Virtual Coffee morning with Dr Adrian Rainbow, Head of Eaton Square Senior school
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all the parents from Forms Three to Five who attended the virtual meeting with Dr Rainbow, the new Head of Eaton Square Senior School. Dr Rainbow commenced the meeting with a pleasant introduction, sharing his professional journey, which included his previous Headship at Hampton Court and Deputy Headship at Seven Oaks. He expressed his enthusiasm for leading Eaton Square Senior, a school that has recently changed ownership and is now part of the Dukes Education network. The school is heading into its second year of GCSE this summer.
Dr Rainbow emphasised the beauty of the school site (for Years 7 to 11, located in Piccadilly), and the 6th form college situated in Ecclestone Square. Currently, the 6th form college accommodates their first Year 12, consisting of 12 students. However, they are expecting an additional 20 students to join the 6th form college in September 2023.
During the meeting, Dr Rainbow discussed the school's size, noting that it is a small school similar to CHS. However, being part of the Dukes Education family brings the advantage of being part of a larger academic organisation. He highlighted Eaton Square's vision and core values, which include Empathy, Service, Integrity, and Perseverance. Dr Rainbow emphasised their pastoral care system, where every child is well-known by all staff members. Inclusive, progressive, and caring were the keywords used to describe the school's ethos.
Addressing concerns from online platforms like Mumsnet, Dr Rainbow touched upon comments, both favourable and less favourable. He clarified that the school will no longer accept all applications and that prospective students would need to go through an admissions process. This process would include CATS 4 scores from the current Primary setting, ISEB results, references, and an interview with the Senior Leadership Team. He also mentioned that the school would not be suitable for students achieving less than 100 overall on standardised tests.
Currently, the school has 166 students from 41 different countries (25% SEN largely Dyslexia), with the capacity to accommodate more. There are 30 to 35 students in each cohort. Dr Rainbow’s vision for improvement included focusing on Academic Rigor, Service and Community, Parental Partnership, and advancements in IT.
The meeting provided valuable insights into the direction in which Eaton Square Senior School is now heading under the leadership of Dr Rainbow. The parents expressed their appreciation for the transparent and informative session, and they look forward to witnessing the school's continued growth and success.
Questions for Dr Rainbow were largely focussed on GSCE options.
