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AIBU?

to be so unhappy with my DS' education?

42 replies

leguinfan · 08/01/2016 23:21

We moved up to Scotland last year, partly due to DH's job. One of the reasons we were happy to come was to get away from SATs and the way English education was going. I knew there were teething problems with the Scottish curriculum but I thought at least they were going in the other direction.

I can't believe the differences here.
DS' school is so full there is no library, no computer suite, no music room, no science room... every spare inch of space is used. He doesn't get any ICT time because there aren't enough computers for the whole class. Half of his P.E. time is taken up by this 'daily mile' which isn't physical education at all, ruins his uniform and just makes him wet and cold for the rest of the day. There seem to be barely any resources in comparison to the English school he was at. There are only 5 TAs for 14 classes!

He has lots of 'experiences' in everything but standards seem very low and the pace of learning is snail like.

I have made some friends up here and they seem to feel the same. All of the local schools are bursting so I don't think moving him would be any good.

My nephew back home seems to be doing far more. I am so worried that we've completely messed up his education by coming up here.

OP posts:

Report

FlatOnTheHill · 08/01/2016 23:27

Silly question but could you look at other schools in the area. I would feel the same as you. So disappointing.

WorraLiberty · 08/01/2016 23:27

It sounds dire but are you sure it's not just that particular school/area?

Surely there must be good schools in Scotland too?

leguinfan · 08/01/2016 23:30

There must be, but I had hoped there would be some in the capital city! We really can't move further away and the catchment schools are all bursting.

OP posts:

Orda1 · 08/01/2016 23:31

Are these things normal?

My school had no music room, science room, computer suite (about 6 in the hall). It's rated excellent.

Is 14 classes normal? We had 4.

JE1234 · 08/01/2016 23:32

Put in an out of area transfer request with the council. Even if the perception is that they are all full, you won't know until you ask.

Agadooo · 08/01/2016 23:33

Where abouts you? Lots of different areas/schools in Scotland with varying resources and varying exam results-assume you researched the area n school you were moving to and see if was suited to your son? Are there other local schools you'd prefer or could relocate to a different catchment area?

leguinfan · 08/01/2016 23:34

We researched as much as possible, but obviously DH's job/commute had to be the priority.

OP posts:

echt · 08/01/2016 23:34

If you scroll down the page on this link, you'll fid a section for Scottish education that might be useful:

community.tes.com

FlatOnTheHill · 08/01/2016 23:35

OP forgive me for sounding rude...did you not check all this out beforehand?
Surely you would have known this when visiting the school/asking questions/checking Ofsted report.

leguinfan · 08/01/2016 23:38

We weren't allowed to look around and the last HMI report was 8 years ago!

OP posts:

Agadooo · 08/01/2016 23:38

How old is he? What levels is he sitting re his qualifications? You think he's sitting the right levels and will achieve well?

dementedpixie · 08/01/2016 23:43

Is it a primary school?

leguinfan · 08/01/2016 23:49

Yes, primary. He is working at second level, and he has just gone into P5.

OP posts:

dementedpixie · 08/01/2016 23:50

Same primary as my ds

MintChocAddict · 08/01/2016 23:51

Are we talking primary? TBH I wouldn't really expect a dedicated music or science classroom at that stage and would fully expect classes of 20+ to have to share computers.
Our area is full of huge primary schools all bursting at the seams too but the things you raise wouldn't concern me at primary age. If you're in Edinburgh (you mentioned capital city) and worried about performance of the high schools then consider shifting out a bit and increasing the commute to get into catchment for secondaries like Dunblane or Linlithgow.

dementedpixie · 08/01/2016 23:53

Don't know what the daily mile is though. Ds getting Scottish dancing for pe just now as the p6 and p7 classes will be doing a 'taste of Scotland day' and he is in a p5/p6 composite class

MintChocAddict · 08/01/2016 23:53

Oh and the daily mile thing apparently has been proven to help children with their learning (keeping them awake and all that! 😉) I'm all for it!

dementedpixie · 08/01/2016 23:55

Ds's class does share computers/iPads and don't have a computer suite or music room or science room either. Don't think they have the space/ resources for them at primary level

PaulAnkaTheDog · 08/01/2016 23:57

Please don't condemn the entire Scottish education system because of your one (very brief) experience with it. Shit school? Find another. Same as you would do in England.

I'm a P5 mother in the capital. Send me a message with your child's school if you like? I'm sure I could recommend better within your area.

EddieStobbart · 08/01/2016 23:58

My DCs are at an Edinburgh primary. There is an ICT suite and a library. No music or science rooms but I didn't know that was normal for a primary school (my old school had 29 kids in the whole place so everything's amazing to me - I can't get my head around all the primary schools that have swimming pools in the basements). They don't do the daily mile either (though I heard that being raved about on the radio the other day). Very very full after school club though! I don't think what you are describing is universal and if you want to move your DC you should be able to find other options.

PaulAnkaTheDog · 08/01/2016 23:59

Incidentally, music rooms and science rooms are not the norm in primary schools in England or Scotland. I wonder if you were spoiled by your specific school in England and viewing things rather pessimistically now?

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 09/01/2016 00:04

I am out of patience with CEC, completely and utterly. Those 5 TAs will be being paid for by the ASL children's budgets, by the way. Not that the ASL children will actually see a whisker of 1:1 time. Procurement is fecked, schools are stuffed to the gills and there just isn't the 'move them' culture that you see in England.

And as for the Curriculum for Extroverts...

Both DS schools have actually been good, but that's absolutely down to individual HTs or teachers and the culture they create. The overall system sucks. and no-one talks about it because we're all so positive all the time about everything under the SNP

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Bunbaker · 09/01/2016 00:04

"Incidentally, music rooms and science rooms are not the norm in primary schools in England"

I agree. I don't know of any primary schools in our LA that offer such luxuries.

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 09/01/2016 00:05

Although I do agree that rooms and suites aren't necessary or common.

Viviennemary · 09/01/2016 00:07

Well it doesn't sound great but I don't think most primary schools have dedicated music rooms, science rooms and so on. I've heard a much higher proportion of Scottish children are privately educated especially in places like Edinburgh. Not saying that's the answer but it makes you wonder if it's because people aren't happy with the state schools.

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