The German School
Catchment Area, Reviews and Key Information

Primary & Secondary
Post 16
PUPILS
864
AGES
3 - 19
GENDER
Mixed
TYPE
Other independent school
SCHOOL GUIDE RATING
Not Rated

How Does The School Perform?

Good
NATIONAL AVG. 2.09
Ofsted report
(24/05/2022)
Full Report - All Reports
DATA
GUIDE

Secondary Data
Explained for parents
Douglas House
Petersham Road
Petersham
Richmond
TW10 7AH
02089402510

School Description

Pupils say this school is a community where they get along with one another well. They are happy to play and socialise with pupils of different ages and to help one another. This happens during the school day as well as in after-school activities. Leaders have established high expectations for pupils’ learning. This is especially clear in the sixth form and early years, where the rich curriculum enables pupils to learn exceptionally well. Leaders also aim to ensure that all pupils leave the school fluent in German and English. This is because they want pupils to have the choice to further their education in either language. From the very start of school, children are encouraged to discuss their feelings with each other. Pupils are confident sharing their thoughts in classroom discussions. In the secondary school, leaders consider pupils’ views on a range of issues. For example, pupils vote for the teachers they want to report concerns or worries to. Pupils feel well cared for and safe in school. Pupils are taught about different types of bullying, and they discuss any incidents with their teacher. Pupils learn how to reflect on the impact of their behaviour on others. As a result, pupils learn to manage their own behaviour and bullying is rare. When it does occur, teachers resolve it quickly.

The German School Parent Reviews



Average Parent Rating


“Highly recommended”


Excellent school. Academically challenging with fantastic pastoral care. The teachers are incredibly supportive and the general athmosphere is very friendly. The school's current headteacher has introduced structural changes which improved social and emotional support and language learning, eg . the school now has four dedicated staff for social and emotional learning (an educational psychologist, a SEN specialist, a SEL coach/counsilor and a safeguarding officer). They run year long Social and Emotional Learning classes as part of the curriculum in several year groups and are highly supportive and on the ball. Most students have either English or German support lessons. The school is more much challenging academically than the top rated British secondary school my children transferred from. Learning targets are clear and the feedback is detailed. I disagree with the previous reviewer that the school is old fashioned in its educational approach. While it certainly is not HighTechHigh, pupils are expected to do much more team work and more presentations than in the British system. Students have to work continuously, which prepares them much better for their future work environment. Although Germany is failing miserably in the teaching of IT & technology, DSL adapted incredibly well to online teaching and offered excellent pastoral care during lockdown.
“Avoid”


