the happiness and support given to our child with its core emphasis on a mix of creative and interactive learning. Sure, the school is located in a mix of old buildings which is more akin to Hogwarts but that is part of its charm, character and history, before the onset of OH&S regulations where everyone has to wear high-viz vests. A brilliant school with excellent teachers whom we have regular contact with about our child's progress.

I emailed the petition to the Headmaster & Mrs Bright and will send them all the wonderful comments at the end of today. Thanks so much for your great addition. Chris (petition organiser)

This report seems to highlight all that is wrong with Britain today. Bland & dumbed-down with a sole focus on pre-assigned targets, rather than celebrate any free-thinking or creativity. I have had 3 children at Hill House and as well as an excellent education & happy memories they all have confidence, independence & good manners instilled in them by the school that a report like this totally fails to value.