Fashion Retail Academy - London

L L

This school relies entirely on tiktok, romanticising the location and profession while knowing little to nothing about what theyre doing. The design course completely makes up the course as they go, teachers constantly on a power trip because theyre industry professionals yet they fail to teach you any sewing other then 5 seams, unless you already know how to sew, its all guessing work because the teachers WILL humilate you for not knowing what to do or making mistakes. The blatant favourtism towards students, which just happens to be the rich privileged once since theyre the ones able to afford the equipment and fabrics, how is it fair on the other students who cant afford this because the school does nothing to help supply anything to them! They wont publise the fact theres a waiting list for student help since everyone is struggling to cope with this ridiculous course layout but dont forget about the cute new building! You are told that you get what you put in at this school but unfortunately if you don't have the money or a teacher who only looks at you, you will not get above a passing grade.

Maya Price

I would leave 0 stars if I could. Studied here for 2 years, was going to enrol for my 3rd year, I became homeless in the summer and they would not let me enroll onto my 3rd year despite working hard for the grades to be able all because I didn't have 'proof' or give them notice that I was going to be homeless ? This is why the homeless stay homeless, because of institutions like this.

Horrible place to be.. tooo many reasons to list but all I can recommend is avoid this place, many many other, better and quicker ways to get into the fashion industry and fra is not the way and not worth the time wasted, learnt more of youtube then I ever did here. Nothing to learn here as they don't teach anything but their political views.

Not to mention, the lack of diversity. If you're a person of colour wanting to apply, goodluck with the racism and bullying from all the teachers, head of design teacher and peers, I wish you the best as they only want their Essex girls here. Also goodluck if you have fashion sense, you will also get bullied for your fashion (in fashion school) because they only value primark, asos and shien wearing outfits.

May Sam Yung

I had applied for a course on results day around 8am straight away as I was happy to find out I have the requirements, then there was a problem in a system saying I didn’t meet the requirements. I had called up about it and they apologised saying they would reset my application so I can reapply and they will contact me as soon as possible. After 20 minutes of no contact, I check my application to find that my application did not reset and there are no more spaces in the course. Again, I had contacted them and they said there was nothing they could do about it.

One thing I do appreciate was the alternative course they offered me however the whole situation was extremely unfair to me. I had applied straight after I had found out my results very early in the morning to secure my spot but I couldn’t get in due to THEIR mistake in THEIR system. I applied straight away because I was eager to do that specific course so although the alternative was appreciated, it doesn’t make up for the mistake of not being able to get into the course due to a mistake on their behalf. I am extremely disappointed at how unfair this opportunity was and how disorganised the system was. The fact people applied later than me and probably got in but I couldn’t get in because of a little system error that they said they would fix and contact me but then not genuinely has me fuming.

Asma

Stay away from this college - racist teachers who favour discriminated my daughter for her colour skin and religion, the college relies on social media to promote it . It’s not worth the hype . Teachers are completely useless

Sharon O'Shea

My daughter has just received a 1st class honours degree and I could not be happier with the support she has received over the last 3 years. The tutors could not have done any more to support her. She commenced her degree following the level 4 diploma having left college very dissatisfied with education the FRA tired that around for her. She worked extremely hard as you have to in order to achieve but was supported all the way . I could not praying se this academy enough so if you want to work in fashion and are willing to put the effort in I would highly recommend FRA

Faith Williamson

went to the open day yesterday, and was absolutely stunned how amazing this college was. A beautiful building and very welcoming staff and students.

Lisa Penn

My daughter and I are very disappointed with the Fashion Retail Academy. It is very much over sold to students, all talk and no action. After she studied there for two years everything they promised did not go ahead such as work shops, talks with industry experts, and so on....... The college trip was a waste of money nothing to do with fashion they went to a chair museum and was mis-sold the trip too it wasn't even planned out properly by the staff who took them. The teachers are very inexperienced not qualified just have been working in retail industries, and taking there holidays during term time also having there favourites in the classroom and down grading everyone else.

This course should be online you pay expensive train fares and when you turn up the teacher might not be in and you all go into another classroom and do bascially nothing and could work from home instead. It should be called an online classroom course.

Please think carefully before sending your son or daughter here. My daughter was very dissappointed with the whole time she was there. She had to find her own work experience the college just sent students to M&S to work in the food hall. We chose our own thank goodness locally. All the contacts they have on there website my daughter never saw any of them in the college.

Very disappointed and a unsatisfied student and parent. If I knew what I know now I would have suggested my daughter stay at her previous school to study and would have saved a lot of money in travelling costs to a course that should be online.

Also the classroom she studied in was in a building down the road from the college. All they did was sit in a classroom all day a part from lunch time. Nothing like the college so you could be in the same building if you study there in 2023.

I have replied to the college email from the comment and guess what no one has been in touch with me which was over 3 weeks ago I left the review. That just sums up the college.

AVOID

Anaya Wilkins

If I could leave 0 stars I would.

FRA was sold to be an exiting college with lots of experience for young people to learn about fashion in a fun and creative way, different from a structured school setting.
As someone who struggles with dyslexia I was intrigued into the idea of learning and getting a qualification in a way that isn’t through tests. However the lack of support for someone with a learning disability is Astonishing, I made it clear at FRA that I was dyslexic and would benefit with help from the college where they told me and my parents they would assist me. Little did I know the only help I would get would be a ‘promised’ once a week session with a member of staff who would help me with my work….after 2 meetings this member of staff stopped showing up. And no further action was taken after me reaching out to my teacher about the lack of support. It was amusing to me how the whole college had to take part in a dyslexia test to see if any stu but when a student openly came for helpthey didn’t do anything. My opinion they were just ticking boxes so they look good without doing any of the work to actually b
Onto the second issue, I had a severe health issue in my first year which took me out for a few months of learning meaning I couldn’t complete my first year grade, my teacher was amazing (I can’t fall her) and got me a pass for my first year. However going back into second year I was still struggling with my health and my parents reached out to make sure that I would be supported not only in my learning but also my emotional wellbeing, the college made promises to my parents that they would support me through this. Through my second year I was out of learning off and on again instead of being supported and have my teacher reach out to check if I was okay I was threatened with being kicked out and being failed. I got many emails from my teacher and the head of the year saying I would need to have meetings to talk about my behaviour and my work ethic, when everyone was well aware of the situation. Towards the end of my second year I had missed a lot of my final project and my parents got in touch with my teacher where she told them she would be there to support me and that she would cut out parts of the project so the work load was better for me. However when I got back into college these promises weren’t kept and every day I would be given more and more work that was supposedly cut out. i spoke up about this and was told the only way I could pass was if I completed it all. Funny how they told y parents exactly what they wanted to hear and made me do the opposite…
Aside from personal issues I had with the college there was many more general issues that my classmates also struggled with such as lack of support from the teachers, being told of for writhing notes down during class time, and clear favouritism which was only to a select 3 or 4, which wouldn’t be an issue except it actually impacted the rest of our learning and put us at a major disadvantage when it came to grades…