Our son attended the German School for just over a year. He started in Year 4, which is the last year of primary school. Due to his academic abilities the head teacher decided that he should attend one year ahead of his age group, which was fine. He enjoyed those months a lot and developed nicely. Year 5, however, turned out to be a disaster: academically he continued to do fine, but the children are expected to carry around lots of books and binders, change rooms within the school building, manage with a 20-30 minute lunch break starting only at 13:40. Despite the average class size being only approximately 20, there is a lack of support, in my opinion, when children struggle (as our son did). Despite the attractions of a reasonably challenging curriculum (compared with English state schools, not good English independent schools), the dual language environment and the IB option at the end, the school comes across as old-fashioned in its educational approach and does not have a customer-centric attitude towards parents despite the high fees. Overall, this school was too German for us, despite our son's Dad being German!
86% Parents Recommend This School
Strongly Agree 63% Agree 29% Disagree 5% Strongly Disagree 2% Don't Know 0% {"strongly_agree"=>63, "agree"=>29, "disagree"=>5, "strongly_disagree"=>2, "dont_know"=>0} Figures based on 257 responses up to 03-06-2022
Strongly Agree 70% Agree 24% Disagree 4% Strongly Disagree 1% Don't Know 1% {"strongly_agree"=>70, "agree"=>24, "disagree"=>4, "strongly_disagree"=>1, "dont_know"=>1} Figures based on 257 responses up to 03-06-2022
Strongly Agree 43% Agree 42% Disagree 11% Strongly Disagree 2% Don't Know 2% {"strongly_agree"=>43, "agree"=>42, "disagree"=>11, "strongly_disagree"=>2, "dont_know"=>2} Figures based on 257 responses up to 03-06-2022
My Child Has Not Been Bullied 65% Strongly Agree 7% Agree 9% Disagree 10% Strongly Disagree 4% Don't Know 5% {"my_child_has_not_been_bullied"=>65, "strongly_agree"=>7, "agree"=>9, "disagree"=>10, "strongly_disagree"=>4, "dont_know"=>5} Figures based on 257 responses up to 03-06-2022
Strongly Agree 49% Agree 32% Disagree 14% Strongly Disagree 4% Don't Know 1% {"strongly_agree"=>49, "agree"=>32, "disagree"=>14, "strongly_disagree"=>4, "dont_know"=>1} Figures based on 257 responses up to 03-06-2022
I Have Not Raised Any Concerns 24% Strongly Agree 36% Agree 23% Disagree 11% Strongly Disagree 5% Don't Know 1% {"i_have_not_raised_any_concerns"=>24, "strongly_agree"=>36, "agree"=>23, "disagree"=>11, "strongly_disagree"=>5, "dont_know"=>1} Figures based on 257 responses up to 03-06-2022
Strongly Agree 26% Agree 19% Disagree 40% Strongly Disagree 16% Don't Know 0% {"strongly_agree"=>26, "agree"=>19, "disagree"=>40, "strongly_disagree"=>16, "dont_know"=>0} Figures based on 43 responses up to 03-06-2022
Strongly Agree 46% Agree 40% Disagree 8% Strongly Disagree 0% Don't Know 6% {"strongly_agree"=>46, "agree"=>40, "disagree"=>8, "strongly_disagree"=>0, "dont_know"=>6} Figures based on 257 responses up to 03-06-2022
Strongly Agree 51% Agree 35% Disagree 9% Strongly Disagree 2% Don't Know 2% {"strongly_agree"=>51, "agree"=>35, "disagree"=>9, "strongly_disagree"=>2, "dont_know"=>2} Figures based on 257 responses up to 03-06-2022
Strongly Agree 44% Agree 40% Disagree 13% Strongly Disagree 3% Don't Know 1% {"strongly_agree"=>44, "agree"=>40, "disagree"=>13, "strongly_disagree"=>3, "dont_know"=>1} Figures based on 257 responses up to 03-06-2022
Strongly Agree 56% Agree 33% Disagree 9% Strongly Disagree 1% Don't Know 2% {"strongly_agree"=>56, "agree"=>33, "disagree"=>9, "strongly_disagree"=>1, "dont_know"=>2} Figures based on 257 responses up to 03-06-2022
Strongly Agree 53% Agree 37% Disagree 7% Strongly Disagree 2% Don't Know 3% {"strongly_agree"=>53, "agree"=>37, "disagree"=>7, "strongly_disagree"=>2, "dont_know"=>3} Figures based on 257 responses up to 03-06-2022
Strongly Agree 47% Agree 27% Disagree 14% Strongly Disagree 4% Don't Know 8% {"strongly_agree"=>47, "agree"=>27, "disagree"=>14, "strongly_disagree"=>4, "dont_know"=>8} Figures based on 257 responses up to 03-06-2022
Yes 86% No 14% {"yes"=>86, "no"=>14} Figures based on 257 responses up to 03-06-2022

Responses taken from Ofsted Parent View

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The German School Catchment Area Map

This school is independently managed and its admission criteria may be selective. There is no set catchment area as pupils are admitted from a wide variety of postcodes and, in the case of boarding schools, from outside the UK. Contact the school directly or visit their website for more information on Admissions Policy and Procedures.