johnbetts.lbhf.sch.uk Reviews 2

I’m really sorry to read this, because it sadly reflects my own experience with the school’s senior leadership and governance. I want to be clear from the outset that my children love the school and, in my experience, the classroom teachers themselves are genuinely very good and caring. My concerns lie firmly with leadership, administration, and the lack of meaningful support for separated parents -particularly fathers. I still remember walking to the school office to ask whether they would be willing to allow me to see my son and daughter for a brief few minutes when their mother began preventing access. The School Business Manager was harsh and abrupt with me, promised to contact me later, but nothing ever materialised.
As a separated father, I raised legitimate concerns around access, communication, and safeguarding. I was repeatedly reassured that these matters would be dealt with properly, yet over time it became clear that I was being fobbed off rather than supported. Despite assurances, the school still does not have a formal separated parents policy in place, nor any clear framework to support fathers experiencing parental alienation or restricted contact.
What I found especially troubling was being advised that I should communicate only through my children’s mother, despite the fact that my communication and access were actively being denied. Saying this to a father who is being excluded from his children’s lives is not only unrealistic, it is deeply inappropriate and shows a complete lack of understanding of the realities of parental alienation and high-conflict separations.
During one interaction, the headteacher spoke to me in a dismissive and insensitive manner. She repeatedly talked over me, raised her voice, and cut me short when I was trying to explain the situation, even stating to the safeguarding lead, “I don’t have time for this.” This occurred when I was simply trying to drop gifts to my children at the school gates after school hours -something I am fully entitled to do as their biological father. This interaction will remain etched in my mind as the rudest I have ever experienced at my children’s school, which I had always believed to be highly respectable.
Finally, while the governors made commitments to investigate and follow through, there was no meaningful outcome. Promises were made and meetings were held, but accountability and action never materialised. It’s frustrating because with better leadership and clearer policies, this could be a truly excellent school. Unfortunately, red tape, poor communication, and a lack of understanding around separated families overshadow what should otherwise be a positive environment.

They have very incompetent staff. One day I called to know if my son was in and they didn't know. After a few calls they decided to tell me that they couldn't find him. When I nicely told them that I needed to know for sure, as this was crucial information for a court case, the lady hanged up the phone on me. I called again and Sue Harris (who is also the complaints coordinator) told me that my son was definitely in, when he actually wasn't, as I later found out. She also refused to let me have the name of the lady who hanged up the phone on me... she said that she had no idea who she might be. They probably sat together in the very same office. I found it totally unacceptable that the complaint coordinator was obstructive when I wanted to make a complaint about the lady sitting next to her.
I decided to make an official complaint and they didn't acknowledge receipt of it; I had to write in twice asking for confirmation of receipt. Then they told me that I would have heard from them within ten working days, as per their complain protocol. A response came back 17 days later and it was a ludacris display of made up lies to protect their colleagues. I am disgusted of their behaviour and even more so about their response to my complaint.
I wasn't happy about how they educated my children. At the end of year six my son has no idea about the world's capitals, the location of many major countries, continents, he has never heard of Napoleon and several other crucial historic personalities. He has taken Italian lessons for two years and he doesn't know a single Italian word, other than "ciao". What a waste of time!
My kids complained throughout their time at John Betts about the food; they always said that it was terrible and they never ate much of it. They always came back home very hungry and off course children are not allowed to bring their own lunch.
Another thing that really upset me is that they were so keen on telling parents not to film or take any pictures at the end of year play, but after two years I'm still unable to obtain a copy of the recording. I wrote several times enquiring about it, but I never received a reply. I called a number of times, but the same incompetent and rude lady who answers the phone, could never tell me anything about it.
One thing this school is very good at is asking for donations. They send several emails per week asking for money for all sort of things and this was really annoying. If I had to go through it all over again, I would choose a different school.