Woodford County High School for Girls High Road, Woodford, Woodford Green IG8 9LA

"I passed the exam and I am going to Woodford County this September. I was looking through the reviews to see what it is like and I am terrified. My excitement of going there has died down but it is too late now. Can someone that actually went to this school please give an honest review about how it is like?"

"Incredibly inconsiderate of students' well-beings especially during a time like this, we're in the middle of a pandemic and teachers are hassling students for work and keeping their expectations higher than they would if students were still in school, while giving them barely any guidance whatsoever. I understand this is an unusual situation and everyone is stressed but can you imagine how the students feel?"

"So, I am in Year 9 currently and the past 2-3 years of my life at woodford have not been great. Firstly, before i came to woodford i was a very confident, person however since joining woodford i have changed so, so, much. I have become socially awkward, i have social anxiety and i get panic attacks when trying to ask to use the toilet. I cannot put my hand up in class because I'm so scared of the criticism from classmates and being wrong. I have become very shy and introverted because of the hostile atmosphere at woodford and I wish I could go back to the person I was before. The amount of confidence I have lost from teachers (won't name any just In case) degrading me has affected my personal life massively. Secondly, the teaching at woodford is NON EXISTENT. In fact, in some classes, teachers leave you with the powerpoint and work and leave the classroom for the whole lesson. Teachers are also NEVER IN and we have cover lessons where we sit down and copy notes from textbooks at least 2-3 times a week. The teachers do NOT know how to teach, all they have to do is pull out a powerpoint from 2010 and tell us to copy down stuff from the board. Thirdly, school life is very dull and boring. There isn't a wide range of extra curricular available here and the range of sports we play isn't very exciting. We don't have drama lessons, which i think is a big problem. Instead, there is FAR too much emphasis on the core subjects and exams. We are told that we need to perform well because we are a GrAMMaR sCHOOL but infact all they care about is league tables. People in my class who are actually smart are HEAVILY tutored. Lastly, i'd like to talk about the lunches. the lunches at this school are A T R O C I O U S. i remember once the canteen was selling a small pot of 5 minature carrot sticks (yes i counted) for A POUND! A small square sized cut of a cake, brownie or flapjack is £1.10. A SMALL SQUARE. EVERYTHING, i tell you is overpriced and students like me have been complaining about this for a-g-e-s. The hot lunches are SO bad, they run out of food by 3rd bell and we usually have raw pasta with watery pasta sauce 4 days a week, and we are still charged an abominable price. I don't think we have ever had anything new for lunch in all my years at Woodford. In short, don't let the words 'grammar school' fool you. Don't send your child here please. Teachers will knock all the self-confidence and self-esteem you have. You will be bombarded with essays and algebra from foreign teachers who are unable to speak english, and young interns who will probably get fired in a few months. i swear to god this school hires people they find in Aldi."

"I had to remove my daughter from this school; she self harmed. The place is so toxic that they might as well put a Radio Active sign on the entrance gate. Will not recommend, mental health and well-being should come first before any misguided sense of excellence."

"I would ask past and present pupils and parents to please continue to post reviews on this school. I have a clever year 5 daughter and I am considering sending her here. Georgina's post has made me think twice. Very eloquently expressed G! Also ATPU555: I have heard the same thing from a parent and I cannot afford a tutor and do not see why I should have to get one if my daughter passes the test. The schools prospectus states the school offers extra help to struggling students and talks a lot about encouraging personal development and pastoral care which I think is very important. However I would like to hear from the girls themselves!"