Horndean Church of England Junior School

I sent both my children to this school. Prior to current head (now March 2026), the school has a kind of happy vibrance to it. And a sense of feeling welcome and open. This was prior to 2017 when there was a different head. She was very approachable and seemed pretty sincere to me. However, there was one particular member of staff who worked there who left bad memories for my first child. Now an adult and working, she remembers very very clearly.

I"m sorry to say however, that the current head appears to have done something to remove that sense of approachability that previously existed. She is dismissive and leaves you feeling like you are not taken seriously. I would describe her more like a politician in how she communicates. Unable to be straightforward with responses.

I am also afraid to discover that the same member of staff who gave my first child bad memories, still works there, and has caused issues for my second child. Not only that, I personally witnessed children visibly upset about being in the presence of that member of staff. And other parents confirmed this. But never addressed things with the school. Which is often the case when allegations are made but are hard to prove.

Sometimes it seems hard to believe it, but when there is a pattern that keeps repeating, you start to realise there is a serious problem. One doesn't need proof because it's blatantly obvious.

I also learned that there had recently been a tribunal (Google it). I read it from start to finish. And what I read was a very sad set of events. The net result of this tribunal was that the member of staff who made various allegations towards the head and other staff who she worked with, ultimately lost. In my opinion however, this person was unprepared. Mainly due to a lack of evidence plus the support she needed to succeed. But reading between lines of the tribunal, that pattern existed right there yet again. The same names and the same types of responses.

There is more I could say but wont. My recommendation is that the school needs a shakeup. The Head needs to be replaced. And fresh leadership put in place. And then the school needs to work towards being outstanding.

I would score it a minus score if I could. What could be a lovely school is ruined by an absolute bully of a head teacher who does not have a Christian or caring bone in her body. She sucks every bit of fun out of the school and lacks any empathy.